1912 photo of Rua Afonso de Albuquerque street in Panjim

Panaji has been called by many names in its long history: Pahajani Khali, Panagim, Ponji, Pancha Yma Afsumgary, Nova Goa, Panjim, Panaji. Its recorded history goes back to early 12th century - an inscription of the Kadamba King Vijayaditya I, dated February 7, 1107, refers to the area as Pahajani Khali. Some believe that the name Panjim stems from Ponji or Pongys (literally, the ‘land that never gets flooded’) while still others interpret it as a variation of Pancha Yma Afsumgary or five wonderful castles where Ismail Adil Shah, the Sultan of Bijapur, and his wives lived. The Portuguese christened it Panjim, and in 1843, by a royal decree, when Panjim was elevated to the status of a city, it was renamed Nova Goa. In 1961, an independent Goa gave its capital a new name: Panaji.