Aashyana Lakhanpal

Aashyana, Candolim, Bardez, Goa - Explore & Book

"Tucked away behind the busy village of Candolim, Aashyana Lakhanpal is one of Goa's best-kept secrets. This modern villa, owned by Indian entrepreneur Ajai Lakhanpal and designed by French architects Arvind and Nita d'Souza, brings a slice of contemporary western chic to the coast of India. With its 5 palatial suites, the main house is a super-cool venue for parties of 10-13 and includes its own private pool and beach access. For smaller groups and families, there's a range of casinhas and cottages dotted around the grounds, including a few right on the beach, each sleeping from 2 to 6 people.Aashyana means 'nest', and once you arrive you won't want to leave. And with 19 staff for the main villa alone, including 2 on-site masseurs, there is little need to. Stroll through the huge tropical gardens to the pool, or slip onto bustling Candolim beach and watch the sun go down. The chef cooks excellent Goan and western dishes with home-grown produce, eaten under the palms or on the wraparound veranda. A meditation room with Hindu votive sculptures and a nightly incense-burning ceremony in the garden give the place a spiritual feeling. Staff are on hand to attend to your every need, and can organise anything from water sports to performances by local musicians. Highs The villas, cottages and grounds are full of wonderful open spaces, with lots of verandas, open-air showers and airy bedroomsThe slick, large swimming pool is a godsend in the heatTraditional Goan food is eaten under the stars in a fabulous entertaining area - great for a partyIf you're coming with kids and/or nannies, the casinhas are perfect for little onesWalking down to the beach through the tropical garden, filled with coconut palms and cashew, lime and guava trees, is a fantastic start to the day Lows Recent feedback has been mixed - some funishings seemingly need a refresh, and service is patchyIf you rent the main villa, note there may be other groups in the cottages; and some cottage guests report feeling like a lower priorityThe beach can get quite crowdedSave for their tropical surroundings, the beach cottages lack the wow-factor of the rest of the propertyThere are some mosquitoes at night - bring plenty of repellent" - Meg Lambert