Last Updated on January 20, 2025 by admin
Are you planning to visit Konkan beaches? Do you want a luxury Konkan staycation? If the answer to both these questions is yes, then read on about experiencing ultimate luxury that is also sustainable at Coco Shambhala Sindhudurg.
Known for its virgin beaches and beautiful homestays, Konkan is a paradise. Every Konkan beach offers something unique – either a forest, a fort or a hill around it. This unique ecosystem not only provides stunning views but also offbeat experiences.
The Konkan Coast is a 720 km long coastline in Western India that covers the coasts of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. With villages and towns scattered across the entire coastline, every beach is a paradise of its own. Having visited Alibaug and Divegar, I was unsure what to expect from Sindhudurg.
Yes, Sindhudurg is offbeat, but not for the people of Maharashtra. It has been popular for its sea fortress known as Sindhudurg Fort. The tourists visiting this place are mostly locals who have grown up hearing tales of the valour of the legendary knight-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Before visiting Sindhudurg, I was not aware of the many things to do in Sindhudurg, or that it had a tiny airport! But thanks to Coco Shambhala Sindhudurg, I was able to participate in many of the experiential tourism opportunities the resort has designed.
According to me, this is the perfect alternative to Goa, especially for those who prefer nature, peaceful walks, pristine waterfalls and tranquil beaches.
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ABOUT COCO SHAMBHALA
Leisurely away from the touristy Goa, at a stone’s throw away from Bhogawe beach is Coco Shambhala. Its presence on the road is invisible – there is a door that opens to a few steps that lead to the four luxury villas that are a nod to a well-thought-out architecture and design as well as top-notch interior design.
This luxury resort is located 15 kilometres from the recently opened Sindhudurg Airport – and a drive through lush green landscape brings guests here. As Sindhudurg airport has limited flight landing, guests can into Mopa (North Goa) Airport and drive from there which is a 90-120 minute drive.
COCO SHAMBHALA SINDHUDURG REVIEW
At the property, we were greeted with a refreshing lemon and curry-leaf drink. F&B Manager, Mr Suhas, who had already shared our day’s itinerary and food menu, welcomed us and briefed us about the next couple of hours.
But, first things first. The best feature of the property is the villas and let’s go on a tour around it.
Rooms at Coco Shambhala Sindhudurg
There are only four luxury villas a Coco Shambhala Sindhudurg. I stayed at Villa Arka which has a living, dining and kitchenette space and is flanked by two bedrooms on either side.
The living area is open and has a private infinity pool while also offering stunning views of the Arabian Sea. There is no main door to the villa, and if you don’t want to be disturbed, there is a rope that you can fix at the entrance to indicate the same. A small bell also hangs outside which the staff always ring when they come to the living space. All the verdant, lush greenery around the villa firmly establishes privacy.
The rooms are well appointed with a comfortable bed, television, a large balcony, and a spacious bathroom. The rooms are spacious and designed with the needs and comforts of the modern traveller in mind. Each beautifully designed room unit has a king-size bed, a contemporary ensuite bathroom and large wardrobes. The block print furnishings in pastel hues merge with the tropical vibe, giving the room an easy, breezy feeling.
The kitchenette has a tea and coffee maker with homemade cookies. There’s a pantry with fresh milk, juice and cold beverages that are stored in the refrigerator. There are glasses to enjoy every type of alcohol as well as an ice box.
The food is brought from the central kitchen into the villa kitchenette and served at the dining table in the living area. After the meal is over, the staff clean the plates in the villa kitchen and place the dedicated racks.
Coco ensures that long-duration guests do not miss out on their work which is why each villa has high-speed wi-fi. Guests can work while enjoying the infinity pool as well as the ocean.
Being a sustainable property, drinking water is served in refillable glass bottles. The water is safe to consume as it is filtered RO water!
Konkani food for the win!
Coco Shambhala personalises menus for each guest, tailoring meals to individual tastes and using the freshest ingredients possible. The menu is shared before the guest arrives at the property and is customized to accommodate any requests.
