There are approximately 2,872 hotels 27,988 rooms and 50732 beds in Goa, all kinds of them, ranging from budget to luxury by the sea, in the cities and in the hinterlands. Making a choice is difficult. Often it is a gamble. Sometimes but, alas, nearly always a trifle late, one discovers that promise is not delivered.

The Mandovi is a hotel with a difference. It is in the heart of Panaji, the State of Goa’s capital city. The River Mandovi serenely runs by our hotel. The name of the Hotel was dedicated to this magnificent river. Beyond, are the blue mountains of the Sahyadries, where the river has its source. Between river and hill, you will discover all imaginable hues of green: tall, stately centuries-old rain forests, shrub land and paddy. It is miles of history and scenery whichever road you take. And along the way, you will find the most gorgeous manmade environment you could wish for: houses and villas that, like much else in Goa, combine the best of the East and the best of the West. And shrines which have been described as “poems in stone and mortar to the eternalness of God”. And you will meet the most marvelous people: friendly, uninterfering, helpful. If you lose your way and ask for directions, they will take you there with the greatest pleasure – but, first, invite you to their homes for a drink, or a meal. Often for both.

Like Goa, The Mandovi has a great and unforgettable history. The blue mountains across the estuary, say the mythcists, were once stairways to heaven, Sopanas in Konkani, Goa’s mother tongue. Through them the gods came down, often enough disguised as ascetics and mendicants, to see with their own eyes how we, his preferred people, lived and behaved. They expected our conduct to be exemplary, for Lord Parshuram had specially created this land for their chosen ninety six Brahmins, ordering the sea to advance and the mountain to recede. And in the void so created they had wedged a trapezoid of rich, fertile earth – Gomantak Goa. On one occasion came God Shiva himself, the powerful member of the Hindu holy trinity. He had a tiff with Parvati, his divine consort, and wanted peace. It is know as ‘dev bhoomi’ the land of Gods and ‘Kokan Kashi’- Kashi/ Banaras/ Varanasi of the Kokan region.

These are few facts that lead to the name ‘Mandovi’ of the river. The Persian word Mandvi, which means custom house. So rich were the revenues it earned for the sovereign, Adil Shah, the Sultan of Bijapur, that he decided to change the name of the river. It was Gomati, a Sanskrit name, till then. And he was so jealous of the taxes he earned from the sale of horses from Arabia and tapestries from Persia, that he had the river policed by crocodiles, so huge that they could upset a big boat and gobble a whole bull. They were trained to keep intruders at bay. There is also another version i.e. it derived its name from Mahadevi which later became Madae and subsequently Mandovi.

Mandovi, the Hotel, also has its history, almost an exciting, and certainly very interesting. The year was 1952 and also the Tenth Solemn Exposition of the relics of St. Francis Xavier, the sixteenth century Jesuit who lived in Asia for a decade and is regarded as one of the greatest Saints of Christianity.

According to legend, he wanted his mortal remains to be kept in Goa. And to Velha Goa- Old Goa they were brought from the Sancian coast, in China, after a long and eventful journey by sea. The Vatican and the Portuguese, the then sovereigns of Goa, planned to make elaborate arrangements to celebrate the event in a grand manner, visitors were expected from all over the world.

The Portuguese Government Goa’s Portuguese Governor General then; General Paulo Benard Guedes, realized that there wasn’t a single first class hotel in Goa. He was in a quandary. Shri. Mr. Purxotoma Ramanata Quenim was the Member of the Parliament in Portugal representing Goa for 2 terms of 4 years each and who was the imminent link. That is when Shri. Anant Vishwanath Quenim, Shri. Purxotoma Ramanata Quenim, Shri. Vamona Vishvanata Quenim, and Shri. Dattaraya Ramanata Quenim of the Quenim family, one of Goa’s most respected and enterprising Gowd Saraswat Brahmins, responded by deciding to put up a hotel that would match international standards and open it for the event which was done.

It was not easy, though. It was work round the clock, for the masons, carpenters, engineers and architects and the promoters. Often, the Governor General would drop in to check progress. And as the scheduled opening day approached, he would come in everyday, twice a day in fact, on his way to the Adil Shah Palace where he had his office and on his way back to his residence at the Cabo Palace. It took patience and tact to control the crowds, hordes would come. It was the first 5 storied building in Goa with its first elevator, a Marriot & Scott. Since it was the first lift, ever, installed in Goa, the whole city wanted to feel the experience of going up and down in an electric-actioned cage. Schools from all over brought in their students and they went up and down in batches of six at a time. This lift still works, with sinages in Portuguese.

The firm Master Sathe Bhuta, which was the leading Architectural Firm based at Bombay then, were assigned the task of designing the Hotel, the Hotel was planned on the Art Deco Concept, the second longest stretch of the Art Deco Concept Buildings after Miami, Florida in the USA, was being planned at the Marine Drive in Bombay which is also called the Queen’s Necklace. Late Shri. Purxotoma Ramanata Quenim who was then the MP in the Portuguese Parliament representing Goa, on his visit to Portugal discussed the plans of the Hotel with many Technical Persons and Hoteliers and visited England along with Mr. Nariman the consultant from Bombay and also visited other countries to source the various materials required for the hotel, like the Sanitary Fittings were brought from Shanks of England, the marble came from Italy, the crystal came from France and Belgium, the cutlery from Sheffield England, the beds & mattresses came from Veno England, Goa’s first elevator from Marriot & Scott, England, the crockery came from Japan etc.

