Ponte Conde de Linhares

Ponte Conde de Linhares is a stone bridge spanning the Mandovi River flood plains and connecting Ribandar to Panaji through a series of arches. The structure rests on pillars and is lined with mangrove trees that help stabilize the embankments.

The bridge was constructed in the early 1600s as an ambitious engineering project connecting two important settlements. It represents an early large-scale infrastructure development in the region during the colonial period.

The bridge demonstrates how Portuguese builders and local workers combined their knowledge to create a lasting structure using stone and timber from the region. People still cross it daily as part of their routine, making it an active link between neighborhoods.

The bridge is open to pedestrians and vehicles with speed limits in place to protect the historic structure. Visitors should be prepared for uneven surfaces and should stay on the marked pathways that run through the arches.

The construction used specialized techniques with locally sourced materials and was remarkable for its scale at the time. The combination of numerous arches and pillars shows how builders solved challenges posed by the marshy river environment.