North Goa-Taj holiday village

garychopper · 24th July 2009, 23:22

Hello all,

I am planning a vacation with my wife at taj holiday village in north goa from the 2nd to the 5th of august. i know it will be raining but i dont mind.
I need more info on must see places to see around, where can I rent bikes or jeeps, what are the day trips we can do from there and general info.
If somebody can help...I would be grateful.

Thanks in advance.

ranjitp1 · 28th July 2009, 15:28

It would be raining for sure.

Bikes can be hired from just outside the hotel.Or still better,just enquire @ the hotel reception and they would be more than willing to help.The bikes come for generally around 150-300rs per day.
The must see places in north are fort aguada,then the beaches(aguada,candolim,calangute,baga,anjuna,vaga tor:in the same order)
Must eat places are Brittos @ Baga and Souzas @ Calangute.Titos is a nice nite place with music/clubbing etc,though i preferred the atmosphere at brittos n souza.must try the prawns balchau
The other places that you could get to see are the mandovi river(a cruise if u r keen),drive thru the streets of panjim,get yourself some cashewnuts(the roasted ones)they r yummy.
Do a drive to Mangeshi temple,Shanta Durga temples,i found them to b the most serene and peaceful of places.keep aside the religious side of things,just being in those places was wonderful,esp the shantha durga temple.incidentally goa is th eonly place where a peaceful form of the goddess durga is seen apparently.(these places are closer to ponda)
drive to the south and take a peekaboo at the 5* resorts there-leela/hyatt/taj/etc.hyatt i wud say is by far the best place in goa..maybe a dinner or a lunch at one of those places if budget permits.its off season there so the htoels and the staff would be more than willing to oblige you with any requests.
other than these places just laze around in the taj and enjoy the rains.goa in the rains is the most beautiful thing that you cud bargain for,dont let the rains keep u indoors,they rain for 5mins n they its bakt o being sunny and then again rains...u can actually see the clouds coming in from the seas which is quite an awesome spectacle.

thats all tht i can think of at the moment.i wud suggest hire a car for a day and do most the places and the next 2 days just roam around in north on the bike.dont venture into the seas as they r extremely dangerous at this time of the year.since u r at the holiday village,u cud also avail the services @ taj aguada,they r interconnected and next to each other.dont forget to click pictures @ the aguada light house(the famous hindi movie dil chahta hai shots

)

pm me in case u need more info..all the best and have a fun time with wifey.

cheers
ranjit

anilkalvani · 28th July 2009, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

dont forget to click pictures @ the aguada light house(the famous hindi movie dil chahta hai shots

)

Ahem, it was the Chapora Fort where the DCH shots were taken. Its not advisable to trek there now during the monsoon, better stick to places more accessible like ranjit has mentioned. Also i would suggest you try Breakfast and Pork Sorpotel (if you do eat it) alongwith Lobster Thermidor (Lunch/Dinner) at Infantaria (Corner of Calangute Beach - Baga Calangute Road).

There is another restaurant at Candolim called Republic of Noodles (RON) which is a part of the Hotel Lemontree Amarante. You get excellent Pan Asian food here.

Don't miss the Pool bar at the Village though.

***EDIT***

The Climb to Chapora, as you can see, during the monsoons this will be mucky & a complete mess... & DANGEROUS!

North Goa-Taj holiday village-img00058200904291206.jpg

A view from the fort

North Goa-Taj holiday village-img00053200904291140.jpg

Another view from there (you can see Vagator beach on the far left)

North Goa-Taj holiday village-img00052200904291139.jpg

s.prashanth · 28th July 2009, 16:43

The hotel is so good, you would not feel like leaving it, you can take thier courtesy drop to Agauda or walk to it by the beach. Aguada has a very nice barbeque restaurant open only in the night and it is excellent. All I did was stay in/by the pool and enjoyed my vacation

anilkalvani · 28th July 2009, 17:52

While i'm at it and since you just reminded me of my favorite holiday spot here are some more pics. I went to Goa twice in May. I go there twice or thrice every year.

Vagator Beach from up above Chapora Fort

North Goa-Taj holiday village-vagator-beach-chapora-fort.jpg

Go North up to this beach Arambol Beach

North Goa-Taj holiday village-arambol-beach.jpg

View from our room at Fort Aguada (Near Taj Holiday Village)

North Goa-Taj holiday village-aguada.jpg

Don't miss Britto's; This is the Pork Vindaloo which is HOT!

