|
Candolim Beach
Candolim Beach extends from the Taj Hotels near the Vaddo of Sinquerium (the Taj likes to call its part of seafront ‘Sinquerium Beach’) to Escrivao Vaddo on the main Candolim-Calangute Road. This main road and the lanes off, it are packed with shops, hotels and restaurant, but the Candolim beachfront itself is much less crowded. It is southernmost beach of the Bardez coast. Its borders with Calangute, is a blur of restaurants and shops. This beach is beautiful, for lazing around with plenty of ‘shacks’ and sun – beds available. This beach stretches approximately 2 km and has lifeguard facilities and parking lots.
Things to see and do
Drive up to Fort Aguada, as you come to the end of Candolim’s Chogm Road, it passes over a deep ditch. This is all that remains of the moat that once surrounded Fort Aguada, and cut the fort off from the Bardez mainland. Built by the Portuguese in 1612 to protect Goa from the Dutch, the fort effectively ended a century of Dutch domination of the sea route to India.
Climb up the fort, which lies atop the Sinquerim Plateau. This location affords a stunning panorama of the Mandovi meeting the sea and of Panaji on the south bank. In the distance, just beyond the cliff top Cabo Raj Bhavan, huge cargo ships make their way to Mormugao Port.
Chapel of Saint Lawrence is on road to the Citadel, which is dedicated to the patron saint of sailors and arguably enjoying the most advantageous location of all Goa’s Chapels. Its feast day is celebrated on August 10, which coincides roughly with Narali Poornima, when fishermen return to the sea after the long monsoon layoff. From the Cabana right outside the chapel gates, built by one Ramakanta Naique, you can get a very good view of Palcia Aguada, a huge mansion built by business tycoon Jimmy Gazdar. This is a favored spot for taking a photograph against the stunning seascape beyond.
Candolim Church was first built by Fr. Pedro de Belem in 1560 and dedicated to our Lady of Hope, Candolim’s Church was repaired and remodeled in 1661 and received its current frosted icing cake look when it was remodeled again by the Village Communidade through contributions from Candolim’s parishioners. The sheet white of this parochial church is incredibly enhanced by the rich emerald paddies that stretch all the way across the Nerul River to Pilerne in the east, forming the kind of montage that makes Goa’s rustic beauty famous.
Dolphins and Fishing, a large number of boat operators also offer dolphin and crocodile spotting trips, island trips, fishing expeditions and river cruises. Among these is Day Tripper (+91 0832 2276726; Website: daytrippergoa.com) which organizes tours of all kinds. John’s Boat Cruises (+91 0832 2478780, +91 9822182814; email johnsboats@rediffmail.com), located near Marquis Beach Resort in Candolim’s Dando Vaddo offers all the above tours plus an exclusive over night backwater cruises in a Kerala live-aboard rice boat, which includes croc-spotting and bird watching. Prices vary from Rs.250-700 per person (guaranteed dolphin spotting, other wise no charge), Rs. 500-1000 per person for the half day crocodile safari cruises and Rs. 3500 per head for the backwater cruise. All boats are certified by the Mercantile Marine Department and have safety equipment on board and insurance for passengers.
Shopping
If you are in Candolim, you must visit Rust (+91 0832 2479340), a lifestyle store. From studio pottery to furniture to all conservation pieces, Rust has it all. But not to be missed is Rust’s incredible Chocolaterie. 10 Downing Street (+91 9822064430) is a club and pub, next to Taj Holiday Village. Geoffrey’s (+91 0832 2282761) pub plays eighties music at softer volumes.
On the main road, near Whispering Palms Beach resort, is a new double storied shopping complex called regal Arcade which houses several stores, like Gossip, Gerison Jewellers, etc. Further down Acron Arcade, houses Sankar Bookshop, Yamini, Serendipity, Auro Boutique and Shyam Ahuja. Visit to this arcade would be an experience.
Indian Arts Exposition (+91 0832 2281884; Website: indianartsexposition.com) near Dona Alcina Resorts has rings necklaces, cufflinks, artifacts, shawls, carpets etc.
Where to eat?
I-95 : +91 0832 2275213
JAMIES : +91 9764364377
Banyan Tree (+91 0832 5645858) at the Taj Holiday Village in Singuirium serves outstanding Thai Food. Caravela (+91 0832 5645858) at the Taj Aguada Beach Resort has fabulous seafood, especially tiger prawns and lobsters, but at five star prices.
Oriental Royal Thai Cuisine (+91 0832 2276323) is on the way to Coqueral hotel, a short walk up from the car park in Candolim murod Vaddo. As name suggests it offers Thai food, at very moderate prices.
La Fenice : +91 9823137713 is an Italian restraurant.
Rustler: +91 0832 2228175 above La Fenice, is a great steakhouse.
Bob’s Inn : +91 0832 2276402 also offers great steaks
J – 29 : +91 0832 2282659 a sports bar, shows large screen formula car racing and soccer matches. A very popular with British soccer fans
Moonlight : +91 0832 2250278 offers typical English food and has a good selection of wine.
Stone House : +91 0832 2479909 specialises in steaks and seafood with roast potatoes.
Viva Goa : +91 0832 2276677 on the main road near football ground, serves excellent Goan cuisines.
Other eateries like Snow Inn, Estella’s, Sea Shell, Casablanca and many more are in close vicinity.
