Raticanta Mandrencar

Goa is at the cross roads of the real estate investment. In spite of slow down in realty development due to raising cost of land as well as the building materials, selective well  established developers are introducing new projects in the market. The majority of the buyers being NRI's, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore based investors or home seekers.  Hardly any Goans. Most of the investment in residential properties is more for capital appreciation than rental income. Annual yield via rental income from a residential property is generally 3-4% a year and capital appreciation is some where between 10-15%. Little background about Service Apartments.  A serviced apartment is a furnished accommodation with a small kitchen and rooms generally more spacious than in a hotel. It also has modern communication facilities such as Wifi internet, telephone, HD, LED television, modern Cooking utensils, microwave, Refrigerator, washing machine etc. Some also offer c...

Year 2012, The  BJP Government came to power in Goa, inheriting a whooping  6000 crores debt.   The state economy  was in shambles. Then came the Infamous mining ban. Almost 30percent of the Goan population, depending on mining activities are in financial distress. Then came the ban on sand extraction, sale of brick and laterite crushers etc. The real estate prices moved to southwards. The real estate activities came to standstill.  The regional plan is still in the cupboards waiting for the daylight and the realty investors as well as the developers  are anxious to hear in the next move by the CM.  Goa is an international brand. And In this tiny state of Goa, real estate market is viewed as a place of endless opportunities. This is the reason why a lot of people still want to buy the properties in Goa. Investors from Delhi, Mumbai Gujarat, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kashmir as well as NRIs and foreign nationals are still seeking a place of l...

Goa, although highly literary state on the western coast of India, it is lagging behind in  information technology and IT enabled services segment. Unlike Andhra Pradesh or Karnataka, Goa state Governments never took any proactive steps to develop this highly lucrative IT sector. It relies upon its old bastion of mining ore exports and tourism. The young and talented IT graduates have to migrate to Pune or Bangalore or Mumbai seeking job opportunities. Some try their luck in the Middle East.  There is a huge potential as well as demand from corporate sector for IT enabled services in Goa. The Government needs to provide right infrastructure for the convenience of the investors and entrepreneurs. Then only the corporates will take initiative to set up their shops here in Goa.  As far as ITtalents are concerned, there is no dearth of finding any. If  the right opportunities and remuneration is provided, the Job seekers, those who have left Goa, will retur...

Indian military took over Goa in 1961 and Overnight, our schooling has to be switched over from Portuguese medium to English medium. My father took us an admission at a well well known People's High School, at Fontainhas. One of the oldest parts of Panjim Goa. It was an English medium School. Classes used to be held in three different buildings and all of them  stands still.  I spend almost eight years in this quaint quarter that is the same as it used to be in the sixties and appears  mediterranean  or European as of today.   This beautiful area of Panjim called as Fontainhas is  often referred as the 'Latin Quarter' of Panjim.   It is bordered on the east by the Rue de Ourem, Ourem Creek and on the West by the Altinho hill. It has a completely different atmosphere from the hustle and bustle of the main Panjim city, with its Mediterranean appearance, narrow streets and overhanging balconies of the ancient  houses. Some houses ...

Chicken Cafreal is one of my favourite dish.  It is like tandoori chicken of Goa  except Chicken cafreal  is in green color and is fried and not roasted in an oven. I love to cook this dish myself and my family and friends love this Goan speciality.  My daughter in Chicago, raves about this dish and prepares it herself, whenever she feels home sick.  I have tried to eat this dish in several restaurants and hotels in Goa, but none of them tastes as it used to be during my childhood days or as good or as authentic as is prepared at home. A very few  food outlets run by Goan restauranteurs or Goan Cooks, still prepare chicken cafreal in their own style and they are yummy and tasty. There is one in Saligao in north Goa called Florentine.  The other one is Martins Corner at Colva in South Goa. And Quarter Deck at Mandovi, Panjim also serves good Chicken cafreal. Each one of these outlets have their own stamp and tastes different. They are unique! Litt...

 The town of Mapusa has been the centre of the entire Bardez taluka since Portuguese rule. Its market complex was constructed by the Portuguese and said to be one of the most systematic in the state. The efficient planning and far sighted ness of Portuguese Engineers is the testimony to their engineering talents of those years. It is said that the name Mapusa for the town came from the local Konkani words MAP...measure...SA...fill up. (In early days the grains were measured in the tins of various sizes known as PODD and PAILEE and commonly referred as MAP...measure). Even today, the local produce such as Rice, chillies, Kokum are sold by PODD maps at Mapusa Friday market. The  Mapusa market is open everyday. It specializes on agricultural products like vegetables, fruits, plants and spices, but still you can also find the produce and the wares. There are no big brand names here  but in small local stores you can find nearly anything you may need. However...

LAIRAI JATRA at SHIRIGAO, BICHOLIM GOA. In the village of Shirgao in Bicholim taluka lies the temple of Goddess Lairai.   This is a small hamlet about 25 or so kilometres away from Panjim. It is a mining area and the tall mountains have disappeared in the unfettered greed. The whole area wears a cover of oxidised red dust on every visible surface. Even the plants, road side mango trees and the bushes  has red dust on the leaves The deity Lairai, amidst  mining area is famous all over Goa and has itsdevotees spread across Sindhudurg in Maharashtra  as well as Belgaum in Karnataka. It is estimated that every  year thousands of devotees attend annual feast of deity to witness the walking of 'dhond' barefooted through the sacred fire known as Homkunda.  Shirgavchi Jatra, called in local vernacular is an annual event held around April May depending upon  Shudh Panchami day of Vaishakh Hindu calendar month. The jatra brings joy and vigor to...

Serviced Apartments are a new genre of accommodation facilities, that had sprung up in the western countries and has now slowly penetrated to various parts of the Globe.  They  came in various sizes and shapes in the Middle East. During the real estate boom in Dubai, Abu Dhabi they reached to the exclusive and explicit levels. It continued in India as well, especially the metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Delhi. It is a new age concept in India and gaining  popularity among people, including Goa. These are replacing the need of hotel rooms for a traveler seeking a stay for a longer period, ranging from a week to several months.  They are suitable for people who travel a lot and have to visit frequently a particular place for various purposes. Corporates, seeking extended stay to their executives prefer service apartments instead of hotels. As hotels might not be suitable for them due to various factors and hence they prefer to st...

Are you planning a business trip or family vacation to Goa? No matter what, Urba Luxury furnished apartments, Porvorim Goa, are the ideal accommodation to opt for. As they’re cheaper than star hotels or resorts in Goa. They make long-term stays affordable and more economical. Every individual deserves a comfortable and secured place to put up during his/her vacation. When you’re on a vacation, family trip or business excursion to Goa  a cozy and safe accommodation is a must and if you’re in search of a convenient and cost-effective accommodation, opting for Urba luxury service apartments, a fully furnished one bed room, hall, kitchen apartments is highly recommendable.  The core benefits of Urba Luxury service apartments, Porvorim  Fully furnished apartments at Porvorim Goa with Four star amenities but economically  rated spacious accommodation. Whenever you travel, you opt for the best accommodation. However, it’s not possible for everybody to aff...