Thursday 9 April 2015

5 destinations to visit when in GOA.

 Goa is not the place you visit once and cross off from your list. After the first visit it becomes an urge and after the second, a tradition! From beaches to places of historical importance and to flea markets; Goa has it all. Every aspect of this party hub effuses the attributes of a perfect tourist destination. Bestowed with moderate climate, the weather in Goa is another major attraction for being salubrious for most times of the year. Live entertainment on the beach, at the shacks and on docked ships are perennial features. Music and merriment are a part and parcel of everyday existence. Goa provides you an exemplary holiday experience while offering some of the most prodigious places to explore. So, why go to the humdrum places when there are so many other awesome places you can visit in Goa itself? So here’s a list of a few whereabouts to visit in the party capital of India: 1.  Baga beach

Baga Beach, positioned in North Goa is around 16 kilometers away from Panaji. The beach is only a kilometer away from Neelam’s The Grand. If there is one beach in Goa that remains cognizant day and night, it has to be Baga Beach! There is no qualm about the scripture that the place is always zooming on the hotness meter as there is so much that one can do here. Meandering around on the Baga stretch, relishing from the multifarious shops to the best party hubs of the state, the exquisite beach hits you with a breeze of vibrating energy which is so emblematic of the place. Whether it is the water sports fling or the endless booze and food, Baga beach is just full of life in every sense of the word. The beach is lined with continuous echelons of shacks and colorful fishing boats. With time, the beach has become more famous for its dolphin cruises which take you around a kilometer or two away from the main beach stretch for dolphin sighting. Phew! So much in one place! Hang on. If you thought, it’s only about eating and playing with the water at this beach; then you would be stunned to know that you can very well conciliate the shopaholic with you by exploring the Arpora Village which is located in close proximity. 


2.  Calangute beach

 Calangute Beach stays one of the modish of all the beaches in Goa. With the blue waters of the Arabian Sea lapping its shores, it's a heaven for nature lovers. Plus, it lets aviate over the waves with para-sailing and a host of adventure sports. There are many mezzanine areas spread on the stretch, where you can fritter away in the sun for hours. It has got many restaurants that dish up some really sizzling grubs, especially continental and sea food. And as Neelam’s The Grand ensconces half a kilometer by its side, a walk can land you right there to settle back and tranquilize. Calangute is also one of the most commercially buzzing beaches of Goa, and you can bag in some chunk jewelry from here. This beach in Goa is also known as the Queen of Beaches. The period from November to February is the most pleasant to visit here. It is adorned with shacks and stalls under the shade of palm trees selling everything from fried prawns and beer, to trinkets made of seashells. One of the places worth visiting nearby is the St. Alex Church. The Church of St Alex greets the visitors with its two towers and a magnificent dome gracing the façade. The inside of the church is a display of the line and beauty of its architectural style and attractive altars. 3.  Club Cabana

Club Cabana which is at an ambit of only 4 kilometers from The Grand is the zone you should be in if you itch to find out why Goa is such an undulate and a fascinating party destination. The first thing that strikes you is the breathtaking location and the remarkably cool setting of the club amongst the treetops and under a starlit sky. This will be followed by an amazing decor and a very vibrant overall ambiance of the place. Club Cabana is frequented by a lot of models and other celebs, so don't be surprised if you bump into one and see another one hip-shaking to the hip-hop or savoring around the pool. Apart from the impressive guest-book, the club has a poolside bar, a clubbing area, a lounge and the main bar. Overall, the club is a great hangout place for couple and groups of friends. If you are with your family, you can choose to lounge around, listen to the music, and take in the marvelous views of the beach. Many claim that you haven't seen Goa, if you've not been to Club Cabana, the night club in the sky, and we wholeheartedly second that. With great music, great ambience, great management, unlimited drinks and classy crowds, Cabana simply bowls you over. 4.  Fort Aguada

Aguada was meant to forestall possible attacks on Old Goa from the Dutch and Marathas and to keep a watch over River Mandovi .As many as 200 cannons were installed for the defense of locals. To reach the fort, one needs to cross a deep dry moat. The views from the fort are simply spectacular. A lighthouse on the premises further enhances the structure's magnificence. This fort is amongst the many preserved places to see in Goa and essays an era of yore filled with events. A Portuguese fort overlooking the Sinquerim Beach and the Arabian Sea, The factual fort, which is at a favorable stretch of about a kilometer from Neelam’s The Grand  has become a prominent landmark or a reference point for ships visiting the Goan shores from Europe. Located on the Candolim Beach, Goa, and on the shore of the Mandolim River, it remains open on all days of the week from nine in the morning to six thirty in the evening. Like all other attractions, the Aguada Fort in also has its own brand of unique charm. In fact, countless visitors just can’t stop gushing about the place. Without a perplexity, a trip to Aguada Fort will leave you with a lifetime of fond memories.
 5.  Candolim Beach.

