If you’re at that stage where the din of city life is getting unbearable, it might be a great time to plan a trip to Goa and soak in the resplendence of nature in one of the state's sleepy villages. And we have just the place for you! Head to Manga — an idyllic village getaway, located in the picturesque village of Panarim in Aldona.
Named after the huge mango tree (Manga is the Portuguese word for Mango) that flanks the compound of this beautifully restored old Goan home, Manga comes with a living room, dining space and an attached caretaker room, for those travelling with staff, and three huge bedrooms including two en-suite bathrooms.
All bedrooms have king sized beds and en-suite bathrooms feature a spacious walk in rain shower. The house is fully equipped with all modern appliances, including free wi-fi and an inverter to make sure that there is uninterrupted power service.
To add to its charm, the house has restored Portuguese era furniture — during the restoration, no new wood was used but instead old wooden beams, doors, windows were retrofitted and materials recycled to lend a unique charm and upkeep the Goan ethos of sustainability. The upstairs balcao is the perfect space to curl up with a book, or your writing pad, and soak in the wholesomeness of ‘Manga’ life. Our favourite thing about the space is of course the red-oxide flooring which never fails to add that vintage charm.
The sweet spot of this property is the relaxing swimming pool, overlooking the fields that surround the property on all sides. The fields belong to the local community and during winters and summers you’ll spot chillies, onions, spinach, gourd, red amaranth and beans growing in the fields. Even better if you’re choosing to stay here in the monsoon, you’ll treat yourself to the lush view of paddy plantations all around.
The house can accommodate 6 people, and also offers two extra mattresses for an additional cost. You can wander into the village and go on long walks or bicycle rides and soak in the abundance of the soothing greenery around. What better way than waking up to birdsong and the honk of the local poi vendor and maybe spotting a peacock or two, to reconnect with yourself and recharge your batteries before you head back to the grind?
Tarrif varies from INR 10,000 to INR 14,000 per night for the whole villa, depending on the season.