PANJIM INN
- Panjim Inn is a beautifully restored Heritage Hotel in Fontainhas, Goa. Refurbished from a genuine heritage 130 year old family home in Goa’s Latin Quarter, the Inn is now a part of the WelcomHeritage Group that offers an exclusive collection of 63 Heritage Hotels across India.
- The hotel follows the sustainable Heritage Conservation and Preservation procedures to ensure the ethical conversion of the heritage building and the maintenance of its historical traditions. It additionally adopts eco-conscious practices in its daily operations, from solar water heating, rain water harvesting, energy saving lights to wet garbage composting, in an effort towards preservation of the historical precinct of Fountainhas.
- Panjim Inn showcases local and modern art as well as Goan antique furnishings and artefacts throughout its building’s interiors and guestrooms, in addition to collections displayed at the hotel’s dedicated gallery, Gallery Gitanjali, located across the street.
HERITAGE HOTEL & RESTAURANT
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THE ACCOMMODATIONS
- A memorable homely stay in an old world setting.
- Panim Inn offers 24 guestrooms with 12 rooms located in the old house and the remainder in the “Rebuilt section” facing Rua de Ourem. Embodying an old world charm, each room is uniquely styled and distinctive in character, replete with period furniture, including four poster beds, carved rosewood cupboards and a selection of art and antiques. Modern facilities in every room, including air-conditioning, mini-fridge, cable television and electronic safes, ensure every comfort and convenience.
THE RESTAURANT
Panjim Inn’s kitchen serves local as well as continental cuisine. Hotel guests and outside patrons may enjoy their meals at the Inn’s charming terrace restaurant furnished in turn-of-the-century rosewood chairs and tables, and overlooking the Fountainhas’s cobbled streets and Gallery Gitanjali.
THE GALLERY GITANJALI
- Housed in an indepedent heritage building over 180 years old and situated in the heart of the charming Fontainhas locality, Gallery Gitanjali is one of the oldest galleries in State of Goa. Founded by Panjim Inn’s owner, Ajit Sukhija, as an exercise to overcome his childhood fear of drawing and in his endeavour to showcase Goan art in his hotel, the gallery is now an independent, yet integral part Fountainhas restoration project undertaken by Ajit.
- Over the years the gallery has evolved into an important cultural centre in the city, offering an alternative art studio, a cafe and a conference/ workshop venue. Gallery Gitanjali hosts several events and workshops throughout the year, including art history and film appreciation courses, book readings, art and theatre workshops, art performances, as well as talks on conservation and environmental concerns.
- The gallery café has been envisioned as a space for people to come by to browse through books, play board-games or enjoy an espresso amidst an inspirational world of art. The 'Aangan' at the 'Pousada' offers a studio for alternative art, where courses are facilitated on the art of ' seeing' and expressing on canvas and paper, employing avant-garde methodologies.
THE STORY
While on a sabbatical in Italy in the 1980's, engineer Ajit Sukhija became enamoured by the country’s quaint heritage hotels and the notion of converting old villa to hotels as a means of preserving these historical buildings. On returning to India, he explored possibilities of transforming his own family home to a self–sustaining undertaking. Hailing from a family of doctors, the initial idea was to convert the building into a hospital; however, since no member of his family was keen on managing a medical facility, the idea of a hotel began to take shape.
The building that now houses the Panjim Inn has was amongst the first large colonial mansions of Fontainhas. Built in the late 1800’s by Francis Assis D’Silveira, a successful businessman, the building has been owned by the same family for over 5 generations.
The original gilded pelmets and wrought iron railings, which still grace the first floor balcaos and verandas, flaunt the family insignia or brazao of Francis D’assis Silveira.
Diligent restoration work preserved the external façade, retaining the original structure and elegance of the building. While making alterations, meticulous care was exercised to conserve and strengthen the 90 centimetre thick, clay and lateritic stone walls that comprise the basic structure. The original massive Burma teak beams and rafters were also retained, treated to protect against termites and white ants.
Panjim Inn was formally classified as a Heritage Hotel by the Govt of India in 1997, and it has maintained its status since.
