Mapusa

Mapusa (Konkani: mhapxem [mʱaːpʃɛ̃ː]; [mʱaːpsaː]) also spelt at Mapuca, Mhapsa or Mapsa is a town in North Goa, India. It is situated 13 km north of the capital Panaji. The town is the headquarters of Bardez Taluka. It is located on the main highway NH-17, linking Mumbai to Kochi. In Portuguese the town's name is spelt Mapuçá.

Demographics
As of 2011 India census, Mapusa had a population of 40,487. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Mapusa has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 73%. In Mapusa, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Economy
Mapusa is close to one of the main centres of Goa's tourism industry. Mapusa's proximity to many beaches in the north Goa makes it a suitable base during the tourist season (November to April). Because it is a mainly commercial town (for locals) with a large resident population, Mapusa has only a limited number of hotels and accommodation.

Mapusa comes alive on Friday, the traditional market day also known as Mapusa Friday Market. People from surrounding villages and towns come to Mapusa to sell their wares. This fair has a lot of local flavour (unlike some other tourist-oriented fairs or markets) and specialises in agricultural produce, vegetables, locally-grown fruit, spices, clothes and even plants (mainly during the monsoon planting season).

Education
Mapusa houses several prominent Goan educational institutions, including Saraswat Vidyalaya, St. Mary's Convent High School, St. Brittos, New Goa High School, St. Antony's High School, Mapusa High School, Dyanprasarak High School, DMC Higher Secondary and college of Art, Science and Commerce, St. Xavier's College, and St. Xavier's Higher Secondary School.

Landmarks
Mapusa has some excellent buildings with old architecture. Shri Ganesh Mandir at Ganeshpuri is landmark in modern Indian Architecture