Vasco da Gama is a small city in the state of Goa on the west coast of India. It is named after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Vasco has Goa's largest population, estimated at over 100,000. It is also the headquarters of the Mormugao taluka. The town lies on the western tip of the Mormugao peninsula, at the mouth of the Zuari River, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Panaji (Panjim), Goa's capital, and about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the Dabolim Airport (GOI).

The place was founded in 1543, and remained in Portuguese hands until 1961, when Goa was annexed to India. The Indian Navy's Goa Naval Area (base) is located at Vasco from which it controls Dabolim airport and, in effect, the entire tourism-dependent state of Goa.

There have been aborted attempts in the past to change the name of the city to Sambhajinagar.

Tourism and Culture

Bogmalo Beach is 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from Vasco. This beach is quite risky as it has underwater currents and is therefore usually monitored by lifeguards. Khollant (Issorcim) and Baina are two smaller beaches around Vasco.

Apart from the nearby beaches, the city of Vasco is bereft of any major tourist attractions, the salient monument being the 400-year old St. Andrews Church located at the entrance of the city. However the Naval Aviation Museum nearby the city center is a popular tourist spot and is the only such museum in India. It profiles the evolution and history of Indian naval aviation through aircraft exhibits and rare photographs.

The people from Vasco love fun and music, so it is a matter of fact that Goa's premier musical group, Diamond Orchestra hails from Vasco. The town is also home to several English bands from Goa namely, Lynx, Heaven's Touch, and Kollectiv Soul.

Vasco is also famous for the annual Shri Damodar Bhajani Saptah fair held in Shravan month of Hindu lunar calender preceding the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

Like all towns and cities in Goa, Vasco also celebrates the Shigmo and Carnival annually with a street parade where floats from all over Goa participate.