We reached around lunch and Coco Shambhala arranged a Konkani cooking class. A cooking class was set up right in the villa. Chef Dilip Bavkar took us through the steps of preparing Tambdi Bhaji (red spinach) and Prawns in red curry. My otherwise kitchen-shy husband enjoyed cooking the meal.
Soon enough it was time to have lunch. We were served a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes catering both – me and husband’s preferences.
Prawns in red curry, red spinach with grated coconut; black-eyed bean curry, and varan (lentils cooked in coconut and turmeric) served with Ragi bhakri (flatbread). On the side, we had Kothimbir vadi (coriander with gram flour) and Koshimbir (salads) and Papad/Pickles. The meal concluded with Firni, a delightful rice and milk pudding.
Both of us being Maharashtrians found the taste on point and enjoyed the being close to home flavours.
The rest of the meals also had delightful flavours combining coconut, kokum and other Konkan-specific species. We thoroughly enjoyed all of our meals here.
Infinity Pool Villa
Each of the four villas in Coco Shambhala features a huge infinite pool overlooking the Arabian Sea and surrounded by greenery. It is the central feature of the villa and everything revolves around it. You can request drinks by the pool, play some songs and have a little party of your own!
Spa
Drawing from India’s ancient wellness traditions, the spa at Coco Shambhala offers personalized Ayurvedic treatments, including Abhyanga (full-body oil massage) and Shirodhara (a stream of warm oil poured on the forehead).
There are also aromatherapy massages, body scrubs and beauty treatments to best utilize the vacation.
All treatments are carried out by trained professionals who ensure that every treatment is executed with precision and care.
EXPERIENTIAL TOURS AT COCO SHAMBHALA SINDHUDURG
Nivati Fort trek
While Sindhudurg is the highlight of the region, there is another fort in the vicinity that is forgotten. If visiting this in monsoon, Sindhudurg becomes inaccessible as boat rides are shut. Nivati Fort is a better option and is only visited by the locals.
Nivati Fort is believed to have been built during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and was strategically located to guard the coastline and protect the surrounding villages from invaders. While much of it lies in ruins, visitors can still explore remnants of the ancient walls, bastions, and gateways.
The trek usually begins at Nivati village, a quaint settlement that exudes the charm of rural Konkan. The trail winds through lush greenery, coconut groves, and rocky paths, gradually leading up to the fort. The climb is gentle, with occasional steep sections, and can typically be completed within 1 to 1.5 hours.
The views from the top of the fort offer spectacular views of the Arabian Sea, with Nivati Beach on one side and Bhogwe Beach on the other. It is so beautiful that you wouldn’t want to leave the spot.
After the trek, it is best to climb down from this hillock onto the Bhogwe beach and walk back to the resort.
Waterfall exploration
Being Konkan, the area is full of waterfalls – some big some small, some popular, some hidden. Thankfully the local guides in Coco know them all and depending upon the visitor’s adventure level for difficulty, you can pick a waterfall to visit.
Unfortunately, during my visit, the waterfall had a very high water force due to a recent spell of rain and it was not safe to visit, so we gave it a miss.
Boat ride on Karli River
Gliding along the tranquil backwaters of the Karli River is a serene way to uncover the hidden treasures of Sindhudurg and its surroundings. Visitors hop on a slow manual rowing boat and just tune in to the sounds of nature. The swift swaying of coconut trees in the wind, the cacophony of the kingfisher, the white-bellied eagles swirling in circles and the distant ringing of a temple bell.
The boat stopped near a coconut tree wherein our boatman disembarked, harvested 2 coconuts right out of a coconut tree, and presented to us for sipping fresh coconut water right on the boat.
Walaval Lakshminarayan Temple
A 900-year-old temple dedicated to Lakshminarayan is tucked away in the small village of Walaval. With a wonderful sculpture, it is said that this temple has been renovated 3 times so far. The lake next to the temple and the beautiful natural environment there are captivating. In front of this temple, we can see 5 lamp pillars with beautiful stone construction.
This temple is designed in 3 stages – First is the main sanctum, then the main hall and then comes a grand assembly hall with seats on both sides. It is said that during the war, the idol was brought here from the village of Harmal, fearing the Portuguese. Here, you can see a palanquin that walks every Monday from Kartik Ekadashi to Mriga Nakshatra. On Kojagiri Pournima, oil lamps are lit on the Deepmala.
