Sitting in the lap of luxury in a kaleidoscope state!
Goa has many faces. The party town, the culture hub, the luxury nest and the adventure haven. More often than not, lately, Goa attracts the discerning traveller; hauling scooter rides to rustic areas, undefined roads and exotic secret finds. Whether it is food, marine life or peace, Goa gives you a piece of each. And undoubtedly, in the best way.
With its colonial architecture, small villages, pristine beaches, towering waterfalls, and believe it or not, exciting bird sanctuaries, there is so much to see in Goa. Take a day at the beach, or a cruise along one of the inner rivers — learn how to fish and learn how to cook — the experiences are a marriage of Konkan and Portuguese heritage. Visit during a festival, or just-because when you need a break from all that city-life throws at you. Goa is here to save you, teach you and pamper you!
My morning rides are all with thoughts of what I should do next when I head to Goa — take a tour of a spice plantation, laze on the beach, head for a cooking class (trust me, Goan cuisine is a delight for your senses), explore the villages on a lazy day or just gallivant all over the place to find hidden beaches. Yes, hidden beaches, the ones only locals know of, with soft sand and clear blue waters — oh, I do miss vacationing!
But I will tell you this, if you do happen to go to Goa before I do, you need to make sure to tick these experiences off your bucket-list,
- Spend a whole day at Morjim, the beaches are splendid!
- Take a day to cruise around Dolphin Bay, the crab-catching is a wholesome experience!
- Spend a day walking around Fontainhas — Goa’s old town and a delight in itself!
- A day trip to Divar — a fascinating old village on the Mandovi, for some authentic Konkan Goa!
- A visit to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary — a paradise for bird and butterfly lovers. Pssst! Look for Uday Mandreka to take you on a boat tour through the mangroves in the area!
- Reis Magos Fort — a heritage delight for those that love history!
- Drop your bags at Ahilya By the Sea — topping my bucket-list too!
Dolphin Bay’s best kept secret and a glimpse of paradise is Ahilya By the Sea, a nine-room boutique hotel, once owned by the royal Holkar’s of Goa. Flamboyantly decorated, heritage-style and a haven of pampering and solitude, Ahilya By the Sea is a picture-perfect colonial house from the bygone Portuguese era with coconut trees, frangipani and brightly coloured flowers all around!
Adorned with antiques and artefacts brought in by Leela Ellis herself, from her travels all over the world, a stay at Ahilya By the Sea is a history lesson in the lap of luxury. Whether as part of your room, or the halls and walls of the hotel, the Holkar family run hotel, is enchantingly historic in its aura.
Don’t forget to step out for a visit to the Funde Cao Oriente Museum to view A.X. Trindade’s works, the owner’s grandfather! Unforgettable hospitality, peace of mind, an opportunity for self-discovery, a boatload of luxury exuding tantalizing cuisine is what this oasis in sleepy Goa offers!
