Margao

Margao is the commercial capital of the Indian state of Goa. It stands on banks of the Sal river and is the administrative headquarters of Salcete sub-district and South Goa district. It is Goa's second largest city by population after Vasco. Etymology Margão is the Portuguese spelling, with मडगांव Madgaon being used in Konkani. The etymology of the name has been debated, with theories ranging from the name having evolved from the pre-colonial Mahargao (“village of Mahars”, a large community of weavers) to being derived from the Sanskrit (Maṭhagrāma) which means "a village of monasteries" owing to the shrines of Matsyendranath and Gorakhnath in Ravanphond, now a suburb of Margao. Alternatively Margão may be derived from Mharuganv, “village of demons”, or Maravile, Portuguese for “marvellous village.” History Margao in pre-Portuguese times was one of the important settlements in Salcete and known as Matha Grama (the village of Mathas) as it was a temple town with nine Mathas in temple schools. Its replacement in 1579 was destroyed by raiders. The present church was built in 1675.