"The former Capital of Goa" a Goa Velha Travel Page by Avieira67

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 population was about 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.

It was the capital of the territory of Goa untill 1843. The capital was then shifted to a village about 9 kilometres to its west called Panjim, due to plague.
The territory of Goa 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, Panjim. It was incorporated in the Republic of India in 1961.