Beautiful And Hidden Beaches
Located on the western coast of Maharashtra, just below Goa, Sindhudurg - meaning, "fort in the sea" is a quaint, mostly undiscovered beach town. The famed Sindhudurg fort was built in the 16th century by King Shivaji and is worth a visit!
Owned and run by the same team behind the gorgeous Coco Shambala, Goa, the boutique property in Sindhudurg consists of four holiday luxury villas located at a 200 m walk from the ocean. Visitors have spotted whales, dolphins, leopards, and exotic birds from the property. To get here, you can take a flight to Goa and Kudal is a 2.5-hour ride away; alternatively, you can take a train to Kudal. The hotel arranges complimentary transfers from the airport and train station. While the Malvan coast didn't previously make for a glamorous or instagram-worthy holiday, this property sure is a sight for sore eyes!
For those who prefer to unwind and soak in as much lazy time while on vacation, the stunning, quiet rooms of the Coco Shambhala Villas are a perfect choice. If you like to venture out and are tired of the crowded Goa beaches, head to Nivati beach, a quick boat ride from the property. Nivati is a pristine beach where you will find that a dip in the water is irresistible. The hotel also organises bbqs on the beach, visits to Fort Tiracol and scuba diving, if you are feeling adventurous. For the most part though, guests tend to linger around their heavenly villas and the website photos don't really do the place justice.
Each villa features 2 large bedrooms, a large living room, and a breathtaking private infinity pool overlooking the ocean. All of the rooms have plenty of natural light, a rarity for city-dwellers like me! The choice of linens and upholstery is fresh and minimal, and the entire place looks like it has been picked up from an issue of Architectural Digest. The décor is the perfect combination of modern yet warm, and reminded me of villas I had stayed at in Bali. The beds are plush, and getting out of them took me a lot of (mental) effort! Each Villa boasts a well-stocked bar, a gorgeous bathroom with every possible thing one could need, and every modern amenity. The only colours you see from the ceiling to floor windows of the villa are the blue of the ocean and green of the lush palm trees!
I am quite picky about spas and massages as I have sensitive skin and upper-back stiffness due to my hours on the laptop and go-go-go lifestyle. However, the Forest Essentials Spa is something you absolutely must experience during your stay, especially if you are really keen on Ayurvedic rituals. Your massage therapist will make sure to take all your medical conditions into consideration before proceeding and you will go back to your room even more relaxed- if that's even possible!
The F&B Manager can be contacted in advance to prepare a menu to cater to your taste buds and/or allergies. Every single item presented to us was thoughtfully paired with a delicious wine and/or craft beer. We relished every single meal at Coco. The range of options was extremely impressive considering the chef is keen on locally sourcing ingredients for all meals. The team prepared some of the best meals. I must warn you though that they do like to feed you so you better carry running shoes so as to prevent piling on the pounds. If you like your fish, you will be spoilt for choice with the catch of the day and I ate pomfret five times during my 3 night stint.
Overall, while the villas don't come cheap, they certainly are more than value for money. Taking into account the warmth and professionalism of the team, the food, the rooms, the view, and the setting, Coco Shambhala's property in Sindhudurg is an absolute treasure and a must-visit!
