Swapnagandha : A Resort in Goa that is Heaven on Earth.😍

Goa is known for its pristine beaches and crazy night life and one of the most internationally acclaimed beach destinations in India. The other side of Goa is equally peaceful, serene and undisturbed which is why it is my favorite resting place. There are various unexplored places in Goa and it never fails to surprise and sooth me. More on offbeat places to see in Goa in another blog but today I want to specifically apprise about this beautiful resort situated in Chorla Ghat Forest at the border of Goa and Karnataka named Swapnagandha. The name itself explains a lot about this place, a dreamy resort that keeps on reminding me of Heaven. The place is an Eco resort nested in the Mahdei Forest and is 700 meters above the sea level away from the maddening tourist crowd of Goa.

You are welcomed with flowers, chilled welcome drink and a smile. Check in is hassle free and you are directly guided to your room. All the rooms in this resort are waterfall facing and have a view to die for. The Waterfall named Vazra Sakla is the main attraction of this Resort which is 143 meter in height. Rooms have a sit out with chairs to enjoy the natural surrounding and birds chirping. It has wooden railing which can be very risky for small kids, the reason for wooden railing is first because it's an Eco resort and secondly it is so designed that if you sleep on your bed you can see the waterfall. When we visited this place in October, it was raining and it made the place even more beautiful as we could see the nature changing its color in fraction of seconds. This is the best place to visit after Monsoons. The place also has an amazing infinity pool overlooking the valley and waterfall, a delight for people who love to swim.

It is recommended to stay here for at least 2 nights to truly enjoy the experience this place has to offer. They have a daily schedule of things done in the resort. Daily at 7 am they take you for a small trek to the waterfall in the forest, after returning from the trek hot and delicious breakfast is served at the restaurant. If you are not an early riser there is another trek to the highest point through the forest in the evening at 5 P.M. They also have a slot of one hour from 3-4 P.M. for Mehendi Art which we skipped. The Folk dance performed by ladies of nearby Village named Surla is scheduled at 8 P.M. before the dinner is served.

Restaurant is situated at an appealing place overlooking the valley and Anjunem Lake and you can relish the food while enjoying the beauty around. We spend most of our time in the restaurant watching the clouds pass by. Food served here is traditional Maharashtrain food and absolutely lip smacking. We visited during Dashera and had hot Puris with the most delicious Shrikhand I ever had. They also serve local fish and chicken in their buffet Menu. They also have Ala carte for people who do not wish to have buffet. Overall I would give 5 on 5 for food.

The thing that I observed is the Resort is keeping the place as Eco friendly as possible. They do not use plastic for anything at all. Drinking water is kept in copper flask along with copper glass. Bathroom also has steel bucket with steel mug. The food is served in glass plates and kept in earthen pots. The earthen pots are also made in the Resort premise which is a very nice idea.

The Places is amidst the forest and you should not be shocked to get a glimpse of reptiles around. We saw a Green Vine Snake on our way from restaurant to room and the snake was so relaxed that he did not move from his place for hours together so I was lucky to get some great shots. This place is also a paradise for Bird watchers/Photographers. In fact my main reason to book the resort was for bird watching but since the two days we were here it was raining. So I could capture only few birds but I am not at all complaining, visiting this place in rains is a different experience altogether.

We being lazy bums did not venture out of the resort but if you wish you can visit various beautiful places around. In fact the Resort people take you on Temple Trip and Spice Plantation trip at an extra cost. If you wish to visit beaches the nearest one would be Candolim, Calangute and Baga Beach.

Nearest Airport : Goa International Airport, Dabolim.

Nearest Railway Station : Thivim or Madgaon/Margaon.

Tariff : Rs. 7400/- per Night for 2 Adults including all meals and activities.

Kindly Note that the tariff may vary as per Resort Rules.

As I am writing this blog and selecting the pictures to be put up on the site, I am having an urge to again go to this gorgeous place, maybe shall book a night soon after things get back to normal. 😍

Radhika Thankar