Fatorda Hill (Colina De Cristo), Fatorda

 

 

A quiet and discreet place ironically located in the noisy, bustling city of Fatorda, the Fatorda Hill gives you a view so grand, it would make you think you were looking down from the heavens themselves. The walk from the foot of the hill to the upper portion of the hill is steep but still rather manageable due to the slope being covered with tar. However, the climb to the absolute top of the hill will require to stretch your legs a bit and really test your footwork and balancing skills. Once you reach the top of the hill and you take a few moments to catch your breath, you realize that all the effort and stamina required to make that climb was worth it. A few buildings like the Collectorate of South Goa and District Hospital exist in proximity but beyond that it’s greenery as far as the eyes can see and beyond that, the Arabian Sea. The first time I visited this hill, I was not completely aware of what the view would look like. My only exposure to it was through one or two stories of it on Instagram, so I had only what was a rough image of what I was in store for. After having taken the few final steps to the top, any image of what I thought the view would be like, was quickly replaced by the grand and overwhelming view of the greenery, a few buildings in proximity and the distance, the massive clouds and then the Arabian Sea below it. I was so awestruck it took me a few moments to notice that even the Grand and Bat Islands off the coast of Mormugao were visible in the distance. Redirecting my focus to dead ahead from where I was standing, I even noticed the parachutes that one normally sees when at the beach. Looking up, I was taken aback by the clouds that looked like they were straight out of an epic of mythological folklore. No pictures or videos could have possibly prepared me for this. Once my senses calmed down and I managed to completely soak in the view, I started to take notice of what was around me. The air was nothing like I was used to breathing in the city. It was fresh, clear, crisp and made me wish I could take some home in a bottle with me. Humans aren’t the only species that get to enjoy the view at the hill. Look at the ground long enough and you will without a doubt get to see a few earthworms or other insects here and there. Away from the absolute top of the hill, at the end of a grassy road there is a cross that unfortunately is not visited as much as it was probably intentioned to be. The green grass all around and the huge rocks make for fun experiences and give you an opportunity to unleash your inner rock climber. On the other side of the hill while one most definitely can see greenery around, what catches the eye more is the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the buildings in the distance. All in all, the Fatorda Hill is a location that is serene and peaceful that I could visit any time whenever I need a break from the constantly buzzing city life. If you did in fact, find yourself mesmerized or taken up by some pictures or a video, remember, as great as they may look, they could never 
capture the real deal.

 

Andre Da Silva