THE NATURAL SPRINGS OF PANAJI

(Based on an article in PANJIM PLUS dated 1-15 April 2002, authored by BHAIRAVI)

COMPILED BY:- SANJEEV V. SARDESAI – sanscritic@sify.com

Panaji, the capital city of Goa, is bestowed with two beautifully constructed fountains or natural springs. When the Portuguese decided to shift their administrative capital to Panaji, this area on the bank of the rivulet of River Mandovi was just another hamlet, with a handful of houses to name.
It is a historical fact that the so-called Latin Quarters of Panaji or Fontainhas, was named after the prevalent fountain / spring near the Maruti Temple below the Altinho hillock.
The Portuguese, gave due importance to the natural springs, in this developing township and with an intention to preserve these two water-holes, constructed the enveloping structures around them, and which have been preserved till date.

BOCA DA VACA FOUNTAIN:
Sitting silent and pretty for more than 400 years, the fountain of Boca da Vaca, in Panaji has been restored by the Department of Tourism and opened to public on 30 th March 2002 by the Chief Minister Shri. Manohar Parrikar, with the active assistance of several individual landscape and interior-designing architects.
The area, behind Mahalaxmi Temple, has long since been called as ‘Boca da Vaca’ or in literal Portuguese meant “mouth of a cow”. It was so called because the exit of the water from the fountain, was through a conduit, whose end was shaped to look like the mouth of a cow. One can see such conduits in the temples.
There seems to be no factual records as to who built the monument and when. However, it has been informed by the senior citizenry, that it had been built somewhere in mid 16 th Century. Samples of the structure have been sent to Lucknow, for Carbon Dating, as no records of this structure are found.
The 93 meters long tunnel, channels the water from the source, which lies in the Altinho hill, in its background. The module structure bears a resemblance to the Kadamba dynasty architecture and does not show much of Portuguese influence. It also shows resemblance to the Mahadev Temple of Tambdi Surla. The lotus on the doorway also gives an insight that it may have been built by the Kadamba Rulers. The restoration and beautification has been given a touch of modernism with the interiors having been made attractive with internal neon lighting and slabs of toughened glass laid on the floor, above the running water. As per the official justification of laying the glass, this was to identify when there is any sort of contamination. This total project of beautification has cost the public exchequer an amount of Rs.30 Lakhs. The completed project shall consist of an Herbal Garden, colourful artificial fountains and an artificial waterfall.
The Boca da Vaca Fountain shall be open to the public between September and May, every year and shall remain closed during monsoons, as the water reaches neck level.