Around Altinho
When one visits Care and Compassion – Goa at Altinho one can visit many interesting places strewn all around this hill called Altinho. Below are some of the important places of tourist or visitor’s interest that could make an interesting day out after visiting the children at Compassion Home.
Altinho is a locality atop the hillock of Panaji (or Panjim), the state capital of India's smallest state Goa, which was a former Portuguese colony. In the past it has been considered an elite residential colony, with the State's chief minister's residence and the Archbishop's palace located here. Altinho is home to Panaji's All India Radio station, Mushtifund school, Bombay High Court, Chief Minister’s Bungalow, Portugal Consulate, Circuit House, Doordarshan TV Center, Dhempe College of Arts, Nirmala Teachers Training College, Government Polytechnic College, Mahalaxmi Temple,Boca de Voca Spring and Bishop’s Palace. It is also home to a sprawling set of quarters for government servants, and homes allotted to ruling party politicians.
PLACES TO VISIT AROUND PANJIM WHICH ARE CLOSE TO COMPASSION HOME.
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PORTUGUESE CONSULATE |
While visiting the Care & Compassion Children’s Home, one cannot miss the Portuguese Consulate’s Office in Altinho. The present Consul General is Dr. António José Marques Sabido Costa. The main services provided here are Visa Assistance and Guidelines to getting a Portuguese Passport for Goans by heritage. Parwati - H. No. 38 and 39, Fr. Agnelo Road, Altinho, Panjim-403001-Goa, India. For more information please visit http://www.consuladoportugalgoa.com/initialpage1.php |
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FONTAINHAS |
Goa’s Latin Quarter “Fontainhas” derived from the word ‘Fonte Phoenix’ lies to the south of St. Tome. It houses a small chapel dedicated to St. Sebastian, built in 1818. Fontainhas is the most characteristic centre of old Panaji. Its summons up a wand with narrow winding streets and quaint houses still having a legendary Goan charm. |
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BOMBAY HIGH COURT |
The High Court of Bombay at Goa is a part of one of the Premiere High Courts in the Country. High Court Jurisdicature at Bombay which is common High Court for States of Maharastra, Goa and union territories Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. |
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GOA KALA ACADEMY |
The Goa Kala Academy established in 1969 is the prime institution for promotion of art and culture in the state. It functions in collaboration with more than 100 institutions.The Kala Academy complex situated on the bank of river Mandovi provides facilities for art education, performance and development. The complex includes an open air auditorium of capacity 2500, a closed air conditioned of capacity 1000, two mini-theatres, black box with modern recording facilities, full -fledged library of music (tapes and discs) and books, art gallery and works |
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PANJIM CHURCH |
Located in the heart of the city is the Church Square or Municipal Garden with the Portuguese Baroque Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, originally built in 1541. |
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CAMPAL PROMENADE |
The road development near Campal Children’s Garden is directly related to IFFI and it is intended to make its match with the ambience of the Kala Academy, the Multiplex at Old GMC and the Mandovi River Water front. Excelling place for a cool soothing walk by the Mandovi waterfront. Well lit during the night. |
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BISHOP’S PALACE |
Altinho is the site of the "Bishop's palace" and is the residence of the Archbishop of Goa. Its construction was begun in 1886 and completed in 1894. It was constructed to reflect the elevation of the Archbishop to a patriarch. It has an impressive coat of arms at its entrance that belongs to Goa's first Patriarch, Dom Antonio Sebastio Valente. |
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PANJIM STREETS |
Called Panjim by the Portuguese, Panaji, which means "the land that does not flood" is the state capital of Goa. Unlike many capital cities, Panaji has a distinct unhurried character. It is situated on the southern banks of the Mandovi River, which makes this town all the more charming Panaji. |
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A special, evening river cruise tour along the River Mandovi from Panaji is quite popular amongst the tourists for watching the sunset from the river itself. Snacks and drinks are also available on the cruise with a live display of Konkani and Portuguese dances accompanied by folk singers in traditional Goan costume. |
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One of the pleasures of Goa is that you can travel on one of its ferries on the many rivers of Goa. These huge machines of metal transfer people, bikes, cars and even trucks to the other side of the river at a leisurely pace. Presently use of the ferry’s is free. |
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29 kms from Dabolim Airport. This is the biggest ever building complex of the Government of Goa The Government Secretariat is located on a hillock plateau over looking Mandovi River along the National Highway No. 17 at Porvorim in the Village of Penha- de-France in Bardez Taluka.The plot admeasuring 54,250 sq.m of land at a cost of the building is Rs. 1 Crore 15 Lakhs. The foundation stone of the project was laid on 22nd January, 1994 by Late Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma, President of India. |
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BOCA DE VACA SPRING |
It is close to Mahalaxmi Temple in the Heart of Panaji city. The spring water is said to have Medicinal Properties. "Boca de Voca” is a Portuguese name meaning Mouth of a Cow. The glass flooring is an attraction to see the fishes and the natural spring flowing.
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Across the Mandovi River linking Panjim with the north goa beaches Betim is the fishing and boat-building village. There is a ferry that shuttles to Panjim's old steamer jetty. The village is inundated with traffic during day. Here you will find a small Sikh temple or Gurudwara, whose gleaming white Mogul domes and saffron pennant are visible from opposite shore. |
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Miramar (Gaspar Dias) is 3 kms from Panaji. A lovely golden beach of soft sand girdled with palm trees facing the blue Arabian Sea, is the nearest to Panaji. Miramar is almost part of Panaji. It is one of the most popular beaches of Goa India. If you wish to watch the sunset from Panaji then the best location would be this beach, which is fifteen minutes' walk along the riverfront avenue called Dayanand Bandodker Marg. Miramar is an urban beach where the Mandovi River meets the Arabian Sea. It is not a safe beach to swim. There is a strong undercurrent. |
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A little further, opposite the Panaji Police station, is Azad Maidan (freedom fighters park). The unkempt-pillared memorial in the park originally housed the statue of Albuquerque, now has a black stone memorial of Dr. Cristao de Braganza, one of Goa’s most respected freedom fighters. |
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This is the oldest surviving building in Panaji today. It is also known as Idalcao's palace, "Idalcaon" being the Portuguese corrupted word for Adil Shah Khan, the Sultan of Bijapur. This is built on the site of the Adil Shah palace by the Mandovi river. It was a fortress initially, and then the palace of viceroy's of Goa for a short while from 1759 to 1918.In 1918, the viceroy moved to Cabo Raj Niwas in Dona Paula. Post liberation, It has housed Goa's Secretariat, legislative assembly and other important government offices. The Legislative assembly has since moved to its new location across the Mandovi. |
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Inox Leisure Limited, has a four-screen multiplex in Goa The Inox multiplex is built in an area of 40,000 sq ft. It was completed in a record time of 180 days – from excavation to commissioning. It is adjacent to the 150-year-old Old Goa Medical College building facing the picturesque river Mandovi. The four-screen multiplex has 1,272 seats and each auditorium features wall-to-wall, stadium-style seating to enhance viewing with reclining seats |
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MARUTI TEMPLE |
A kilometre away and perched on the Altinho hillock overlooking the Mandovi River is the temple of Sri Maruti, which is equally patronised by the city dwellers. The Maruti Zatra in the month of February draws large crowds of devotees from far and near.
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