(L-R standing): Kapila, Pooja, Allen, Pramodh (Seated): Manjunath, Kavita, Sandhya, Jayshree Content Feature Writers Photographers Sales Team Raintree Media Pvt Ltd Patricia Ann Alvares Asha Thadani Pooja Goswami www.raintreemedia.com Sanjana Mendes Assavri Kulkarni Kapila Sengupta Savita Rao S Gasper D’Souza Jayshree Menon Assistant Editor Ramya Reddy Kavita Mohandas Designers Sonal Vaz Legal Advisors Pramodh B S Cariappa & Co Copy Editor Manjunath A V Back Cover Photo Gauri Deshmukh Alessandro Canazei Chartered Accountants Messrs Y V S Vinod 02 Best of Goa International Group Publisher Sven Boermeester International Publisher & Managing Group Editor Lisa Durante CEO & Editor-in-Chief Sandhya Mendonca Editorial Director Allen Mendonca Published by Global Village Publications India Pvt Ltd under franchise licence from Global Village Partnerships Ltd Welcome to the first volume of Best of Goa, in which we showcase the splendour of ISBN # 978-81-907761-0-3 this amazing state like never before. Address Goa is undoubtedly India’s jewel and we go beyond the common selling points of this 7/1, I Floor, Ebony, Hosur Road, sunshine state to present a compelling gamut of its myriad images and moods. We Langford Town, Bangalore 560025 present the deep roots of faith and heritage, the melange of cultural influences that India shape and define the special character of Goa. Tel. No.: +91 80 41329394/ 5 From the spectacular beaches, we lead you through its rivers and mangroves, to www.gvpedia.com spice trails and forests up to the mellow magic of the monsoons. From the swinging [email protected] revelry of the carnival, we walk you through some of the most distinctive festivals of many religions. Printed at Manipal Press Limited Be it food, drink or sport, Goa has definitely something special to offer. Instead of a Press Corner, Manipal 576104 mere listing of places to eat and stay, we focus on the character of the hotels and Karnataka, India restaurants, offering an insight into the brands that have become entrenched in minds Tel. No.: +91 820 2571151 across the globe. Every effort has been made to ensure The second in the India series of the ‘Best of’ books, Best of Goa marks a milestone the accuracy of the information in the in our growth. Goa’s radiant beauty lends itself to beautiful imagery; the panorama and Best of Goa Vol.1 publication. rhythms of life here evoke lyrical outpourings. This book sets the bar for us as we build Neither GVPI nor Best of Goa nor upon this unique model of books in the rest of India. Global Village Partnerships Ltd take any responsibility for errors or omissions. All We salute the spirit of Goa. brands, products and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Sandhya Mendonca All rights reserved: No part of this publication shall be reproduced, copied, transmitted, adapted or modified in any form or by any means. This publication shall not be stored in whole or in part in any form in any retrieval system. Best of Goa 03 Building an Atlas of Success, Sustainability and Culture GLOBALVILLAGE PARTNERSHIPS www.GVPedia.com Brand Image companies making positive inroads into the commercial fibre of both mature and Branding a Nation, a City and its People emerging markets. GVP brands and builds the image of the world’s most exciting economic regions to affect a change in the perception of a nation, a city and its people by The books showcase entrepreneurial spirit, establishing powerful global the rest of the world. This then promotes the region in terms of its investment networks and the creation of individual brand awareness by bridging cultures. opportunities, key industries, innovations, people, culture, tourism potential and The result is the ultimate interactive corporate gift and PR marketing tool for international objectives. governments, companies, hotels and business people providing leading products and services for their region. Product - The Books Celebrate your success Product - The Folders The ‘Best of’ publishing series produces annual maxi format books in over 30 Fast track to the world territories, from Bangalore to Belgium. These detail success stories of people and Market Essentials works closely with Foreign Embassies, REGIONAL HEAD OFFICES = Bangalore = Brussels = Cairo = Casablanca = Copenhagen = Dubai 04 Best of Goa High Commissions, International Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations worldwide to produce high quality trade folders. Each folder is designed to offer support and advice to companies interested in trading with or investing in overseas markets. Product - www.gvpedia.com Connecting the world’s most interesting people and organisations The portal provides GVP customers an interactive Public Relations Box managed by a user friendly ‘Enterprise Content Management System’ that allows clients to upload their press releases, photos, videos and management profiles. The latest networking add-ons and social media applications are integrated within the site, providing maximum reach and feedback. The value proposition for subscribers to gvpedia.com essentially