Sun, Sand & Heritage

Bhisham Mansukhani checks out Heritage Village Club in south Goa

It takes 20 driving minutes from Dabolim airport to reach the beachfront convergence of villas called The Heritage Village Club on South Goa's Arossim Beach. Earnest hospitality and Konkani tunes follow me into the lobby as assistant front office manager, Guitry Velho, with a disarming familiarity, greets me by first name. I feel at home almost immediately.

A few good things about the Heritage Village Club: beach proximity (two-minute walk), Ayurvedic spa, a sizeable swimming pool stretching across most of the resort's natural atrium, submerged bar stools lining the adjoining Swim-up Bar… But the latest feature and prime USP of the property are its new designer rooms which are part of the first phase of a complete facelift. I hazarded a quick juxtaposition, scanning some rooms which had not been renovated before checking into the noveau designer room assigned to me. The difference is stark: the original construction was conventional hotel rooms promising basic functionality while the new ones have see through glass dividing the living and bathroom area, earth-finished floor tiling, a large living area, panoramic bedrooms; bathrooms with separate cubicles for the shower and WC and many other aesthetic additions. The property contains 100 rooms in three categories – 36 deluxe, 36 club, 25 standard, two suites and one disabled friendly. Conferencing facilities for up to 120 is available.

There is a delicious bouquet of diverse cuisines spanning Goan, traditional Indian and international fare in its speciality restaurants. Chutney is a buffet affair; the sea-wind swept Mango Terrace is Indian in flavour offering delectable seafood and kebabs; and then there was Casa Rosa, the resort's perpetually open watering hole and also my distraction for most of the jaunt.

I also decided to have a little bit of rejuvenation at Ayur, the Ayurvedic spa. As the hands of the masseur went straightening out my stiff muscles, I could feel the body perking up. There are a number of specialised treatments on offer but these require longer stays, in the region of three to 12 days. For the short term, one can enjoy herbal steam baths, floral baths and massages.

Two days is too short a stay to get into the groove at Heritage Village. There was much that I missed, like hire a bicycle at the reception area and go have a dekko of South Goan countryside; or do the same on a bullock cart (which can again be arranged at the reception). But, on the other hand, there's always another time.