Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces

Just past the stark laterite of the 16th century fort that once formed Goa’s final frontier, Taj’s 73 acre Fort Aguada Beach Resort welcomes scores of international tourists to the land of sun, sea and much practised ‘susegad’.

It is one among three Taj properties that capture the eclectic moods of Goan leisure. The Fort Aguada Beach Resort and the neighbouring Taj Holiday Village in the north give access to Goa’s best loved tourist spots; Taj Exotica in the southwest coast of Benaulim is a quiet hideaway for those who prefer Goa’s natural fecundity to its holiday fervour.

The view from Fort Aguada is ageless; the sapphire sea subtly merges with the cerulean sky; below, the beach stretches on for miles. The resort’s all-Goan appeal and hospitality has earned it a World Travel Award for India’s Best Resort and Spa at World Travel Mart in 2003. State-of-the-art facilities and a conference hall that can house up to 225 people draws in the business traveller as well.

Fort Aguada Beach Resort

Quaint cottages offering garden and sea views are peppered across Fort Aguada Beach Resort, which also houses several distinct restaurants. The char-grilled chicken with Gorgonzola cream sauce is a favourite at the Italian restaurant Ii Camino, and Goan specialties are much sought after in Latitude, the elegant all day dining multi-cuisine restaurant. Morsico keeps guests guessing with its seafood menu that changes everyday, while SFX - The Bar & Lounge, is frequented for a quick bite. .

Built in 1981, the recently renovated Taj Holiday Village is moulded in the shape of an archetypal Goan hamlet, buoyant with swathes of tropical colour. Beautifully landscaped gardens line the cottages and villas with tiled terracotta roofs sporting deep blue and sunset orange hues. Hammocks sway invitingly in private lawns. 

Braced by the sea air, our appetite is almost as big as the uninterrupted view of the sea from Caravela, the splendidly located multi-cuisine restaurant. Vying for our attention is a 300-year old banyan tree that spreads its boughs over the Thai restaurant that takes its name, where we sample Chef Danny’s signature green curry and crispy fried fish. Beach House, as it implies, is a typical beach shack with local Goan fare and close by, Jungle Jam resounds with delighted children. The resort’s infectious energy nudges one into trying out the array of activities, from nature walks to jummaring and rappelling. The resort offers babysitting facilities as well, leaving little excuse to resist your adventurous streak. Making our way down to South Goa, we come to the Taj Exotica which keeps us happily captive on its 56 acres. From the putting greens we move to the nine-hole executive golf course and try our hand at archery and cricket too.

The resort’s infectious energy nudges one into trying out the array of activities, from nature walks to jummaring and rappelling. The resort offers babysitting facilities as well, leaving little excuse to resist your adventurous streak. Making our way down to South Goa, we come to the Taj Exotica which keeps us happily captive on its 56 acres. From the putting greens we move to the nine-hole executive golf course and try our hand at archery and cricket too. The décor blends Goan and Portuguese elements, and rooms with a view of the sunset come with a private plunge pool. Taj Exotica is evenly popular for work and play; with five conference halls that can hold up to 800 people, it is regularly booked for business meets.

Taj’s secluded beaches and fine dining restaurants makes for the perfect romantic setting

Our time spent off the beach is divided between the resort’s seven restaurants. The richly clad Allegria is popular for its fusion of Goan food and Portuguese wines, Li Bai and Eugenia go further east with their Oriental cuisines, while the live seafood display at the Lobster Shack turns us into wide-eyed kids.

We spend some time sampling the offerings at the lounge bar Adega Camoens with its Hollywood pin-ups and posters. We are tempted by Miguel Arcanjo’s menu of European food and the Pool Side Sandwich Counter seems the right place to fuel up after a few laps.

Within the earthy, tropical-inspired décor of the renowned Jiva Spa, common to both the Beach Resort and Holiday Village, we are cosseted with Ayurvedic and beauty treatments.

The Jiva Spa here is illuminated by oil lamps and fragrant incense delicately fills the green setting, invoking memories of the Kerala temples it has been inspired by; the spa was ranked among the World’s 100 Best Spas, in the Readers’ Spa Awards 2007 by Conde Nast Traveller, UK.

Says Nick Israel, General Manager, Fort Aguada Beach Resort, “For over a century, Taj has set the standard for hospitality in India, honing it into something of an art form. We are also constantly innovating, which ensures that while the hospitality is typically Taj, each experience is unique.”

Text: Kavita Mohandas