A Different Goa

On his first visit to the party capital of India, Kumar Shree discovers a historical side of the state during his stay at Le Meridien Goa, Calangute.

- Kumar Shree

Before my maiden visit to the famed Indian beach destination, I saw Goa as a whimsical paradise: a dreamland for those looking for a bohemian way of life. My sojourn during Goa’s sultry summer would instead introduce me to its rich history and heritage.

My home for the three revelatory days, Le Meridien Goa, Calangute, sits on the bustling Calangute-Candolim stretch. With sites like Fort Aguada, Chapora, and Reis Magos Fort nearby, the property, which recently turned two, serves as a good base for exploring Goa’s heritage. My first impression of the hotel was suffused with tranquillity. The property takes the shape you want: a laid-back solo trip base, a business visit centre, or the site of a bonding family vacation.

The design of the hotel is simple and sophisticated all at once. There’s an ornate display of the state’s heritage, art, culture, and history in its corridors. It all starts with the porte-cochère, which chronicles the arrival of the Portuguese in Goa; it’s called ‘Embarked by The Port’. It sets the pace for the abundant artworks peppered through the property that effortlessly display the past in a contemporary setting.