Chitrakathi Painting Workshop
Chitrakathi involves storytelling through art on a 12×15” or 12×18” canvas, which can take 1-3 days to complete, depending on the painting’s intricacy. Traditionally, these paintings depicted scenes from mythological epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. But in modern paintings, birds, and mythological creatures are depicted. An artist – Mr Chetan Gangawane, can help you learn this traditional art form in less than an hour. It’s a great way to destress, learn the art and be creative.
Shadow puppet show
Shadow puppetry is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment which uses flat articulated cut-out figures (shadow puppets) which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim. The cut-out shapes of the puppets sometimes include translucent colours or other types of detailing. Various effects can be achieved by moving both the puppets and the light source. A skilled puppeteer can make the figures appear to walk, dance, fight, nod and laugh. The show is conducted by master puppeteer – Mr Chetan Gangawane.
SUSTAINABILITY AT COCO SHAMBHALA
Coco Shambhala is conscious of the environment and has inculcated many sustainable values. From the design to the filtration of the infinity pool, from sourcing fresh produce from locals to growing their microgreens, there are many other initiatives.
Some of the initiatives include the type of construction, no plastic policy, local employment, and others. Let us look at them in detail.
- Coco Shambhala Sindhudurg, nestled in Parole village, offers a captivating immersion into local rural life. Visiting the surrounding villages with tribal communities offers an enriching village excursion with fascinating encounters.
- The architecture is done using local labour, recycled material and hand-made coconut wood to create this low-impact retreat.
- The villas are designed as technically temporary structures, with the entire frame assembled using nuts and bolts instead of structural welding. Additionally, no roads were built to access the site, and no heavy machinery such as JCBs or cranes was used. The entire project was constructed manually to minimize environmental impact, ensuring the flexibility to dismantle the houses at any time without leaving a lasting footprint on the land.
- The property has solar panels that ensure uninterrupted green energy to the villas.
- The water bottles used are refillable glass bottles with filtered RO water.
- Instead of hand tissues, the lodge uses washable and reusable cotton napkins in the common bathroom.
HOW TO REACH SINDHUDURG
By flight
Coco Shambhala can be reached via road from the airport or train station. The nearest airport is Mopa Airport, Goa as well as Sindhudurg Airport. The Mopa International Airport in Goa is the nearest airport (85 km) connecting to Sindhudurg. This airport has better connectivity with other cities as compared to Sindhudurg Airport.
By train
Sindhudurg has its railway station and is well connected by train. Kanakvalli, Kudal, and Sawanwadi are major railway stations in Sindhudurg district. These railway stations are about 25- 35 km away from the destination. The railway station in Sindhudurg is well-connected to major cities like Goa, Pune, Mumbai, Mangalore and Ahmedabad.
By road
The National Highway-17 passes through Sindhudurg. The buses are available from Mumbai or other cities in Maharashtra. You may also board a bus or rent a car from Goa or Mangalore.
The Maharashtra state government ( MSRTC) buses running from Pune, Mumbai, Sangli, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, and Goa state government buses (Kadamba Transport Corporation) that run from Madgaon, Panaji, Vasco and Pernem to Sindhudurg are easy transports available that connect to Sindhudurg Fort.
FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT COCO SHAMBHALA SINDHUDURG REVIEW
I had a relaxing time at Coco Shambhala and especially loved the hospitality and attention to detail. The property is extremely beautiful, and cosy, and has delicious food. The staff is friendly and one can easily pick up a conversation with them. The warm hospitality guarantees my desire to return for another stay.
BOOK YOUR LUXURY RETREAT IN KONKAN!
Address: Coco Shambhala, Bhogave Beach, Near Parole village, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra
Contact no.: +91-80073 74123, +91-85509 38866
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: Instagram
Click here to book a room!
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Disclosure – I was a guest at Coco Shambhala Sindhudurg in July 2024. However, all opinions in this post are unbiased and of my own.
Disclaimer – This post may contain affiliate links. It means it adds no extra cost to you if you book through the link but I get a referral bonus which helps me earn a little to keep this website up and running.
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