Candolim Beach is a deluxe place in North Goa for a hang-loose beach-side holiday on your Goa foray.  This beach in Goa is very peaceful and is positioned quite close to the Aguada beach. Most of the tourists in Goa prefer going to the Candolim strand owing to its serene and tranquil environment. It is prominent as one can find some of the peerless seafood in Goa. This waterfront has quite a number of shacks and beach restaurants that serve tasty dishes and drinks. The white sandy beach naturally beautified by the scrub-covered dunes draws a lot of tourists these days. At the Candolim one will often see a mixed crowd of tourists and locals alike. One can enjoy a lot here as the beach offers a lot of water sport activities such as water-skiing and parasailing. The evenings at the beach offer beautiful views of the sunset and one can really rejuvenate and relax themselves. The lakeshore is located at about 14 kilometers from Panjim and a few minutes afar from Neelam’s The Grand. One can often hire a cab, bike or an auto to get here, but there are also a number of buses plying from Mapusa and Panjim that will get you here. For all those seeking a reticent and relaxing holiday in Goa heading towards the Candolim beach makes an excellent idea.
 Refresh your soul in Goa at Neelam's The Grand, just few minutes from the above destinations. Offering you luxury accommodation choices and making it worth-while for you to enjoy your Goa swing. So pack your bags and set off to a truly enchanting destination for your vacation to foster one of your unforgettable journey!

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Sunday 8 February 2015

Valentines Day Grand Dinner


What would be a Valentine’s Day celebration without some romantic and entertaining music to dance with your beloved? Warm up on the dance floor with the DJ’s tracks as he will be throwing a special Valentine’s Day songs for you to set the mood to love. A Valentine's Day doesn't have to be expensive or huge. Most Valentine's Day dates are built around some element of eating, whether it's an all out dinner or just chocolate . Neelam’s The Grand celebrates Valentines Day in style. Guests can indulge in some romantic mischief. The property’s restaurants – Pan Global will serve its guest aphrodisiac meals to suffuse a special mood for this special occasion. 

Plan your romantic date as The Grand brings to you a Valentine’s Day Contest  “Most Romantic Date Was...”.

Enter our contest to win a Romantic Gala Dinner.
1- Go to our page : Neelams The Grand
2- Tell us : " Most Romantic Date was …" 3. Tag your Valentine

Winners will be given three Couples Complimentary Passes for our Valentine Day Gala Dinner.  

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Dishes you cannot miss when in Goa.


What happens when a Foodie visits Goa...

The small Western State of Goa in India has been ever famous for three things…the beaches, it’s easy-going nature and it’s food..Goan Cuisine. The men of Goa with their pot bellies are evidence of the fact that Goans loves their Food. Food in Goa is influenced by Christians and Hindus. The long period of Portuguese rule, besides that of the Muslim and Hindu kingdoms, has left an indelible influence on the original style of Goan cooking and this has led to an exotic mix of truly tasty and spicy cuisine.



Here are some of the most popular cuisines of Goa




SEA FOOD

Goa is famous for its seafood, the best dish being Goan fish curry. Apart from a Curry preparation fish is also fried and sometimes pickled. Kingfish are probably the most common item, on the menu, but Pomfret, Doumer, Shark, Tuna and mackerel are hot favourites as well.
1.  Fish Curry
In Konkani, ‘ambot’ means spur and ‘tik’ means spicy. As the name suggests, this dish is slightly sour and pungent. The sour comes from the use of the petals of the tart ‘Kokum solam’. Known to be a cooling agent and honoured for its medicinal value, the red-coloured fruit of ‘Kokum’ is the real king of Goan cuisine.

2. Fish Recheado
Recheado means stuffed in Portuguese and in this recipe, a fresh whole fish, usually a Pomfret, is slit down the center and stuffed with a spicy red paste, after which it is shallow fried. Mackerel Recheado is one of Goa’s most famous dishes.  The red Recheado masala  is made using Kashmiri red chilies, garlic, cumin, peppercorns and tamarind.  It is very tasty  and can be used to prepare many other Goan seafood dishes.

3. Pork
Pork is a popular meat available in Goa.Though the Hindus and Muslims of the state don’t eat pork because of religious constraints, it is widely popular among the Christian community and is in the main dishes of any festival or celebration. Vindaloo and Sorpotel are among the most famous pork dishes of Goa along with their spicy chourico sausages.

4. Chouricos ( Spicy Goan Sausages)
Chouricos are spicy pork sausages, which owe more than a debt to Portuguese culinary traditions. Goan sausages are prepared using well salted and spiced cubes of pork. Once they have been made, the strings of sausages are dried in the sun and then hung above the fire where they are gradually smoked.

5. Chicken Xacuti
This  dish is loved by those who prefer a spicy preparation tremendously. Xacuti (pronounced as sha-coo-ti), makes use of plenty of spices like nutmeg, coriander leaves, red and green chilies, ginger and cloves. Additionally tamarind and lemon juice make for a pungent curry. The dish can also be made with mutton or fish.

