The
Mandovi River is described as the lifeline of the state of
GoaGoa is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located on the west coast of India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.Panaji is...
,
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
. The river has a length of 77 kilometres and originates from a cluster of 30 springs at Bhimgad in the
Western GhatsThe Western Ghats also known as the Sahyadri Mountains, is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea...
. With its cerulean waters,
Dudhsagar FallsDudhsagar Falls is a tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi River in the state of Goa, India, on Goa's border with the state of Karnataka. It is 60 km from Panaji.-The waterfall:...
, and
Varapoha FallsVajrapoha Falls is on the Mandovi River in the hilly surroundings of the Jamboti forest in the Belgaum District of Karnataka, India.-Location:...
it is also known as the Gomati in a few places. Mandovi and the
Zuari RiverThe Zuari River is the largest river in the state of Goa, India. The Zuari River, with its cerulean waters, has a total length of 34 kilometres. The Zuari originates at Hemad-Barshem in the Western Ghats. The Zuari is also referred to as the Aghanashani in the interior regions...
are the two primary rivers in the state of Goa.
The Mandovi enters Goa from the north via the Sattari Taluka.
The
Mandovi River is described as the lifeline of the state of
GoaGoa is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located on the west coast of India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.Panaji is...
,
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
. The river has a length of 77 kilometres and originates from a cluster of 30 springs at Bhimgad in the
Western GhatsThe Western Ghats also known as the Sahyadri Mountains, is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea...
. With its cerulean waters,
Dudhsagar FallsDudhsagar Falls is a tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi River in the state of Goa, India, on Goa's border with the state of Karnataka. It is 60 km from Panaji.-The waterfall:...
, and
Varapoha FallsVajrapoha Falls is on the Mandovi River in the hilly surroundings of the Jamboti forest in the Belgaum District of Karnataka, India.-Location:...
it is also known as the Gomati in a few places. Mandovi and the
Zuari RiverThe Zuari River is the largest river in the state of Goa, India. The Zuari River, with its cerulean waters, has a total length of 34 kilometres. The Zuari originates at Hemad-Barshem in the Western Ghats. The Zuari is also referred to as the Aghanashani in the interior regions...
are the two primary rivers in the state of Goa.
The Mandovi enters Goa from the north via the Sattari Taluka. The Mandovi flows through Cumbarjua, Divadi and Chodné, eventually pouring into the
Arabian SeaThe Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui, the north-east point of Somalia, Socotra, Kanyakumari in India, and the western coast...
. Mandovi joins with the Zuari at a common point at Cabo Aguada, forming the Marmogoa harbour.
PanajiPanaji is the capital of the Indian state of Goa. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi estuary, in the district of North Goa. With a population of 65,000 , Panaji is Goa's third largest city after Vasco da Gama and Margao.Panaji means “Land that never floods”...
, the state capital and
Old GoaOld Goa or Velha Goa is a historical city in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. The city was constructed by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th century, and served as capital of Portuguese India from the 16th century until its abandonment in the 18th century...
, the former capital of Goa, are both situated on the left bank of the Mandovi. The river
MapusaMapusa also spelt at Mapuca, Mhapsa or Mapsa is a town in North Goa, India. It is situated 13 km north of the capital Panaji. The town is the headquarters of Bardez taluka. It is located on the main highway NH-17, linking Mumbai to Trivandrum...
is a tributary of the Mandovi.
The Cumbarjuem Canal, which links both rivers, has made the interiors of the Mandovi accessible to ships carrying
iron oreIron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple, to rusty red. The iron itself is usually found in the form of magnetite , hematite , goethite, limonite or...
.
Iron oreIron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple, to rusty red. The iron itself is usually found in the form of magnetite , hematite , goethite, limonite or...
is Goa's prime mineral and it is mined in the eastern hills. Three large freshwater isles —
DivarThe island of Divar lies in the state of Goa,India.-Location:It is located approximately 10 km from Panaji, and is approachable by ferry. The Island is connected to Old Goa on the south-east side ,Ribandar,on the south-west side and Narve on the north side, all by ferry...
, Chorao and Vashee are present in the Mandovi near the town of Old Goa. The island of Chorao, is home to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, named after the renowned ornithologist
Salim AliSalim Ali may refer to:* Salim Ali , Indian ornithologist* Salim Ali , alias of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, reported military head of Al Qaeda* Salim Rubai Ali, Yemeni politician...
. A regular ferry transports the inhabitants between the isles and the mainland.
Spanning across the Mandovi River near Panjim is the majestic Mandovi Bridge. The bridge was notorious for its collapses in the 1980s before a new bridge was constructed to accommodate heavy transport vehicles. The Mandovi Bridge links the towns of Panjim to
PorvorimPorvorim is the legislative capital of the state of Goa, India. It is situated on the right bank of the river Mandovi. The administrative capital Panaji is located on the opposite bank...
.
During the winter months, the peak tourist season, special dusk cruises on the Mandovi complete with serenading bands add to the charm of the river.