Walking down Fontainhas, the queer little neighbourhood in Panaji, or Panjim, the chaotic yet interesting Goan capital, is a visual delight. Tracing its name from a stream that flows down into the area from the slope of the Altinho hill, Fontainhas retains its identity as a heritage cluster caught in a time wrap. The walk around the precinct should begin at the Mermaid Garden and go past the retro Venite restaurant, to St. Thomas Ward. The landscape is a riot of colours – ochre yellow, light pink, indigo blue and brick red are shades used to bedeck the facades of the old bungalows and colonial houses that line the wide streets.
If you want to see the contemporary landmarks in Goa, do check out the lifestyle and new-age fashion stores nestling on the banks of the shimmering Mandovi river. Or to enjoy a sublime trauma of enjoyment, sit at the decorated balcaos with a glass of your favourite drink, under the sloped tiled roofs of the restaurants, and watch a magical world go by. That’s the perfect end to a beautiful walk.