North Goa-Taj holiday village-pork-vindaloo-brittos.jpg

Live To Jive · 28th July 2009, 18:05

Go to Cafe Mambo's or Kamaki on Sat night. Check out the happeninggoa website to see what's going on. Kamaki, Plastik, Tito's & Mambo's are all in a line. Check at Butter, Candolim if it's open. In Panjim go to Down the Road (Pub). For traditional food visit Viva Panjim, Venite or Ernestos. Down South you can vist Martin's Corner. Rush if you want to visit the Casino's on the Mandovi river if you're interested. Most of them are shutting down as the licences have expired. The government is also hiking the entry fee to Rs.2000/-.

Pragmites · 28th July 2009, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by s.prashanth

The hotel is so good, you would not feel like leaving it, you can take thier courtesy drop to Agauda or walk to it by the beach. Aguada has a very nice barbeque restaurant open only in the night and it is excellent. All I did was stay in/by the pool and enjoyed my vacation

+1 to that. I don't know whether the shacks on the beach are open in the monsoon, but they serve great fresh sea food: squid, prawns, lobsters, fish. As you come out from the hotel onto the main road, there are a few old colonial houses that are converted into restaurants. Superb ambience and great food, but be patient with their service. No one in Goa is in a hurry! But then they have great bar menus at incredibly low prices ( not in the hotel though) and expect you to make full use of that till they decide to serve you your meal.

Mapusa market is another touristy thing to do. I didn't think too much of it but some of the mom-and-pop bakeries there sell some great plum cake!

mclaren1885 · 28th July 2009, 19:44

The shacks are all shut. Kamaki is the only place with a good crowd. Even Mambo's is mostly empty. This was when I visited Goa around a month back.

Live To Jive · 28th July 2009, 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

The shacks are all shut. Kamaki is the only place with a good crowd. Even Mambo's is mostly empty. This was when I visited Goa around a month back.

What time did you go there. The crowd starts coming to Mambo's only after 1AM. That's when DJ Ajit starts playing. Shacks are shut but a few remain open. Zanzibar opposite Mambo's is one of them.

abhinav.gupta88 · 28th July 2009, 23:32

The Climb to Chapora is indeed dangerous.
We had hired a Wagon R one day and it was quite difficult to take it there. The place is best explored on self rented cars/bikes.
Cars in the range of 1000-2000. Santro wagon r - swift - scorpio - gypsy and even accents and civics.

Bikes cost around 200-300 in this season.

The drive to the Paradise beach ( Forgot the actual name ) - Way down south goa is also amazing ( Not all of it though as it crosses city and gets difficult at night and during the rain as it is not well lit after some distance.

Taj Holiday Village is an amazing resort and you'll love it thoroughly.

mclaren1885 · 28th July 2009, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Live To Jive

What time did you go there. The crowd starts coming to Mambo's only after 1AM. That's when DJ Ajit starts playing. Shacks are shut but a few remain open. Zanzibar opposite Mambo's is one of them.

I was at Mambo's past 1am three days on the trot and it was nothing like what it was 6 months back. I know its off season, but didn't know such few locals would be out partying, let alone the tourists. I had been to Goa around a month back. Zanzibar was shut and so were all the shacks but one. Even they were shutting shop the night I left Goa.

abhinav.gupta88 · 28th July 2009, 23:51

Its better to walk down to the beach near Mambos and titos and enjoy those restaurants.
They serve Hookah there as well. Its a lovely experience.

Live To Jive · 28th July 2009, 23:52

I usually go there only on Saturdays and it's very crowded. Never seen Mambo's empty. Usually there's no place to even move on the dance floor. I was there till 3AM last saturday.

mclaren1885 · 28th July 2009, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Live To Jive

I usually go there only on Saturdays and it's very crowded. Never seen Mambo's empty. Usually there's no place to even move on the dance floor. I was there till 3AM last saturday.

Maybe next time I come there, I shall give you a heads up. We can meet up

.

