Panaji's Heritage Steps

The topography of Goa’s capital Panaji is most fascinating. It is a city nestled around Altinho Hill with the ocean on one side, a river on the other and marshes on the third. It is surrounded by a peninsula, an estuary and a creek. One of the city’s most striking features is its fondness for stairs and steps. Particularly around Altinho Hill, there are many wonderful crisscrossing steps and staircases that connect neighborhoods.

Along Rua Emidio Gracia, one can see a red and yellow cluster of old steps called Escadinhas do Liceu, or Lyceum’s Stairway. At the base of the steps, one can see a tiled version of S. L. Haldankar’s Lady With The Lamp.

A short distance away, near the Consulate General of Portugal, one can find the Stairway of the Way of the Cross, also known as the Heritage Steps to the Bishop’s Palace. These steps are blue and white in color. Similarly, next to St. Sebastian’s Chapel in Fontainhas, one can see the colorful steps of Escadinhas Ivens leading up, from next to an old well.

There are many other wonderful steps peppered all around the area such as Escadinhas do Templo and the Stairway of Loose Stones, amongst others. Some of them have been painted with murals to make them more attractive. These steps connect the winding streets and neighborhoods and offer beautiful views of the city.