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; smaller groups and families might prefer one of the 3 casinhas (cottages) at the front of the grounds, sleeping 2-4 each; or the newer Villa Venus which sleeps 6 in 3 double bedrooms.

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


Rooms

There's a wonderfully light and airy aesthetic to the main villa, with an easy flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. The back of the ground floor is completely open to the palms, so guests can sink into cream sofas in the colonnaded verandas and spot wildlife in the garden. At the end of the corridor, a slate pool filled with carp and a statue of Ganesh creates a feeling of calm.

Inside, the house is full of contemporary Indian art collected and commissioned by Mr Lakhanpal. Writing desks, objets d'art, lamps, vases and musical instruments are dotted around the house to break up the rectangular lines. This is also the case in the garden, where sculptures poke out from the undergrowth.

The 5 double-bedded suites are spacious, stylish and modern - and nicely spaced so you never feel like you're getting on top of each other. The cream and white main suite is split over 2 levels and has a veranda with magnificent views of the garden. The downstairs suite has a contemporary four-poster bed and imposing modern art on the wall. The other downstairs double is a little more compact but has the advantage of an outdoor bath tub - the perfect place to relax 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 3 independent, self-catering casinhas at the front of the property are cosier and a tad less stylish than the main house, but still clean and bright, with a modern aesthetic. 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 boasting coloured cement pigment and polished stone floors - perfect for feeling at one with your surroundings.

A recent addition is the newly restored, Villa Venus, a 3-bedroom Portuguese bungalow from the 19th century which you pass en route to the main villa. It looks like a great option for a larger family seeking style and seclusion (though we have not seen it in person yet). Surrounded by high walls, palms and lush greenery, it also has its own 20-metre pool off to one side.

Inside is a large (10m x 10m) open-plan, air-conditioned living space with a dining area and kitchen, and 3 ensuite double bedrooms each with their own access to the garden. It doesn't look quite as chic as the main villa, but white walls, dark wood furniture and terracotta-tiled floors keep the décor smart and simple, with plenty of bright cushions and artworks to bring colour

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