covers four elements: exposure, expertise, exclusivity and networking. Market Promote and network the ‘red apples’ within each economy GVP’s market sectors embrace publishing, public relations, corporate gifting, online community building and networking. Its target market covers large, medium and small entrepreneurial organisations enjoying growth, success and sustainability. GVP explores every geographic region to pick the ‘red apples’ in business, exports, innovation, design, fashion, retail, hospitality, specialty foods, the arts and more. Unique Selling Point (USP) New markets create new business opportunities Sven Boermeester, Chairman with Lisa Durante, Managing Partner, GVP GVP publications promote, showcase and network successful economies, With its mission to serve as the premier platform for organisations and individuals from across the globe. The organisation celebrates success and provides recognition amongst its ever expanding international showcasing and networking the world’s top brands and network of influential clients. Its online portal, www.gvpedia.com provides a companies in business, tourism and lifestyle, Global platform for clients and readers to network, share best practice and grow new Village Partnerships (GVP) is building an atlas of success, markets, creating exciting new business connections and opportunities. sustainability and culture. This is carried out through the ‘Best Corporate Social Responsibility of’ book series, the Global Village online information portal and There is no success without ethics and sustainability the development of an ever expanding business network of The best of world business, travel and lifestyle within the Global Village is dependent on more than monetary profit. There is no success without core values international partners and clients. such as sustainability, integrity and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). GVP’s exclusive client base is selected by invitation only based on these criteria, with the in more than 30 territories where the ‘Best of’ series is published. GVP has a added focus of dedicated chapters covering CSR, sustainability, green innovation five-year growth plan to develop a further 150 economic territories organically, and giving back to the community. through each continent’s regional head office, and through partnerships with companies and individuals that have the expertise to showcase their city, state Growth and Opportunity or country. Exchanging knowledge, skills and economies of scale in media With regional head offices in 5 continents, the organisation is currently involved = Johannesburg = London = Santiago = Singapore = Sydney = Washington DC Turnover 2008 Employees & Circulation International head offices Management US$ 8000000 Partners 500000 London, Brussels Sven Boermeester 100 Dubai, Cairo Lisa Durante Bangalore, Singapore Charles Neil Washington DC, Santiago Leon Swartz Best of Goa 05 Sydney, Johannesburg Contents 06 BestofGoa Chapter 7 Chapter 5 Chapter 3 Chapter 1 Page 68 - 85 Page 46 - 59 Page 32 - 39 Page 08 - 17 Waterways &Trails Best of Goa of Best Festivals Faith Chapter 8 Chapter 6 Chapter 4 Chapter 2 Page 86 - 99 Page 60 - 67 Page 40 - 45 Page 18 - 31 Monsoon Magic Art &Culture Beaches Heritage Chapter 11 Chapter 9 Page 128 - 133 Page 100 - 111 Hotels & Hospitality Hotels &Hospitality Shopping Chapter 12 Chapter 10 Page 134 - 143 Page 112 - 127 Dining &Entertainment Sporting Lifestyle Best ofGoa07 CHAPTER 1 Best of Goa “Blessed by the Gods with long sunny days, plentiful food and water, its people are happy and content.” Anon Photo: S Gasper D’Souza Little rich state India’s smallest state is also its richest, two factors which never really strike visitors to Goa. Most tourists do not look beyond the beach bohemia and Best of Goa picturesque Portuguese villas to probe the reasons that make this region so extraordinary. 10 Best of Goa oa’s GDP per capita is Rs 58677 (US $ 1175), two and a half times that of the country as a whole, and with a 12.1% growth, Git is one of India’s fastest growing states. While the world may come here to vacation, behind the facade of ‘susegad’ (relaxed or easygoing), proud and intelligent Goans work hard enough to maintain a high standard of living; an average Goan earns three times as much as people in the rest of the country. Probe deeper and the uncommon character of Goa, the ‘Goenkarponn’ reveals itself. The characteristics of Goans are moulded by a rich heritage, the coming together of religions, and palates, the mingling of lines of both architecture and blood; the trees and rivers, the sea and the sun, the fields and the sands being both muse and canvas. Endowed with beauty, Goa is also rich in minerals and ores which have built mining fortunes. Its emerald lands, fed by rains and rivers, are fertile and provide jobs for a sizeable number of people. Its reputation of being a paradise earns it the biggest chunk of its revenue from tourists who flock here as regularly as migratory birds. Prajal Sakhardande Portrait: Sonal Vaz Time does move at a different pace here.