WHEN I ENTERED THE apartment-styled villa at Coco Shambhala, T.S. Eliot's words, "We cannot think of a time that is oceanless," came rushing at me. I started my journey to Shambhala on an especially rainy morning after landing at the newly-built North Goa airport. A few kilometres from the Maharashtra-Goa border, the way to Shambhala comprises undulating one-way roads with hapus (Alphonso) and cashew fields closing in. The dense jungles of Sindhudurg district, which share a border with Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, would remind you of Congolian rainforests. And if you feel the grass is greener in Sindhudurg, it surely extends beyond the rhetoric.
IN EDEN
A few metres away from the property, the ocean interrupts—what feels like a jungle safari—and sneaks up on you. Next to the sea, Coco Shambhala sits on the rust-coloured rocky outcrops overseeing the Bhogave beach.
While some hotels aim towards building a pocket of paradise, Shambhala acknowledges the paradise around it. Inside, you won't find manicured lawns, but the continuation of the jungle that may look all-natural, but is painstakingly maintained by the staff. "Privacy is everything," said Suhas Malewadkar, F&B manager of Shambhala, explaining the thought behind the canopylike garden. "We get a lot of A-list celebrity guests and ensure that they receive their much-needed time off from the limelight," Malewadkar added.
Denne historien er fra October - November 2023-utgaven av Outlook Traveller.
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Denne historien er fra October - November 2023-utgaven av Outlook Traveller.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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JHARKHAND IN A SIP
IN VAST URBAN SPRAWLS where life pulsates frenetically, we often surrender to the convenience of pre-packaged sustenance.
SWEET SIN
FROM THE LEGENDARY STORES IN OLD TOWN TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST CHOCOLATE MUSEUM, FOLLOW THIS CHOCOLATE TRAIL THROUGH ZÜRICH TO DISCOVER HOW A MISTAKE GAVE THE WORLD THE IRRESISTIBLE SWISS MILK CHOCOLATE
FROM INTENT TO ACTION
IT'S DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE TRAVELLERS AND INDUSTRY PLAYERS TO PRACTICE SUSTAINABILITY. CAN THE FIELD OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE SHIFT INDUSTRY-WIDE ATTITUDES TO MAKE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM THE NORM?
LAND OF THE SKY
MONGOLIA'S VAST LANDSCAPES BECKON WITH SWEEPING STEPPES AND RUGGED BEAUTY, WHERE NOMADIC TRADITIONS HARMONISE WITH UNTOUCHED WILDERNESS
Of Mountains And Lakes
Slovenia Is A Charming European Getaway With Lovely Cities, Spa Towns, Nature Parks And Cool Party Hotspots At A Price That Won't Make You Bankrupt
Can Travel Insurance Be Your Friend?
Tapan Singhel, Md And CEO Of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, Talks About The Importance Of Buying A Comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy And How It Can Ensure Your Mental Peace
KENYA
If you want to experience a diversity of environments, visiting Kenya should be on your bucket list.
PEARL OF THE DANUBE
WITH AFFORDABLE ATTRACTIONS, IMPOSING ARCHITECTURE, EXCELLENT STREET FOOD AND VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE, BUDAPEST MAKES FOR A VALUE-FOR-MONEY EUROPEAN DESTINATION
SECRETS OF SIRPUR
STEPPING OFF THE PLANE in Raipur, the sweltering sun greeted me with a stifling embrace.
A SLICE OF ITALY
THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE in Naples is Diego Maradona. His face appears as graffiti on the walls under bridges, as murals covering the side of buildings, painted on café chairs, imprinted on bedroom sheets, and even marketed on energy drinks.