August 4, 2014

My TripAdvisor Review No.32: Club Mahindra Fort Kumbhalgarh

“A Rustic Royal Retreat”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed yesterday NEW
Club Mahindra’s Fort Kumbhalgarh is a Royal Retreat set amidst rural and rustic surroundings in the Mewar region of Rajasthan. Its architecture and setting in the Aravalli hills gives you the feeling of living like the warrior kings of the region lived decades ago. At the same time it is not at all like the desert region that Rajasthan is famous for, and there is a lot of greenery all around, and being at an elevation in the hills the climate is quite pleasant, even in summer.

We arrived at Falna by the Mysore-Ajmer Express and got a cab to Kumbhalgarh easily. The driver gives you the option of visiting the famous Jain temples at Ranakpur on the way. We arrived at our resort in a little over 2 hours and immediately checked into our Studio Apartment. It was very tastefully furnished and had a dry kitchenette with microwave, toaster, fridge and kettle. There is a little sit out surrounded by a hedge and beautiful flowering bushes all around, where you can sip your morning and evening cup of tea.

There is a grocery store where you get your basic requirements for breakfast like bread, butter, cheese, milk and noodles. The restaurant serves excellent buffet as well as a la carte and you have the option of dining at the restaurant or out in the open-air Gazebo, which has a barbeque. Food is priced a bit on the high side. There is a lone street-food stall located just outside the gates, where you can order parathas, dal and subji, if you don’t mind compromising on quality and hygiene.

There is a nice clean swimming pool with aqua-zorbing facility. It gets quite crowded here in the evenings since it’s not very big. There is also a spa and beauty salon. There are activities for kids in the Fun Zone, and there’s also an artisan available to teach you the basics of pottery. Cultural shows are arranged in the evening where local artistes perform live.

The main attraction in Kumbhalgarh is the Fort which is the second largest after Chittaurgarh. It is famous for its long wall and its majesty, towering above the plains of Mewar and Marwar. There is a sound and light show conducted every evening, depicting its history and that of its Maharajas. Other attractions include the Ranakpur Jain temples, an hour’s drive away and the Parshuram Mahadeo cave temple, which can only be approached by a 1.5 km trek through the woods. The Travel Desk at the resort can make arrangements for these trips, as well as day trips to Udaipur, Nathdwara and Kankroli.

After enjoying 2 days in our Studio Apartment we shifted to a Tent (Hotel Unit) as we wanted to savour this experience too. We were lucky to get one located right at the edge of the property with a fabulous view of the hills all around. The sit-out had a deck chair where we could relax and watch the world go by. It was truly an out-of-this-world experience. Inside the tent was well furnished and air-conditioned, and even had a rocking chair. However being a Hotel Unit it did not have a kitchenette. We enjoyed the food at the restaurant, and had their ‘Pizza Rusticana Gardenia’ at the Gazebo.

We returned to Pune via Udaipur and Mumbai, after doing some sight-seeing in Udaipur and catching the 9.30 pm Super-fast train to Bandra Terminus from Udaipur.
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  • Stayed July 2014, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

May 6, 2014

My TripAdvisor Review No.31: Rock Garden, Malvan.

“Good place to view Sunset in Malvan”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 May 2014 NEW
The garden is beautifully landscaped and is like a rocky extension of the Chivla Beach. One can go here for a morning walk or an evening view of the sunset, while in Malvan.

I visited this garden in the rainy season, and the huge waves crashing on the rocks and surf spraying around made for an awesome spectacle.

There is a play area for kids, as well as a toy train which goes around the garden offering rides.
Visited August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.30: Tarkarli Beach, Malvan

“Beautiful Scenic Beach”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 May 2014 NEW
Tarkarli Beach is definitely one of the best beaches in Maharashtra. It is very close to Malvan Town. The Sindhudurg Fort is clearly visible in the distance in the middle of the Arabian Sea. There is a beautiful resort run by the MTDC, where one can drop in to have a Malvani meal with fish curry. They have stay options too.

We walked further down the beach to reach the end of the beach at Devbagh, also known as Devbagh Sangam. This is like a small cape or 'Land's End' with the Karli river on one side and the vast Arabian Sea on the other. One can sit here on an upturned boat or the sand and just gaze at the spectacular scenery for hours on end. Then one can walk through a typical coastal village where all the local fishermen live.

A number of resorts are located at Tarkarli beach, offering stay options very close to the beach.
Visited August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.29: Patkar's Heritage Home Stay, Malvan

“A Good Home Stay in Town”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed yesterday NEW
We found out about this place from TripAdvisor, and called Mr.Rane and informed him of our arrival the next day. His voice was friendly and welcoming. However at that time he was offering only bed and breakfast, and we would have to make our own arrangements for lunch and dinner, which suited us fine. Malvan is famous for it's coastal cuisines and there are a lot of restaurants in the town.

