Vanxim

Vanxim Ilha do Capão
Island and Village
Location of Vanxim (dark blue in red circle) in Ilhas de Goa (light blue)
Vanxim Show map of Goa Vanxim Show map of India
Coordinates: 15°32′43.6″N 73°54′44.3″E / 15.545444°N 73.912306°E / 15.545444; 73.912306
Country	India
State	Goa
District	North Goa
Taluka	Ilhas
Government
• Type	Panchayat of São Matias
Elevation	8 m (26 ft)
Population  (2010)
• Total	550
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Postcode	403403
Telephone Code	0832

Vanxim or Capão is an island of Goa situated in the Ilhas region. It can be reached by ferry from Divar.¹ The colonial name for Vanxim was Capão. The island has many houses with few villagers, many of whom are fisher-folk. Silveiras, Furtados, Vas, and Olivera are surnames of people there. Mahendra Gaunekar sold parts of the island to Ozone corporate. A luxury hotel and golf course were planned for the island but faced resistance from alert islanders and others.

It is the smallest of 6 major islands within the Mandovi, the others being:

• Ilhas de Goa,
• Chorão,
• Divar,
• Cumbarjua,
• St Estevam and
• Several other small mangrove islands and sand banks.

There is also a church in the area known as the Church of Santo Cristo, built in 1879 AD. During the months of April and May the feasts of the Miraculous Chapel and Santo Cristo are celebrated.

An important landmark in Vanxim is the Chapel of the Miraculous Cross. It is well known in Goa as a lot of people from all over the state come here to make or fulfill vows.

Branching out of Mandovi as one goes across the Naroa, a Cross is visible in the midst of waters before approaching Vanxim. Constructed by the villagers, the Cross was in the memory of a doctor, Louis Cabral, who drowned at this point when his canoe capsized while he was on his way to see a patient in Vanxim Island.¹

It is located near the Church of Santo Cristo. Many simple graves can be found here. It houses an altar.