Cabo Palace

The Cabo Palace, locally called as the Raj Bhavan stands as the official residence of the governor of the Indian state of Goa state. This majestic monument is built is erected in the state capital, Panaji.

It is said that the name of the palace has been taken from the former officer, who was the resident of the palace, named ‘Palacio do Cabo’. The literal meaning of the name of the palace, Cabo is a Portuguese word which means cape and is situated in the midst of lush greenery. The palace was built by Yusuf Adil Shah in the year 1540 as a riverside pleasure spot but was later fortified to serve as the strategic point of defense for the Portuguese, who used to store their weapons  and it was also used as the place for checking the cargo ships from abroad.

The fortified area protected from the attacks through the Mandovi and Zuari rivers. A few years later, a chapel and monastery were commissioned by viceroy Matias d Albuquerque. The Franciscan monastery in the palace was then declared as the official residence of Governor of Goa in 1594. It was the official residence for most of the Portuguese Viceroys in 1759 before boarding for the return voyage to Portugal.

The official reception has a large hall named Darbar Hall, used for receptions, ceremonies and other official meetings. Dining room has a seating capacity of over 30 persons. There are three suites and seven double rooms, which are available for the guests. Raj Bhavan has a fine compilation of Chinese porcelain, silver, Bohemian chandeliers, and beautiful pieces of antique Chinese porcelain, manufactured in Canton.