When we arrived next evening, it was raining heavily, and we found the entrance to the bungalow down a narrow lane which was almost covered with drooping coconut leaves. We just managed to squeeze our car through this lane. We were welcomed in by Mr.Rane, and Mrs.Rane made us a refreshing cup of hot tea and made us feel at home. After resting a while we went for evening aarti to the Jay Ganesh temple nearby. We had our dinner at 'Arun Bhojanalaya', just around the corner.

We enjoyed the Rane's hospitality for 3 nights. The breakfasts prepared by Mrs.Rane were delicious. On the first morning she made a yummy potato poha topped with grated coconut. The next day we had 'amboli' which were like thick dosas served with a coconut chutney, and a tasty semolina 'upma' on the last day. We wish we could have tasted her home cooked main meals too, but that was not to be.

The room had 3 beds and an attached toilet, with heritage furniture, but no air-conditioning. It is a simple home with no frills, and we enjoyed chatting with them in their drawing room. Mr.Rane was very helpful and guided us about the routes to Vijaydurg, Redi Ganpati and Vengurla.

We hope that the next time we visit, we can enjoy Mrs.Rane's home cooked lunch and dinner too.
  • Stayed August 2013, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

May 5, 2014

My TripAdvisor Review No.28: Club Mahindra Varca Beach, Goa.

“A Jewel in the Club Mahindra Crown”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed yesterday NEW
Club Mahindra Varca Beach is located in South Goa about 11 km from Madgaon and about 42 km south of Panjim. I have holidayed at this Resort four times in as many years, the last visit being in July 2013, and have enjoyed each stay here, even in the rainy season. It is truly a Jewel in the Club Mahindra Gold Crown. RCI has awarded the ‘Gold Crown’ to this resort for more than 10 years in a row.

The resort has a number of Goan style cottages laid out around two large swimming pools and beautifully landscaped gardens. The rooms are all centrally air-conditioned, and the Studio and 1 and 2 bedroom apartments have a dry kitchenette, with a microwave oven, toaster, and kettle.

There are two restaurants and you have a choice of a la carte or buffet meals, and a Dune Shack on the beach which is open from October to April.

The back gate of the resort opens directly on to the beach, and one can go for a long walk on an uncrowded beach or for a swim in the sea. Water sports are made available between October and May. Bicycles are also available on hire at the resort.

There are a lot of indoor games and activities available, including Gym and Spa, and one does not get bored even if the weather plays spoil-sport! In other words one can enjoy at this resort all year round.

The only drawback to this resort is that sight-seeing and eating out becomes expensive if you don’t have your own transport. There is a taxi union attached to the resort which does not allow you to make your own hiring arrangements from outside.
  • Stayed July 2013, travelled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

March 11, 2014

My TripAdvisor Review No.27: 'Fish Curry Rice', Restaurant at Narayan Peth, Pune.

“Genuine Coastal Cuisine”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 March 2014 NEW
We visited Fish Curry Rice recently to try out their coastal Indian fish preparations about which we had heard so much. We ordered a la carte, though they served fish thalis too, in which one can have a complete meal comprising of the fried fish as well as in the curry style fish of Konkan and Goa.

The restaurant is located in the heritage Peth area of Pune, at Narayan Peth. One has to be a skilled driver to negotiate the narrow roads in this locality and find parking for your vehicle, more so if you are in a 4 wheeler. We found parking for our car about 350 m away and walked down to the place.

Because of the limited seating space as well as the popularity of this restaurant, we had to wait outside for 10 minutes. The fishy smells wafting from the kitchen reminded us of the eat streets of Goa and Malvan, and made our mouths water. As soon as a table was empty we were ushered in and welcomed with a cup of kokum syrup.

Between the three of us, we ordered fried Surmai (seer fish) and Bangda (mackerel) with chapatti, and a Goan prawn curry with rice. The fish was fried with a coating of rawa (semolina) and masalas and tasted very good. The prawn curry, made in a typical Goan coconut gravy, was a milder version of the spicy curries we have tasted in Goa, but very fresh. We had two types of solkadi, a spicy digestive drink, at the end of the sumptuous meal.

They serve not only fish, but mutton and chicken curry dishes as well, and many vegetable preparations made in the typical Konkani style, with a mixture of coconut and Malwani spices.

I would definitely like to visit ‘Fish Curry Rice’ again, but next time I would go there on my bike!
Visited March 2014

March 1, 2014

My TripAdvisor Review No.26: Moti Talao, Sawantwadi, District: Sindhudurg

“Pearl of a Lake!”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 February 2014
'Moti Talao' literally means Pearl Lake!

It is a small, but beautiful, lake at the center of Sawantwadi town.This lake also serves as an important road junction, with the national highway on one side and the smaller state highways, leading to the coastal towns near Malvan, on the other. All travelers passing through Sawantwadi on the way to Goa will see this enchanting water body in the center of this town, which lies in the Sindhudurg district of Southern Maharashtra.

