Goa Velha ("Velha" means old in Portuguese) is a census town in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa.
The city was founded in the 15th century as a port for the Vijayanagar and Bahamani kings. Old Goa was the second capital of Bijapur under the rule of Adil Shah. It was surrounded by a moat and contained the Shah's palace, and his mosques and temples. The city of Goa in south-western India was under Portuguese rule from 1510 and became the administrative seat of Portuguese India, although the Viceroy's residence was transferred in 1759 to the future capital, Panaji (then Pangim). It was incorporated in the Republic of India in 1961.
The population was roughly 200,000 by 1543. Malaria and cholera epidemics ravaged the city in the 17th century and it was largely abandoned, only having a remaining population of 1,500 in 1775. It was then that the viceroy moved the palace of Adil Shah to Panaji. In 1835 after religious suppression the city was virtually deserted.
As of 2001 India census, Goa Velha had a population of 5411. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Goa Velha has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 71%. In Goa Velha, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Old Goa contains churches affiliated to various congregations, including the Se Cathedral (the seat of the Archbishop of Goa), the church of St Francis of Assis, the church of S. Caetano, and notably, the Basilica of Bom Jesus which contains the incorruptible body of Saint Francis Xavier