 Sweets
Offering and impeccable blend of Portuguese extravagance and the simplicity of Konkan cooking style, the sweets of Goa are a must try for must try for every foodie. The desserts are kept simple in Konkan, it takes  a lot of effort to create those culinary magic dishes. Most of the Goan cakes were developed in Goa’s convents and monasteries, where time was never in short supply.
The most famous Goa’s sweetmeats is bebinca also known as ‘bibik’.It is a wonderful concoction made from layer upon layer of coconut pancakes. Each scrumptious layer has to be baked before the next one is added, traditionally it has 16 layers, but can be made with less or more. Though the process of making bebinca is tedious process the dessert is a mouth-melting dream. Dodol is another famous Goan sweet, traditionally eaten during Christmas and made with rice flour,coconut milk, jaggery and cashew nuts. It is cooled in a flat pan and served in slices, and is really sweet.

And to wash  that down, the Local drink Feni
An accompaniment to wash down all Goan food is the locally made Feni.  Though other forms of liquor are  available across the state, the Goans are as crazy  about their Feni as they are about their food.
There are two types of Feni, both of which are made from local ingredients. Coconut or palm Feni is made from the sap drawn from the severed shoots on a coconut tree. Cashew or Caju Feni, on the other hand, can only be made during the cashew season in late March and early April.
Undoubtedly Goa’s most famous triple, double distilled perfectly clear , this is a drink which deserves respect. Goans are keen to offer advice not to drink it on an empty stomach and mix with other spirits and certainly don’t swim after a couple of Fenis. But the best you will hear is ‘you don’t realize how strong it is until you get up.


 Enjoy a delectable meal at Pan Global    
 restaurant in Hotel Neelams.







Tuesday 13 January 2015

5 reasons to visit Goa.

5 Reasons why you should visit Goa in December

Refresh your soul when you are in Goa.


1    A chilled out holiday!

It is no secret that today, going to Goa is on the list of every traveller in India. Everyone wants to visit Goa such is the profound impact this small southern Indian state has had upon the psyche of the Indian travellers in the past decade. Goa is a beautiful place gifted with some of the most beautiful beaches in India, a pleasant climate, lots of greenery and the most chilled out people in the country. Goa is synonymous with fun and relaxation and there is no better time to visit Goa than the month of December. In December, Goa comes to life when most other parts of the country are freezing to death. Choose Neelam’s The Grand for an empowering and non-intrusive stay experience.
12 miles from Thivim and 8.5 miles from Panjim, The Grand Goa is a showcase for relaxation with tropical inspired design touches, grand architecture, wide shady corridors and spacious rooms for a memorable stay.

2     Goa for Scintillating Food.

A visit to Goa in December is incomplete without being mesmerised by its scintillating buffet of seafood. The coastal state is a haven for seafood lovers who can gorge on some delicious dishes made with the most special of recipes at any corner of Goa. Sea-food in Goa is a staple, need we say more about its love affair with it. For those who like it served well and in a great setting Simply Fish, Boom Shankar and Viva Goa are great restaurants to explore but for those who can’t burn a hole in their pocket can get equally delicious seafood at the many beach shacks on the beaches of Goa.
From casual, all day eateries to formal, fine dining, The Grand provides a wide range of delicious dishes and refreshing drinks. We provide you with a different dining experience, one that offers the nuances of the best Indian and International cuisines. Head to the multi-cuisine restaurant Pan Global and enjoy a wide range of breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
3     
      Water Sports

One of the best ways to enjoy Goa in December is to participate in water sports such as scuba diving, banana ride, dinghy sailing and much more at various beaches. The best places to enjoy water sports in Goa are Dona Paula Bay, Candolim Beach and Cidade De Goa. The Grand also arranges boat cruise and sightseeing tour upon request.

Goa for Music Lovers
Neelam's The Grand gets some traditional touch in Goa.

Post-Christmas in December, comes the week of partying the likes of which is unmatched anywhere else in the country. The merry-making which begins a week into Christmas is continued with the Asia’s biggest dance and electronic music party – the Sunburn Festival. Sunburn festival has been organized in Goa for the past eight years and very successfully too. This year Sunburn Festival is been organized at Vagator Beach from the 27th to 29th December and promises to be a party to remember.

6      Party Lover’s Paradise
Image courtesy : lovethispic.com
Apart from the 3 days Sunburn Festival in Goa, Supersonic Festival hosted by popular VJ Nikhil Chinapa is held at Candolim Beach every year .It promotes local as well as international talent and lets you enjoy the best music. Who wouldn’t like to let their hair down to trance music under the clear skies and white sand tickling the toes? Fireworks and celebrations are endless during New Year’s and the night just doesn’t end!
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to unleash the party animal in you! 

So, what are you waiting for? 
Book Neelam’s for a memorable stay and celebrate one of a kind holiday in Goa! Get a refreshingly unique experience at The Grand as it allows you to relax with tropical inspired design touches, grand architecture, wide shady corridors, and spacious rooms and wide range of delicacies that one cannot resist.

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