The Sawantwadi Palace, or Rajwada, of the erstwhile rulers of this princely state is just next to the lake, and the majestic gate leading to the Palace is clearly visible on one side. On the other side of lake are a row of shops and restaurants where travelers can stop for a bite. There are a few good hotels too, near the lake. One can stop overnight, or longer, since Sawantwadi is also one of the lesser known and beautiful resort towns of India.
Visited March 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.25: Fish'ka Bar N Restaurant, Betalbatim, Goa

“Excellent seafood!”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 February 2014
Fish'ka restaurant is just half a km down the same road which leads to Martin's Corner in Betalbatim, and is located opposite the Alila Diwa Hotel.

We found Martin's Corner was already crowded for lunch that day, so we decided to try out Fish'ka. And we were not disappointed. Car parking is available in their bungalow just behind the restaurant.

Though their menu was not as elaborate as Martin's Corner, we found the food to be very tasty and more reasonably priced. Their wine menu was displayed on an old wine bottle, which was a novel idea.

We enjoyed their fish n chips served with a tartar dip, and the masala fish fry.

Their service, though unhurried, was more friendly than at Martin's.

Would definitely visit again.
Visited March 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.24: Mickey's Restaurant, Colva

“Seafood with a view”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 February 2014
We drove down to Mickey's at Colva since we wanted a change from the resort food, and we were not disappointed.

First of all, the restaurant has a very nice setting near Colva Beach. Since we had come for lunch it was not crowded, and we got a table with a good view of the shimmering sea.

We whiled away our time enjoying our beer, iced tea and wonton soup, waiting for the main course to arrive. We had ordered a tuna salad, a mixed veg salad, and prawn curry rice and quite liked the taste of their preparations.

Would go there again to enjoy a lazy lunch in Goa!
Visited March 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.23: Varca Beach, Goa

“One of the best beaches of South Goa.”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 February 2014
Varca Beach lies in the center of the approximately 30 km long unbroken stretch of lovely South Goa sand beaches, which extends from Bogmalo to Cavelossim. Varca Beach itself is about 4 km long, stretching from the end of the Taj Exotica Resort on Benaulim beach down to the Colonia Jose Menino Resort at Fatrade, near Carmona.

Compared to the crowded North Goa beaches, Varca beach is very peaceful and uncluttered, with only a few beach shacks and resorts. The main resorts along this beach are: Club Mahindra's Emerald Palms and Varca Beach Resorts, Ramada Caravela, Varca Palms, Zuri White Sands and the Colonia Jose Menino Resort.

The beach is excellent for long walks and water is reasonably calm for swimming and water sports activities, except during the rainy season.
Visited March 2013

My TripAdvisor Review No.22: Club Mahindra Emerald Palms Resort, Varca, Goa

“A Jewel of a Resort”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 3 weeks ago
Club Mahindra's Emerald Palms is located between the beaches of Varca and Benaulim in South Goa. We enjoyed a fun filled sunny 5 day holiday here last year during the Carnival.

We drove down from Pune, stopping en route at Sawantwadi. It is better if you have your own car when you stay at Emerald Palms since it is located in a rural setting, and the taxi charges can be exorbitant if you want to do a lot of sight-seeing. There is ample parking space, around a beautiful fountain, and near the entrance to the resort.

The resort itself is a majestic looking sprawling Portuguese mansion with a lot of fountains and statues in the quadrangles with the rooms laid out around them. It is surrounded by a lot of greenery and coconut trees. The swimming pool water is very clean and clear and looks very inviting.

The centrally air-conditioned rooms are well furnished, with the bedroom having a walk-in closet. Our 1BR apartment had an extra bathroom attached to the living room, which was an added convenience.

The restaurant 'La Terraza' serves authentic Goan dishes, and we enjoyed their Fish Curry and Goan Pulao. The buffet option is also available. They even have outdoor seating. The restaurant staff are very courteous and eager to please.

There are some restaurants and shacks outside the resort which are within a 10 minute walking distance towards the beach.

Club Mahindra acquired this property a few years back from the 'Zuri' group. Club Mahindra's Varca Beach Resort is just 2 km away, and a comparison between the two properties would be in order, for the benefit of other Club Mahindra members.

1. Emerald Palms has only 1BR and hotel units (HU) options, whereas Varca Beach Resort has HU, Studio, 1BR and 2BR options. However the 1BR in Emerald Palms are better in that they have two bathrooms.
2. There is no dry kitchenette in Emerald Palms rooms, only a small fridge and electric kettle. Varca Beach Resort rooms have a fully equipped dry kitchenette (except in HU).
3. Varca Beach has 2 large swimming pools and sprawling lawns, and the property opens out directly onto the beach. Emerald Palms has 1 medium sized swimming pool and the beach is a 1 km walk away.
4. If you prefer a quiet holiday within peaceful and tranquil surroundings go to Emerald Palms. If you prefer an activity filled holiday within the resort, go to Varca Beach.

Both the resorts are equally good in their own respects and one can enjoy a good Goan holiday in either one of them.
Stayed March 2013, travelled with family