My TripAdvisor Review No.640: Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple, Sanguem, Goa.

Hidden Gem Of A Temple In The Forest.

On the drive out from Colva back to Pune we decided to visit the Mahadev Temple in the forests of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. We had to take a left turn off the Anmod Ghat Highway, at Dharbandora, and drive along a narrow forested road of the sanctuary for 23 km. The road was very smooth and scenic through tiny villages and giant trees on both sides. It took us about half an hour to get to the temple parking area from Dharbandora.

The small temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and was built in the 12th century by the Kadambas, and is one of the only Hindu temples to have survived the ravages of the Muslim and Portuguese invaders of Goa, in its original form. The presiding deity in the form of a Lingam is mounted on a pedestal in the inner sanctum. Bas-relief figures of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, with their respective consorts appear on panels at the sides of the temple. There is a headless Nandi Bull at the centre of the mandap. The temple is surrounded by well kept lawns and plenty of greenery and is maintained by the ASI. A small river runs by the temple.

The temple is a short walk from the parking area through a well kept pathway. There are some small snacks and drinks stalls and a public washroom near the parking lot. The temple does not have many other commercial stalls selling puja offerings, nor any pujaris and beggars trying to relieve you of your belongings, so it is a very good place for a pure darshan of the Gods, either in the form of stone or natural beauty. Beware of the friendly monkeys though.

Date of experience: December 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.639: Colva Beach, South Goa.

Most Popular Beach Of South Goa.

Colva Beach seems to be the most popular beach of South Goa judging by the crowds here on holidays. But the direct approach to the beach was obstructed by a pool of stagnant and dirty water when we visited in December 2019. One has to skirt around some beach shacks to reach the sandy portion along the seaside. There is another approach road going from behind the restaurants which runs parallel to the beach.

There are a lot of water sports activities taking place here. If you come during the daylight hours you will observe people enjoying parasailing, water skiing, banana boat riding and swimming in the sea. The beach is always crowded in the holiday season. It is a safe beach for a dip in the sea and there are lifeguards always present and patrolling in their red jeeps.

We were sitting at one of the beach restaurants and observing the frenzied activities taking place on the lovely sands. It is a crowded beach and not one where one can relax with a book to read, though there are many sundecks which the Europeans hire from the local vendors, to give themselves a deep tan.

Apart from the beach shacks there are also some established restaurants and hotels on shore, including the state run GTDC Colva Residency. There are many shops where you can pick up souvenirs and memorabilia, as well as Goan cashews and famous alcoholic brew of Goa, Feni.

Date of experience: December 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.637: Ton-Cia Restaurant, Varca, Goa.

Homely Goan Restaurant.

This restaurant is not a beach shack but a regular restaurant, tucked away in a by-lane, about half a kilometre from Varca Beach. It is in a very relaxed setting in the large open veranda of owner Periera’s cottage and surrounded by a nice garden with some coconut trees. There is a small chapel in the compound. The red tablecloths were matching the red painted walls.

There were about ten tables and they had an elaborate food and beverages menu. Cashew Feni was also available in addition to the regular drinks. We had a plate of Roasted Papad as starters, and Batter Fried Fish with Chips. We also enjoyed their typical Goan Fish Curry with Rice. They also serve Chinese and Continental food for the many British and Russian guests who stay in the nearby guest houses down the lane. We quite enjoyed the food and homely service at this restaurant. Prices were reasonable.

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Date of visit: December 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.573: Acacia Palms Resort, Colva, Goa.

Friendly Staff Made For A Great Stay.

Acacia Palms Resort at Colva is now affiliated with the Club Mahindra Group, but compared to the other resorts it is relatively small and does not even have parking inside the gates. We had to park in the lot with other cars and cabs, though it was under the watch of the hotel security, so there was no problem. There is no direct access to the beach and we had to walk past a cluster of shops and restaurants for about 5 minutes to get to the seashore. All the rooms here are standard hotel units with an extra convertible sofa to accommodate an extra person.

However, the rooms are sufficiently large and well maintained with good air-conditioning and soft mattresses and furnishings, a large flat-screen TV, cupboard with electronic safe, tea/coffee maker with sachets provided, a large bathroom and a small balcony where we enjoyed our morning cuppa. Our balcony had a sea view since we were on the first floor, but not all the rooms in the resort could boast about a good view. Between the resort and the beach there is a canal and an internal road leading to the beach. There are nice lawns and gardens in the resort and a small swimming pool which was quite well maintained. There were deck chairs around the pool and separate towels provided.

The service was very friendly and efficient, and the food was reasonably tasty though we did not go for the buffet but ordered ala-carte. Whenever the Activity Centre arranged some show by the poolside the restaurant staff laid the tables outdoors so that the diners could enjoy the same. In spite of there being so many nice restaurants around the resorts we decided to dine in and enjoy the Bollywood Nite and the Magic Show Nite.

All in all we had a good relaxing and entertaining stay at Acacia Palms and would love to visit again.

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Date of stay: December 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.446: The Saturday Night Market, Arpora, Goa.

Sharpen Your Bargaining Skills.

