Municipal Garden, also called Church Square, is a green park situated in the heart of
Panaji city,
Goa. It used to be called 'Jardim de Garcia da Orta' after Garcia de Orta, a famous physician in 16th century, who made a comparative study of European and Indian medicine.
A massive pillar (about 12 m high), where the statue of Vasco da Gama once stood, is located in the center of the square. It was built to memorialize Vasco Da Gama’s 400th anniversary of the discovery of sea route to India. Later the statue was moved to the State Museum at Old Goa. India's national emblem, the Ashoka pillar with the lions, is now seen in its place.
The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, built in 1541, is located to the east of this garden.
