Beyond The Sea In Goa

Situated on the whimsical Divar Island in Goa, Mercure Goa Devaaya Retreat is a stellar example of the state’s growing popularity as a wellness destination.

- ADILA MATRA

I LAND IN GOA for an unconventional holiday—no sand, no seafood, no parties. Instead, I am whisked off to an obscure island, for a weekend of wellness and luxury. As I board the ferry from Old Goa, I spot the Divar Island at a distance. Home to around 4,000 dwellers, the island lies on the banks of the serene River Mandovi, and is largely unexplored. Everyone knows everyone here, I am told.

Mercure Goa Devaaya Retreat is the only five-star property on Divar Island, and offers Ayurvedic aids, Naturopathy, and yoga sessions under one roof. There are 57 rooms and 28 luxurious therapy rooms here. As the car drops me off at the imposing gate of the property, I come to terms with the weekend that is ahead of me—yoga and meditation every day, vegetarian meals, no smoking, and no alcohol. A club car takes me through long winding lanes dotted with modest Portuguese-style villas, mud huts, and gurgling streams. I check into a villa with a Superior Room, which opens to a vast field and the shimmering river.