This is an open-air market held every Saturday night at Arpora. There is a live band playing but you have to wait till after nightfall for it to get swinging. There are a lot of stalls where you can buy knick-knacks, art items, electronic stuff, curios, artifacts, cigarettes, masalas, spices, perfumes, footwear, imitation jewelry, bags, and clothing.

Prices of most of the items are atrocious. Be sure to bargain. You may be lucky to get some merchandise at one-fourth of the original price quoted. If not, then pretend to walk away. You can always come back if you have set your heart on buying the item.

At the end of it all, you will be hungry. Head to the food stalls where there is a variety of fast food available. Sit down with your plate of Tibetan momos or wada pao and enjoy the live music.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.445: Calamari Bathe and Binge, Candolim, Goa.

Great Beachfront Restaurant With Live Music.

Calamari Bathe and Binge is a good beachfront restaurant located on Candolim Beach in North Goa. They have loungers on the beach where you can relax after a swim and then head for lunch or dinner and binge on their delicious seafood and drinks.

We visited the place on a Saturday night for dinner and got a nice table on the sands with the refreshing sea breeze ruffling our hair. There was a live band playing popular English and Hindi pop music which enlivened the atmosphere.

They have a variety of alcoholic drinks. My choice was the Caju Feni with soda, while my friends had their own cocktails. We had Fish Fingers and Calamari (squid) Butter Garlic as starters. After the drinks, we ordered their Paneer and Mushroom Chilly Fry and Rechiado Masala Pomfret and both tasted very good.

Prices were a bit on the higher side. The service was courteous and friendly but a bit slow.

The place is worth visiting for its nice open air ambiance and live music and lively atmosphere. There is a huge parking lot outside and cabs are easily available.

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Date of visit: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.444: Souza Lobo, Calangute Beach, Goa.

Authentic Goan Beach Restaurant.

Souza Lobo is a classy beach restaurant, too classy to be called a shack. It is located right in the middle of Calangute Beach with a very good view of the seaside. It is well decorated and has an authentic Goan ambiance with nice paintings of ancient and contemporary Goa, as well as some family photographs. It is a family run enterprise which was started in the year 1932. It has a rustic charm of its own. They specialize in seafood mainly Goan, Continental and Indian.

We visited the place on a Sunday afternoon and were lucky to get a table for six in the veranda with a beach view. We were served by friendly waiters dressed in colorful Hawaiian shirts. We started with drinks and wines. For starters, we tried the Butter Garlic Fried Potato Skins, Fish Fingers, and Tandoori Mushrooms. For mains, we had the Kingfish with Curry Rice, Pork Vindaloo with Veg Biryani. We also tried the Malai Kofta and Gobi Manchurian in the vegetarian selection. The food was well cooked and very delicious. Later we shared Bebinca and Tiramisu to sweeten our palettes.

We enjoyed our lunch and decided to visit next time for dinner since they have a live band and barbeques with outdoor seating as well in the evenings.

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Date of visit: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.443: Britto's Baga Beach, Goa.

Britto's: The Best On Baga Beach.

Britto’s is by far the best beach restaurant on Baga Beach. It is one of the oldest beach restaurants in Goa and has been in existence since 1965. If you have not dined at Britto’s you have not experienced Baga Beach. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks.

We entered the place on a Saturday afternoon at 1 pm and the restaurant was empty. We got a table next to the beach with an excellent view of the sea and a nice sea breeze blowing our way. The tables are set close to each other and seem a bit congested, but by the time we finished our lunch at 3 pm, there was not a single vacant table, and there was a waiting list.

We ordered a bottle of white wine for the six of us and enjoyed it with yummy starters. The grilled Kingfish and Mushroom and Gobi Manchurian were finger licking tasty. Later we enjoyed the biryanis and Egg Xacuti with rice. The crab gravy was very good too.

The service is quick and courteous, and the ambiance is open and airy with some nice Goan village decorations and artifacts. Prices are on the higher side but it is well worth it.

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Date of visit: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.442: Baga Beach, Goa.

Popular Beach Of North Goa.

Baga Beach seems to be an extension of Calangute Beach. As you walk north of Calangute Beach you will see a huge signboard on the hillside indicating the northern end of Baga Beach. There is no clear demarcating line between Baga and Calangute.

There are a lot of water sports activities taking place here. If you come during the daylight hours you will observe people enjoying parasailing, water skiing, banana boat riding and swimming in the sea. The beach is always crowded in the holiday season.

We were sitting at one of the beach restaurants, ‘Britto’s’ and observing the frenzied activities taking place on the lovely sands. It is a crowded beach and not one where one can relax with a book to read, though there are many sundecks which the Europeans hire from the local vendors, to give themselves a deep tan.

The Anjuna Flea Market and the Arpora Saturday Night Bazaar are quite close to Baga Beach.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.441: Calangute Beach, Goa.

Most Popular Beach Of North Goa.

Calangute Beach located about 20 km north of Goa’s capital, Panjim, is probably the most popular beach of North Goa. Calangute is a happening place with plenty of restaurants, resorts, beach shacks, markets, and casinos.

