Description
The Nilaya Hermitage is built into the hillside of Arpora, ten minutes from the sea at Baga beach and the hubbub of Goa. The hotel is privately owned and run with 12 individually detailed rooms, each themed and named after a cosmic element. The hotel offers a quality of service including relaxation therapies, oil massages and steam baths matched by few hotels around the world. The atmosphere is very relaxed and not at all over empowering.
Nilaya's cuisine is a subtle, personal blend of Eastern and Western flavours - prepared by a French chef using fresh, local produce and plenty of seafood. You can dine al fresco by the pool, in the dining room, or in the privacy of your own room. The hotel has a delightful swimming pool with verandahs overlooking paddy fields and the plantations of the coastal plain.
Some of the local attractions include the Marym Lake Temples, the colonial churches of North Goa, Mapusa City, the beaches of Vagator, Anjuna and Calangute and Fort Aguada which was built in 1612 by the Portuguese to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas.
Guide price
£1,715
per person
£1,715 Per person for 7 nights in a double room on B & B basis.
Accommodation
Nilaya Hermitage offers 12 individually designed rooms which are each themed and named after a cosmic element. Rooms have a small private terrace or sit-out space and some afford views of the gardens. Soul and Little Element have adjoining balconies so they are perfect for families. Bathrooms are well equipped with decent showers and amenities but there are no TVs or phones in any of the rooms which is part of the charm. You can however request a DVD player if you want to watch a film.
Childcare
Children over 6 years old are welcomed but there are no facilities except babysitting. Extra beds can be provided should they be required.
Facilities
Facilities at the hotel include a swimming pool, tennis court and health club featuring a steam room, massages and meditation classes.
Activities
Aside from taking a dip in the pool and enjoying a relaxing massage you can play tennis. Other activities in the surrounding area include boat trips, snorkelling, diving, fishing and cycling. you can also take a day trip to explore Old Goa and its beautiful colonial churches and buildings.
When to travel
The monsoon season begins around June, when the hot temperatures of summer are cooled with an influx of clouds and rain. On average, the hottest months of the year are April and May. The best time to visit Goa is between late October and early April. The peak tourist season is from mid-December to mid-January, when the weather is near perfect, with daytime temperatures rarely going beyond 32°C.
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Best time to visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
India, Goa, India
Nilaya is a 5-minute drive into the hills above Arpora in Goa – an inland village, 6km from Baga beach.
How to get there
12.5-hour international flight (via Mumbai) to Goa's Dabolim Airport. Nilaya Hermitage is 45km from the international airport at Dabolim.