Nightlife in Goa
Though, Nightlife is not so popular in India, it is very much accepted in Goa, which bears much of the Portuguese culture and tradition. One time Portuguese Colony, Goa is the best place in India to visit, if you love to fun & frolic through out the day and the night. Nightlife in Goa is exciting and there are many ways to spark up the evening.
The people of Goa are fun lovers and it is very common to find families going out for a night of fun & merriment. There are places where, almost every third house has a bar-cum-restaurant. The place may not be anything very special, usually just a room in the house that has been opened to the public with a couple of chairs and a table. But the atmosphere is excellent - totally relaxing and extremely favourable to an enjoyable night out with friends and family. Most of the places serve exquisite seafood and other Goan delicacies and have well stocked bars. Titos, which is right on the beach in Goa are the hottest place to visit and to be seen at in Goa today. There's also a new discotheque 'The Beachotheque' where you can dance the night away. You can also check out Lidos in Dona Paula. But, if you are in the mood to dance to the tempo of the ocean, get together with your group of friends, some food and drink and hit the beach. No doubt, you will surely have a special night with the shimmering sand, the soothing moon and the bracing waves!
Discos / Night Clubs in Goa
THE ALCOVE : Over Looking Ozran Vagator Beach (Open till Midnight)
TEMPTATIONS : Red Cab Inn, Below Starco's Crossroads, Vagator Beach (Open till Midnight)
TITO'S : Baga Beach
Casinos in Goa
If you keep interest in Casinos then there are numerous in Goa, which are open through out the night. Some even provide snacks and drinks in between.
CHANCES : Cidade De Goa resort, Dona Paula Beach, Near Panjim
LAS VEGAS : Leela beach, Mabor, South Goa Candolim Beach, Off Main Road
Pubs Bars & Pubs
SHORES BAR : Anjuna Beach
GURU BAR :Anjuna Beach, Near Shores Bar
PETE'S BAR : Calangute Beach
ANGELA P. FERNANDES :Calangute Beach
BOB'S INN :Between Calangute & Candolim
(Open till midnight)
CLISHER : North of GTDC Tourist Resort, Behind Baga Beach Specialty: Fresh Seafood, Breakfasts Specials And Cold Beer
DINKY : Beside the steps to the Baga Beach Specialty: Standard Seafood and Beer Bar
BOM SUCCESSO : Candolim Beach on the Fort Aguada Road
FLORENTINE : Saligao, Off the Calangute-Sangolda-Porvorim Road, Near Villa Saligao.
PALM AND SAND : Sinquerim beach, Off Fort Aguada Main Road
PLANTER'S : Calangute, Just before Main Market Square
RONIL ROYALE : Baga Beach, On Calangute-Baga Road
SOUZA LOBO : On the Calangute Beach Front
TAMARIND TREE : Dom Francisco In Candolim Beach, On Main Sinquerim-Calangute Road
TATOPHANIE :Baga Beach, On Calangute-Baga Road
ALEX :Baga Beach, End of Road
BRITTO'S : Baga Beach, End of Road
CASA PORTUGUESA : Baga Beach, On Calangute-Baga Road
DROP ANCHOR : Baga Beach, End of Road
INFANTARIA PASTELARIA : Near St John's Chapel, Calangute-Baga Road
LAFREMICH : Capt Lobo's Beach Hideaway, Baga Beach
ST ANTHONY'S : Baga Beach, End of Road Specialty: Good seafood.
TITO'S : Baga Beach, Off Calangute-Baga Road
21 COCONUTS : Candolim Beach, On the Main Road
ZAPPA BEACH SHACK : Candolim Beach, Off Main Road
Travel Agents
Dravidair International Travels, Location between Bob’s Inn and Viva Goa Restaurant – Address Candolim-Calangute main road, Escrivao Vaddo, Candolim tel (+91 0832 2277007/+91 0832 2275003) Travel services, flight, train and bus tickets, car rentals, hotel reservations, chartered flights, forex.
Traveland, located at Lakshmi Apts. Pinto Vaddo, Candolim. Tel (+91 0832 2276773) Travel services, flight, train and bus tickets, car rental, forex
Goa Tele Help lines
Directory Enquiry 197
Hello Goa (talking yellow pages) 2412121
All India directory enquiry 183
Change number announcement 1951,1952,1953,1954
Police 100
Fire 101
Emergency relief centre on National highways 1033
Women crises response 1091
Coast Guard maritime Search and Rescue Control room 1718
Dial a doctor 1911
Ambulance 102
Vrindavan Hospital and Research Centre (Mapuca) +91 0832 2250022
(Mapuca)
Goa Tourism tel (+91 0832 2226515, +91 08322226728) website: goatourism.org
ATM centres near Candolim - HDFC Bank, near Regal villa opp. SBI Bank, Canara Bank, near Candolim ‘tinto’ Market place.
Other ATM centres are many, in close by place called Calangute
ICICI, Benson Complex, Naika Vaddo, Calangute
HDFC Bank, Naika Vaddo, Calangute
Centurion Bank, Litangini, Naika Vaddo, Calangute
SBI Bank, Porbo Vaddo, Calangute
Bank of Baroda, Porbo Vaddo, Calangute
Other Forex Agents in Calangute
Menezes Enterprises, Falcon Resort, Naika Vaddo, Calangute (+91 0832 2276386, +91 0832 2276396)
Nikkis Travel Services, Near Pousada Tauma, G3, Donna Rosa, Mapuca Road ( +91 9823012025)
|
