Friday, July 29, 2011

GOA

SERVICES
Canopy Goa – M-11 Housing Board Colony (Gogol, Margao, South Goa); 011-91-976-426-1711; canopygoa.com; organizes ecologically friendly outings to Goa’s sanctuaries and parks, as well as heritage tours to Goan villages and Buddhis caves in Rivona.

NORTH GOA
Anjuna
Restaurants
Moon Star Restaurant – North Anjuna Beach; try paneer tikka.

Arpora Bhati
Hotels
Nilaya Hermitage – Apora Bhati; 011-91-83-2227-6793; nilaya.com; 11 rooms with domed ceilings and local artwork, overlooking banana and coconut trees; try to book Star Room.
Sights & Sites
Saturday Night Market – great for picking up handcrafted tote bags and costume jewelry.

Ashvem Beach
Restaurants
La Plage – barbecued meat and tapas.

Bardez
Hotels
Coco Shambhala – Nerul (near Coco Beach); 011-44-120-248-4257; cocoshambhala.com; 4 exquisite villas – each with 2 bedrooms, garden, and private pool, as well as car and driver.
Panchavatti Guest House – Corjuem Island (Aldona); 011-91-982-258-0632; islaingoa.com; 4-suite guesthouse; lovely.
Pousada Tauma – Calangute; 011-91-83-2227-9061; pousada-tauma.com; 12 rooms with lushly landscaped grounds; pool and excellent restaurant, Copper Bowl.
Restaurants
Copper Bowl – Calangute; 011-91-83-2227-9061; pousada-tauma.com; Konkan and North Indian cuisine.
Services
Ayurvedic Natural Health Centre – Chogm Road, Saligao (Calangute); 011-91-83-2240-9127; healthandayurveda.com.
Sights & Sites
Baga Beach – about hour before sunset, ritual begins; deck chairs replaced by tables with candlelight; towel boys replaced by waiters; and smell of sweet shisha (waterpipe) fills air.

Candolim Beach
Escrivao Vaddo
Hotels
Aashyana Lakhanpal – 011-91-83-2248-9225; aashyanalakhanpal.com; 5-bedroom, fully staffed villa on Candolim Beach; filled with contemporary Indian art.

Mandrem
Services
Ashiyana Tropical Retreat — Junas Waddo (Mandrem Beach); 011-91-98-5040-1714; ashiyana-yoga-goa.com.



OLD GOA (Velha Goa)
UNESCO World Heritage Site – timeworn churches and landmarks evidencing Portuguese colonizers.
Hotels
Elsewhere – aseascape.com; 4 cottages and 3 tents escape/retreat owned by Indian fashion photographer, Denzil Sequeira; secret location 45 minutes from Old Goa; overlooks 1 of north’s best beaches; reached only by bamboo footbridge.
Sights & Sites
Basilica of Bom Jesus – Old Heritage Complex; 011-91-83-2228-5790; holds relics of Goa’s patron saint, Francis Xavier.
Se Cathedral – Old Goa Road; 011-91-83-2228-5850; largest church in Asia.

Panaji
Bars & Nightclubs
Tito’s – Tito’s Lane; 011-91-83-2227-5082; titos.in; open-air nightclub.
Restaurants
Bomra’s – Souza Vaddo, Fort Aguada Road (opposite Kamal Retreat); 011-91-83-2248-9936; modern Burmese food interpreted by London chef.
Horse Shoe – E-245 Rua de Ourem (Panaji); 011-91-83-2222-7614; local Indian-Portuguese food.
Le Poisson Rouge – opposite Baga Bridge; 011-91-83-2324-5800; lepoissonrouge-goa.info; French-Indian fusion; try steamed red snapper stuffed with prawns and rechard masala.
Viva Panjim – House 178, 31st of January Road; 011-91-83-2242-2405; family-run restaurant on small alley; try vindaloo (from vin d’alho).
Services
Sunset Cruise – Santa Monica riverboat, Santa Monica Jetty (at Old Mandovi Bridge); 011-91-832-243-8754; goa-tourism.com; raucus with locals celebrating.
Sights & Sites
Casino Royale – next to Panaji Jetty; 011-91-83-2665-9400; casinoroyalegoa.com; dinner, drinks, gambling, and show.
Houses of Goa Museum – Torda (Salvador-do-Mundo); 011-91-83-2241-0711; archgoa.org; dedicated to region’s unique architecture; striking building in secluded neighborhood, designed by Gerard da Cunha; he will arrange private tours of area if contacted in advance.

Ponda
Sights & Sites
Savoi Plantations – Savoi Village; 011-91-83-2234-0272; savoiplantation.com; 200 year-old, organic spice plantation; lunch available.

Vagator
Sights & Sites
Chapora Fort – north of Vagator Beach; no ticket booth or souvenir stands; drive through Anjuna village, too, on way.



SOUTH GOA
Arrosim Beach
Hotels
Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa – 011-91-83-2272-1234; goa.park.hyatt.com; 1 of finest Indian spas and excellent restaurant, Casa Sarita.
Restaurants
Casa Sarita – (at Park Hyatt); 011-91-83-2272-1234; goa.park.hyatt.com; traditional Goan food.

Cavelossim
Hotels
Leela Kempinski Goa – Mobor Beach; 011-91-83-2662-1234; theleela.com; 186 rooms on 75 acre resort with private beach.

Colva Beach – State’s longest, uninterrupted sand stretch.

Palolem – known for excellent dolphin viewing; very pristine.

Raia
Nostalgia – 608 Ponda-Margao Highway (near Raia church); 011-91-83-2277-7098; brilliant vindaloos, as well as bebinca (signature, multi-layered dessert made of eggs and coconut milk).

No comments:

Post a Comment