www.sellinglonghaul.com • March 2011 57

i n r evi ewMAHINDRA HOMESTAYS

By DHRUV BAKER

Background: As the 2010 BBC

MasterChef winner I was excited to visit Goa

to experience the food and local cuisine of

the region, discovering new spices and

recipes. I stayed with Mahindra Homestays,

which has eight private homestays in Goa,

each offering a unique experience, either

through the property design and

architecture, the host-guest interaction or the

unique experiences guests can have as they

discover India through the eyes of a local.

Where Is It? I stayed in a renovated

Portuguese homestead called ‘Arco Iris’

in Margao, south Goa. Located 30

minutes from the coast, this 120-year-old

colonial Portuguese-style heritage home

is a luxurious homestay renovated with

love and care. The five guest rooms are

large, airy and beautifully designed with

antiques and sumptuous fabrics, whilst

the home-cooked meals are always

sumptuous and plentiful!

The Homestay: The bright yellow house

stands vividly in the backdrop of one of the

lakes of Curtorim village. The large portico

and the wide airy rooms are created in the

colours of the rainbow, after the owners'

daughter called the house ‘a rainbow city’.

B&B is from £62 per night (for two sharing).

My Room: I had a beautiful, spacious

en-suite room with a very comfortable four-

poster double bed. The bathroom was

fitted with a huge shower and plenty of hot

water. The room was cleaned daily and

although I didn't use it there was a useful

laundry service. I have never stayed at a

homestay before and I have to say it had a

wonderfully relaxed and welcoming feel,

thanks to the fantastic hosts, Bennita and

Ganesh (and their two lovely daughters).

Activities: We were well situated for the

beautiful beaches of South Goa, which are

much more peaceful than the crowded

beaches of the north. We spent a day at a

bustling local market (Mapusa) which is a

must for anyone interested in food. Stalls

heaped with baskets of beautiful aromatic

spices; the fish market with a dazzling array

of everything from green-lipped mussels to

King Fish; rows of tropical fruit – a real treat!

For a more peaceful, reflective morning there

is a seminary nearby which is an excellent

way of getting a feel for the religious history

of Goa, with artwork dating back hundreds

of years. Another activity which would not

have ever made it onto my itinerary had I not

been at a homestay was crabbing in the river

– and then going home to cook our catch!

The Food: A key reason for the trip was

food – and I was not disappointed! Staying

in a hotel can disappoint when it comes to

culinary experiences, but a homestay gave

us the full Goan experience.

Home-cooked food, tiny local restaurants

not obvious to the casual visitor and

knowing which of the many beach shacks

to go to meant I learned more about Goan

cuisine than I could ever have imagined. It is

a unique cuisine with a strong Portuguese

influence intertwined with the wonders that

Indian food of that area has to offer.

Mackerel rechad, pork sorpatel, some of

the best shellfish I have had, the delicious

spiced sausages more like chorizo than

anything one would associate with India

(Salcette and Bardez); the list goes on and

on. For food lovers this is the way to go.

Stay highlights: Having been to Goa

many times I felt I knew a fair bit about it but

I am delighted to say that I was proved

totally wrong by this trip! By living in a

local’s house you immediately have closer

MAHINDRA HOMESTAYS > Arco Iris, South Goa, India

Get the inside story......on long haul accommodation and flights around the globe

I was delighted with the

whole experience and

everything a homestay offers.

It is entirely up to you

whether you treat it as you

would a hotel, and come and

go as you wish – but that

would mean missing out on

so much that makes this a

unique way to experience. I

will certainly be back to make

the most of my new-found

way to travel!

The Verdict...

contact with Goan life. The genuine warmth

and hospitality, the home cooking, the insight

to where Goans go and what Goans do –

all aspects often sadly missed when staying

in hotels. Spending an afternoon crabbing

with the fantastic guys Adrian and Linton

Pinto from another Mahindra homestay, The

Only Olive, and then going back to their

homestay for fantastic food and local Feni

(the delicious spirit made from cashew nuts

or coconut) is something thatI will remember

for a long, long time. And he beaches! Be

they the tranquil, deserted beaches of the

south or the busier beaches of the north,

both have their appeal. One of the best

meals we had was at Claudinas Shack on

Candolim Beach, where the owner spoiled

us with plates of piri piri calamari, pomfret

rechad and fiery prawn curry washed down

with cold beer with our toes in the sand.

Life in Goa is good....!

Recommend to: Ideal for those wanting to

experience much more of local life and to

gain a true insight of the region. Also a

perfect option for those with children as you

can specify homestays where the hosts have

their own. Finally, for those jaded by resorts,

this offers the perfect balance.

Contact details: Reservations on

020 3140 8422 or visit

www.mahindrahomestays.com Mahindra Homestays offers a pan-Indian

collection of stunning properties, providing

unique experiences and insider access into

one of the most mesmerising countries in

the world. Homestays allow guests to

experience a genuine slice of India, gaining

an insight from a wholly local perspective.

UK tour operators featuring Mahindra

Homestays are Premier Holidays, Steppes

Travel, Cox & Kings, TransIndus, Travelpack,

Indus Tours and Abercrombie & Kent.

Exceptional Loved it!

Pass Farce