Mr. Shobhit Sawhney, General Manager at Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa
An ideal place to trot to this season is:
Monsoon is the perfect season for a drive through the local Goan villages across the narrow, rustic bridges overlooking the calm Mandovi and Zuari rivers, a visit to the age old Shantadurga Temple, Savoi spice plantation, the pristine Arossim beach, Museum of Goa, local Cashew farms and distilleries.
Things you must see and do at that place are:
You can appreciate the rich cultural history of our country at the Shantadurga Temple, soak in the purely organic and natural environment at Savoi spice plantation, walk along the pristine Arossim beach, get an exclusive insight into the contemporary Indian and international arts at Museum of Goa, visit the local Cashew farms to experience how the cashew fruit is picked, stomped to extract the juice, niro, distilled in earthen pots to form urak and then further distilled to form feni.
Some delectable Goan dishes that you must try are: –
The prawn curry with Goan rice, Choris pao, chicken vindhaloo and bebinca.
A local restaurant for a traditional Goan culinary fix is:
Fernando’s Nostalgia in Raia
Things that you must add to your itinerary for an ideal day in Goa could be:
Cycling along the pristine Arossim beach in the morning to watch the dolphins.
The most scenic place in Goa is:
Sitting in my private Goan balcao overlooking the glimmering lagoons with a landscaped view of the gardens and Arabian sea.
A heritage site that you shouldn’t miss is:
The Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, this architectural marvel is more than 420 years old and a true reflection of Goa’s rich heritage; the Sé Cathedral and Holy Hill for the magnificent landscaped views of Goa.
A night club where you must party at is:
Mambo’s, Cape Town Café and Marbela. If you are looking for a fun evening of Karaoke and retro beats then head to Mojo’s and Cohiba.
The best place for all the shopaholics to be is:
Mall de Goa- the recently opened mall in Goa and the Aparant Goan Handicrafts Emporium in Panjim.
The best place to experience wildlife in Goa is:
The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary where you can see the State animal of Goa, the mighty Goan Gaur. Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a must visit for all bird lovers.
For us at Planet-Goa, our team is driven by that feeling of exhilaration that one gets when discovering that something ‘unique’ and ‘new’ about Goa for our ever-so-discerning readers.
For us at Planet-Goa, our team is driven by that feeling of exhilaration that one gets when discovering that something ‘unique’ and ‘new’ about Goa for our ever-so-discerning readers.