The beach itself is always buzzing with activities like para-sailing, water-skiing, banana boat rides, and swimming. There is always a crowd of tourists on the beach, with the local populace joining in on the weekends. People like to enjoy a meal in one of the many beach shacks lining the beach.

We would take a long morning walk on the clean sandy beach, which stretches for about 3 kilometers with Candolim Beach at the south end and Baga Beach at the north end. There are lifeguards always patrolling the beach in their red jeeps alerting people whether it is safe to swim or not. It gets very crowded in the evenings particularly at the time of sunset.

It’s a good beach to watch the beautiful tropical sunsets.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.440: Udupi Ujwala Refreshment, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa.

Simple Food, Good Service.

After arriving early in the morning by the Goa Express I decided to wait at the Railway retiring room at Vasco-da-Gama, as the check-in time at my Calangute resort was in the afternoon. Walking around the Railway Station I found this simple looking Udupi Restaurant and had a breakfast of Idli Sambar, and a Plain Dosa. The basic stuff tasted very good and I followed it up with a cup of coffee.

Later I visited the restaurant again and ordered a Thali Lunch. The thali had a dry vegetable, a lentil dish, dal, rasam, curd, pickle, papad, two chapattis, and some rice, as well as a sweet dish, all this in only ₹90. I quite enjoyed this value for money meal and walked out satisfied.

The restaurant is in a parallel lane just about five-minute walk from Vasco Station.

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Date of visit: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.439: Japanese Garden, Vasco da Gama, Goa.

Panoramic View Of The Arabian Sea.

The Japanese Garden is one of the best lookout points along the Goa coastline. It juts out from a headland about 3 km from Vasco da Gama Railway Station. It is quite an uphill climb to reach from Vasco, but it is accessible by local buses which go to Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) colony, or you can hire a rickshaw or a two-wheeler pilot to take you.

There is a nice garden located here from where you get an excellent 180-degree view of the Arabian Sea and the rocky beach below. There are some ornamental plant and palm trees which make it a nice garden for an evening stroll, but the sea views from the walkway at the edge of the cliff make the visit more worthwhile.

There was not much else to do as the garden was quite deserted in the daytime, but it is a place worth visiting in the evening to view the sunset. There are a few snack stalls nearby which are open only in the evenings.

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Date of experience: March 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.437: Chalston Beach Resort, Calangute, Goa.

A Pleasant Goan Experience.

Chalston Beach Resort is an excellent stay option at Calangute. It is located between Calangute and Baga beaches, and one can walk straight on to the sands to take a long barefoot walk on either side of the resort. Their restaurant is also located overlooking the beach and we enjoyed our dinners in the open air with the sea breeze to keep us cool.

The rooms are set in lush green gardens with a lot of trees, flowering, and ornamental plants and bushes all around. There were many idols and statuettes strategically placed in the gardens to enhance the feelings of peace and serenity.

The ac rooms themselves are well furnished with king size bed, built-in cupboard with a digital safe, LCD TV, a small fridge, tea/coffee maker, coffee table with sofa and bedside tables with reading lamps. The bathrooms are adequate with soap, shampoo and even a shaving kit provided, but no dental kit. We had a sit-out adjacent to the garden, while the upper floors had individual balconies.

The swimming pool was medium sized (14x7 meters) but very clean and inviting, with a pool bar where we could get snacks and drinks. Sun loungers were provided by the poolside and near the restaurant. There are table tennis table and billiards table, and a foose ball table near the restaurant.

We were served complimentary breakfast at the restaurant which included Indian items like Idli, Upma, Pongal, Puri Bhaji, Paratha as well as the Continental items like eggs, pork sausages, fruit, cornflakes, toast and Goan breads like pao and pui which could be toasted to our liking, followed by tea, coffee or juice.

We had a pleasant and peaceful 3 days stay at Chalston, and we did not feel that we were in one of the most crowded and buzzing beaches of Goa. The friendly and helpful staff made our stay even more comfortable.

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Date of stay: March 2019

Trip type: Travelled with friends

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My TripAdvisor Review No.436: Chalston Restaurant, Calangute, Goa.

Best Beach Restaurant in Calangute.

Chalston Restaurant which belongs to the Chalston Beach Resort is by far one of the best open-air beach restaurants in Calangute. It is just abutting the beach, but on a slightly raised level and away from the crowds on the popular and crowded beach. There were well-trimmed lawns and beautiful greenery around and the restaurant had a thatched roof which gave it a charming rustic look.

We were served with a variety of local seafood as well as vegetarian dishes. The taste was authentic Goan but not too spicy. Mughlai and Tandoori dishes were also available, as well as many Continental dishes. Cocktails and mocktails were also available along with the regular drinks at dinner.

On specials occasions and weekends they have a live band with dancing.

As we were staying at the resort we were served with sumptuous breakfast every morning. We would have idli chutney one day, Pongal or Upma on another day, or Puri bhaji. In addition, we could have eggs with sausages, parathas or dosas from the live counter. We could toast our own bread, pao or pui and have it with butter or cheese. Fruit juice, tea, and coffee were there to wash it all down with.

The service was impeccable, with the waiters ready to help you with your requests. This place is definitely one of the best beach restaurants in Calangute to have a nice relaxed meal.

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