Aashyana

Rooms

The light and airy Main Villa holds 5 spacious, stylish and modern suites, all nicely spaced so you never feel like you're getting on top of each other. The split-level main suite has a veranda with magnificent views of the garden, leading onto a large private pool. The downstairs suite has a contemporary four-poster bed; the other downstairs double is more compact, but it has an outdoor bathtub to compensate - perfect after a long day in the Goan sun. All suites have their own bathroom, excellent storage space and private outside areas. There is also a TV area with a plasma screen and DVD player. The house is full of contemporary Indian art collected and commissioned by Mr Lakhanpal. In the garden, sculptures poke out from the undergrowth.

At the front of the property, the 3 independent, self-catering Casinhas are cosier and a tad less stylish than the main house, but still clean and bright. They each have one double and one twin bedroom, plus living, dining and kitchen areas. Named after the signs of the Zodiac, they're laid out according to Feng Shui principles, with open-air bathrooms and polished stone floors.

There’s also 3-bedroomed Villa Venus with a living space, a dining area and a kitchen, plus a private pool surrounded by lush greenery. While it's not as chic as the main villa, the décor is smart and simple, with plenty of bright cushions and artworks.

The Beach Cottages are so close to the water that you can hear the waves. Each provides simple accommodation including a double bed, writing desk, ensuite shower room and small terrace. A fridge and tea- and coffee-making facilities are there, but it is by no means self-catering. Just behind the cottages, there’s a 25m swimming pool.

Since we last visited, two new 2-bedroom cottages have been created: Cottage Virgo and Cottage Gemini. We're yet to have a snoop inside, but we love the look of their sit-out verandas, which overlook the gardens and the beach beyond.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• WiFi

Eating

If you're staying in the Main Villa, the house chef will prepare your meals, starting with a mighty breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and fruit - or a full-on curry if you prefer. For lunch and dinner, you can discuss dietary requirements with the chef, but make sure you try the Goan dishes: our fish curry was superb. Otherwise, expect plenty of chicken and mutton, some excellent vegetarian fare and a small range of western food (perhaps a simple but tasty spaghetti pomodoro). Many dishes use fresh produce grown in the vegetable garden. Dine under the palms, on the veranda, at the beachside sit-out...

The Casinhas, Villa Rockheart and Villa Venus are let on a self-catering basis. They have fully equipped kitchens, each with a gas hob, a fridge, crockery and cutlery. Again, the house chef is available to prepare lunch and dinner on request. You have a breakfast hamper provided for you, which is replenished every day. Any groceries you need can be ordered in.

There are no cooking facilities at the Cottages, but you can order breakfast, lunch and dinner to be enjoyed out on your terrace – lovely with the sound of the sea in the background.

If you prefer to eat out, the inexpensive local beach shacks serve good Goan fish; you could even order food from them and bring it back to eat on your veranda. There are also some good restaurants within a 10-minute drive: I-95, After Eight, La Reverie and Le French.

Features include:

• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Take a dip in the lovely 25m pool, surrounded by sunloungers and palm trees; or just chill out in one of the many screened sitting areas
  
• Stroll through the private gate onto bustling Candolim Beach, where you can swim in the shadow of huge tankers, or cruise up and down the golden sands checking out the beach shacks and hawkers
  
• Have a go at one of the watersports (jet-skiing, parasailing and banana boat hire) on offer at the beach
  
• Ask for a massage from one of the on-site masseuses; there's a dedicated massage room with wicker screens letting a soft breeze waft through as you relax with a soothing treatment
  
• A driver can take you to Old Goa to see the remains of St Francis Xavier's body, still preserved in the Basilica of Bom Jesus
  
• Spare some time for exploring the backstreets of Fontainhas, the old quarter of the capital Panjim, where the Portuguese influence on Goa remains evident. You can see the colonial villas in their faded glory, visit the 16th-century Adilshahi Palace and enjoy tapas at the local eateries
  
• Head to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, set on the island of Chorao along the Mandovi River. Covered in a thick layer of mangrove, it's home to a variety rare and endangered species, including mudskippers and black drongos

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Fishing
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets

Kids

Children are welcome, provided their parents make sure they're supervised at all times. The style and layout of the accommodation is certainly family friendly, and children will love running around the tropical grounds, and there's direct beach access, but there is not much in the way of children’s activities. The beach is sandy and Goa is generally child-friendly. If coming with toddlers, note there are some sharp edges; and you mustn't leave them unattended in case they wander off to the pool or beach.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Extra mattresses (but not cots) are available for children. Some families like to bring their own nanny/nannies, who can sleep in the cottages with the kids.

Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Aashyana Lakhanpal is in the coastal town of Candolim, in the Bardez province of Goa.

By Air
Dabolim International (45km / 1-hour drive) is the closest airport. It has a range of domestic, charter and scheduled services.

From the Airport
Transfers from the airport are available. Staff will meet you (with a name board) in the terminal; please give flight details during or after booking.

By Train
If you're already in India, you can reach Goa by train. See Konkan Railway if you're coming from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Mysore, Pune or Hyderabad. If you're coming from the south of India or Kerala, visit Indian Rail for timetables and fares.

Getting Around
The villa can arrange cars with drivers for local excursions and day trips.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Goa and getting around