Panaji, Capital city in Goa, India
Panaji is a capital in Goa that spreads along the Mandovi River estuary and features low-rise buildings with narrow lanes. The waterfront promenade runs for several kilometers and offers wooden benches and covered pavilions at certain points.
The Portuguese moved their administration here after epidemics made the former capital uninhabitable. The town remained under Portuguese control until annexation by India in 1961.
The Latin quarter holds a small street with baroque chapels and tile art typical of Portugal. Locals sit along the waterfront in the evenings and watch ferries cross the river.
Most public areas lie within walking distance of each other, though some hills can make walking slightly strenuous. Local auto-rickshaws run frequently and can be used for short rides.
A small island called Chorao lies upstream and serves as a sanctuary for water birds, reachable only by boat. Early morning boat trips allow sightings of herons and kingfishers in the mangroves.
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