24th July 2009, 23:22	#1
garychopper BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: delhi/milan/brussels Posts: 43 Thanked: Once	North Goa-Taj holiday village Hello all, I am planning a vacation with my wife at taj holiday village in north goa from the 2nd to the 5th of august. i know it will be raining but i dont mind. I need more info on must see places to see around, where can I rent bikes or jeeps, what are the day trips we can do from there and general info. If somebody can help...I would be grateful. Thanks in advance.
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 15:28	#2
ranjitp1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 3,712 Thanked: 1,926 Times	To do in goa It would be raining for sure. Bikes can be hired from just outside the hotel.Or still better,just enquire @ the hotel reception and they would be more than willing to help.The bikes come for generally around 150-300rs per day. The must see places in north are fort aguada,then the beaches(aguada,candolim,calangute,baga,anjuna,vaga tor:in the same order) Must eat places are Brittos @ Baga and Souzas @ Calangute.Titos is a nice nite place with music/clubbing etc,though i preferred the atmosphere at brittos n souza.must try the prawns balchau The other places that you could get to see are the mandovi river(a cruise if u r keen),drive thru the streets of panjim,get yourself some cashewnuts(the roasted ones)they r yummy. Do a drive to Mangeshi temple,Shanta Durga temples,i found them to b the most serene and peaceful of places.keep aside the religious side of things,just being in those places was wonderful,esp the shantha durga temple.incidentally goa is th eonly place where a peaceful form of the goddess durga is seen apparently.(these places are closer to ponda) drive to the south and take a peekaboo at the 5* resorts there-leela/hyatt/taj/etc.hyatt i wud say is by far the best place in goa..maybe a dinner or a lunch at one of those places if budget permits.its off season there so the htoels and the staff would be more than willing to oblige you with any requests. other than these places just laze around in the taj and enjoy the rains.goa in the rains is the most beautiful thing that you cud bargain for,dont let the rains keep u indoors,they rain for 5mins n they its bakt o being sunny and then again rains...u can actually see the clouds coming in from the seas which is quite an awesome spectacle. thats all tht i can think of at the moment.i wud suggest hire a car for a day and do most the places and the next 2 days just roam around in north on the bike.dont venture into the seas as they r extremely dangerous at this time of the year.since u r at the holiday village,u cud also avail the services @ taj aguada,they r interconnected and next to each other.dont forget to click pictures @ the aguada light house(the famous hindi movie dil chahta hai shots) pm me in case u need more info..all the best and have a fun time with wifey. cheers ranjit
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 16:43	#4
s.prashanth BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 365 Thanked: 85 Times	The hotel is so good, you would not feel like leaving it, you can take thier courtesy drop to Agauda or walk to it by the beach. Aguada has a very nice barbeque restaurant open only in the night and it is excellent. All I did was stay in/by the pool and enjoyed my vacation
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 17:52	#5
anilkalvani BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bandra West, Bombay Posts: 633 Thanked: 89 Times	While i'm at it and since you just reminded me of my favorite holiday spot here are some more pics. I went to Goa twice in May. I go there twice or thrice every year. Vagator Beach from up above Chapora Fort Go North up to this beach Arambol Beach View from our room at Fort Aguada (Near Taj Holiday Village) Don't miss Britto's; This is the Pork Vindaloo which is HOT!
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 18:05	#6
Live To Jive BANNED Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 698 Thanked: 89 Times	Go to Cafe Mambo's or Kamaki on Sat night. Check out the happeninggoa website to see what's going on. Kamaki, Plastik, Tito's & Mambo's are all in a line. Check at Butter, Candolim if it's open. In Panjim go to Down the Road (Pub). For traditional food visit Viva Panjim, Venite or Ernestos. Down South you can vist Martin's Corner. Rush if you want to visit the Casino's on the Mandovi river if you're interested. Most of them are shutting down as the licences have expired. The government is also hiking the entry fee to Rs.2000/-.
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 19:44	#8
mclaren1885 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore (the city of modded cars) !! Posts: 4,820 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	The shacks are all shut. Kamaki is the only place with a good crowd. Even Mambo's is mostly empty. This was when I visited Goa around a month back.
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 23:32	#10
abhinav.gupta88 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi , India Posts: 4,092 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	The Climb to Chapora is indeed dangerous. We had hired a Wagon R one day and it was quite difficult to take it there. The place is best explored on self rented cars/bikes. Cars in the range of 1000-2000. Santro wagon r - swift - scorpio - gypsy and even accents and civics. Bikes cost around 200-300 in this season. The drive to the Paradise beach ( Forgot the actual name ) - Way down south goa is also amazing ( Not all of it though as it crosses city and gets difficult at night and during the rain as it is not well lit after some distance. Taj Holiday Village is an amazing resort and you'll love it thoroughly.
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 23:51	#12
abhinav.gupta88 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi , India Posts: 4,092 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Its better to walk down to the beach near Mambos and titos and enjoy those restaurants. They serve Hookah there as well. Its a lovely experience.
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 23:52	#13
Live To Jive BANNED Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 698 Thanked: 89 Times	I usually go there only on Saturdays and it's very crowded. Never seen Mambo's empty. Usually there's no place to even move on the dance floor. I was there till 3AM last saturday.
	() Thanks