Salcete


Salcete, also spelt as Salcette, is a region situated in southern Goa state on the west coast of India.
In Konkani, the local language, the region is known as Saxtti or Xaxtti and the natives are referred to as Saxtticar or Xaxtticar.
Salcete is derived from the Sanskrit word "षट-षष्टि" ṣaṭ-ṣaṣṭi meaning 'Sixty-six', after the tradition that sixty-six settlements were established by the Saraswat Brahmin families who had emigrated to Salcete from northern India.
In 1917, Mormugao seaport along with thirty-one settlements were carved out of Salcete territory to form the Mormugao taluka. The remaining thirty-five settlements encompass the contemporary Salcete taluka of the civil district of South Goa. Margao serves as the administrative headquarters of both Salcete taluka and the South Goa district.

History

King Viramarmadeva of the Kadamba dynasty issued a copper-plate inscription in 1049 CE concerning a grant of a piece of land called Tudukapura in Kudtarika agrahara of Chhat sathi desha. This inscription suggests that Chhat sathi refers to modern Salcete, known as Sāshṭi in the local language.

Salcete territory

The original sixty-six settlements of Salcete are as follows:
  1. Sernabatim
  2. Vanelim
  3. Colva
  4. Seraulim
  5. Gandaulim
  6. Duncolim
  7. Betalbatim
  8. Nuvem
  9. Calata
  10. Gonsua
  11. Majorda
  12. Utorda
  13. Nagoa
  14. Verna
  15. Loutulim
  16. Camurlim
  17. Ambora
  18. Raia
  19. Rachol
  20. Curtorim
  21. Nesai
  22. Macasana
  23. Guirdolim
  24. Chandor
  25. Cavorim
  26. Paroda
  27. Mulem
  28. Sarzora
  29. Talvorda
  30. Veroda
  31. Cuncolim
  32. Betul
  33. Velim
  34. Ambelim
  35. Assolna
  36. Cavelossim
  37. Chinchinim
  38. Deussua
  39. Carmona
  40. Orlim
  41. Varca
  42. Sirlim
  43. Dramapur
  44. Dicarpale
  45. Davorlim
  46. Aquem
  47. Telaulim
  48. Navelim
  49. Margao
  50. Benaulim
  51. Adsuli
  52. Cana
  53. Mormugao
  54. Vadem
  55. Chicalim
  56. Dabolim
  57. Sancoale
  58. Cortalim
  59. Quelossim
  60. Cuelim
  61. Arossim
  62. Cansaulim
  63. Velsao
  64. Pale
  65. Issorcim
  66. Chilcona

    Salcete taluka

Salcete taluka comprises nine comunidades: Benaulim, Betalbatim, Colva, Curtorim, Loutolim, Margao, Nuvem, Raia, and Verna.
The subdistrict consists of two cities, eleven towns, and thirty-five villages as per the 2011 Census of India.

Citations