In 1954 the Government of India decided to impose an economic blockade on Goa in the hope that the Portuguese would yield to the pressure and surrender. They didn’t. The Management had no alternatives. The Mandovi which had a long standing commitment to service and quality, and had to devise numerous new ways to live up to it, answers were found by scanning the world, the meat used to come from nearby Belgaum, the steaks from South Africa and Argentina, the oranges came from Israel. Potatoes from Holland, Cavier kept coming from Russia, Champagne from France. But the apples came from Japan. The Japanese had just about then gone for apple culture in a big way. There was tension in the air. What was going to happen next? An armed revolt? A war? The Portuguese Governor General and his entourage and anybody who was somebody dropped by, nearly every other day, to relax. The men played bridge, and the ladies, generally, canasta. There was a special lounge for them, and served them, as ever, with a smile, the best of everything: spirits, beverages, snacks, cigars and cigarillos.

Then, on 19th December, 1961, Goa was liberated. Suddenly, old order had yielded to new. The use of force by India to oust the Portuguese had aroused worldwide interest. Every single international paper and magazine, radio and TV network dispatched their correspondents to Goa. Ambassadors from nearly every country came to see and gauge the situation. We had just one telephone operator and just one instrument. And the exchange was manual…. Calls to all over, to all the capitals of the world, were demanded by the impatient media persons. It was, to put it equanimously, a trying time but the effort was highly appreciated, in an unexpected manner, a guest told the reception that he wanted to meet the telephone operator and, having been introduced to the overworked girl, he kissed her on both the cheeks, much to her embarrassment. “You are simply stupendous”, he said. She would later realize that the man was Octavio Paz, the Mexican ambassador to India, who then went on to win the Nobel Prize for literature.

Ever since, The Mandovi has been the Mecca of lovers of leisure. Some came for business, but all were connoisseurs of good living and food. Once, between 1952 and 1961, one could stay at The Mandovi and pay Rs. 600/- a month, including all the meals and were free to invite guests, within reason of course, to tea. And tea, then, was a meal by itself. Ladies staying here were offered a bouquet of roses or carnations if that was their preferred flower, every morning, with their bed tea.

The Mandovi had hosted other celebrities before. And have been hosting a number of them since. When His Holiness Pope John Paul II visited Goa in 1986, he stayed at the Archbishop’s Palace, but the food was catered by The Mandovi. At The Mandovi hospitality, heritage, culture comes as the core, our ambiance, cuisine and service are quiet simply unique- in a class of its own.

Hotel Mandovi has a place of pride in the annals of history of hospitality trade of India. It has been the Pioneer of the Tourism Industry in Goa. It maintains a strong emotional and business cord between its innumerable customers from India and abroad. These customers, feel, The Mandovi is their Home away from Home. Goa’s traditions and culture are all intermixed in its hospitality package. Goan and Portuguese Atmosphere, Grandeur and Ambience, Goan and Portuguese Cuisine. It has become an institution by itself and still continues to be one of The Prime Hotels in Panaji and Goa. Strategically and centrally located on the Banks of The Scenic River Mandovi in the heart of the capital city within easy reach to and from all important places. In Goa and India The Mandovi acquired prominence as a fine Hotel as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Bombay, Imperial Hotel in New Delhi, Grand Hotel in Calcutta, West End Hotel in Bangalore etc.

No event in Goa takes place without The Mandovi not in it, in some form or other. Whether it was Common Wealth Heads of Government Meet Retreat, International and National Trade and Professional Conventions, Meets of The Social Associations and Clubs, The International Film Festival of India or something to do with the world of Arts, Crafts, Music and Sports etc. It had a role to play and it continues with the same old rich tradition.

It is a matter of pride that it has hosted several top dignitaries from the globe, including His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Former Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers, Diplomats, leaders of Political Parties, besides the Captains of Trade, commerce and industry. Several Cine Stars, Artists from different fields, the Hoteliers and Industrialist who came to Goa to put up Hotels, infact it has been known as the ‘Hoteliers Hotel’ for the same reason.

It was the only starred hotel until 1974. It will not be out of place to say that The Mandovi has been playing the role of “HOST” and The Ambassador of Goa, The hub and spoke for the Tourism, Industrial and Social Development of Goa and to maintain a Socio-Economic Link between Goa, India, Portugal and the world pre and post Liberation. In short the role played by The Mandovi is unparalled in the history of Goa in contributing to the socio - economic development of Goa. The Mandovi was set up against all odds and by taking immense risks at a time when it was thought that such type of a venture may not see the light of day.

It has always followed the Best Business Practices and has been very Scrupulous in its Business Dealings, offering the Best Products and Services to the Customers without compromising their Interests and also giving Good Returns to The Government for over the last 6 decades. The Mandovi still maintains its forte in the state capital of Panaji. It has nursed and nurtured the lofty ideals of fair trade in the interest of The Customer, The Trade and Goa and India at large.

The Mandovi was the first Hotel in Goa to join The Hotel & Restaurant Association - Western India and The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India. The Regional and The Apex Trade Body of the Industry respectively.

The Travel & Tourism Association of Goa and also The Goa Hotel & Restaurant Association took Birth and were Nurtured at The Mandovi with the active participation of its Management. It was also the Venue for the Formation of The International Clubs like Rotary, Lions etc. in Goa and still continues to host the meets.

The facilities are being updated and upgraded as a part of a continuous process. The Quality of the Food and Service is maintained to the highest level. The unique Mandovi culture is ardently followed, with the Mandovi Touch, all in The Fine Tradition of the Mandovi. Hospitality to spare. Generous. It’s the one word that describes our operating philosophy.