Who doesn’t love a vacation? With a crazy season, the workload was quite something and I was literally craving a break. When I saw some of my friends visiting Shangrila Jungle Resort, I was mesmerised by the place and decided upon visiting it for a staycation with family. While booking the stay I got to know that Shangrila has no network except for BSNL and no Wi-Fi too. This made me a little sceptical about whether I should go ahead or cancel my plan since being without a network and Wi-Fi for 2 days wasn’t an ideal kind of situation for me to be in. After thinking a lot about it, I went ahead with my plan. Where earlier I was planning a mid-week break, I changed it to a weekend thinking the weekend might be more appropriate to go without network than a working weekday.
So on Saturday morning, we set out for our 80km journey to Shangrila Jungle Resort. The resort is located on the border of Goa-Karnataka and it took us a good 2 hours to reach there from Porvorim.
Shangrila is tucked away in the tranquillity of the Western Ghats, also known as Sahyadri (Benevolent Mountains), a mountain range that runs parallel to the west coast of India. There are a number of undiscovered species throughout this region, making it one of the world’s Top Ten Biodiversity Hotspots, with a more diverse ecosystem than the Amazon rainforest. A must-visit destination for nature lovers, adventurists, adrenaline seekers and fitness enthusiasts, Shangrila is paradise on earth.
We were welcomed by smiling and cheerful faces who made our check-in process a simple one while we were served welcome drinks. One step into the property and you cannot stop raving about its lush greenery and beautiful cottages. We had booked ourselves a suite room, which had a huge private outdoor space to enjoy nature, a large living room with sofa-cum-beds and a spacious bedroom. The best part was that both the rooms had an attached bathroom which made life really simple, though the master bathroom came equipped with a bathtub to relax with a lavish bath, the other bathroom was also fully equipped with power showers and other essentials. Also, both the rooms had their own TVs which too makes it convenient for all family members to watch their preferred channels.
We reached there around 2 PM and the journey had made us hungry, so we ordered room service and while patiently waiting for our food, we let the tranquillity of the place sink in.
As the food came, the looks of it told us that we won’t be disappointed. The food was rather delicious. For us being a foodie family, if the food is good, the fun of a staycation simply doubles up.
3 hours had passed since we stepped into Shangrila and those were the first-ever 3 hours of not looking at my phone or even being bothered about it. Such is the magic of Shangrila.
After lunch, we relaxed for a bit and then I was all set to explore this stunning property.
Spread across 9 acres, surrounded by forests and hills on all sides, Shangrila Jungle Resort is in the middle of nowhere. Since the place is a little cut-off, they have ensured that their in-house activities keep you engaged and entertained and there is not even a single moment of boredom. The sound of birdsong, insects chirping, and the magical melodies of the forest can wake you up in the morning.
Choose from many indoor and outdoor activities such as Flying Fox, Boating, Kayaking, and more. There is a full-fledged gaming room that has carom tables, a snooker table, table tennis, chess and more. You can also take cycles from the resort and ride along the narrow paths surrounded by greenery or take a dip in the pool and relax by the poolside. A small terrace area that gives you 360-degree views of the mountains, as well as the resort, is an ideal spot to have breakfast or hi-tea with a view. You can request the team at the resort to set it up for you and thank me later for the idea. It’s also great for an intimate candlelight dinner under the stars with your partner or even if you are not having dinner, do climb up to the terrace at night to feel the cool breeze and witness a sky full of stars.
I was pleasantly surprised that despite the dense greenery there are no mosquitos or insects to bother you while sitting outdoors at any time of the day and night.
Also surprisingly the temperature was 10 degrees below normal in Goa and at night it had dropped down to about 14 degrees and making for an ideal time to sit around the bonfire and have some cosy conversations with the family.
The food at Shangrila, right from breakfast to dinner was so good that it really made our stay worthwhile. There wasn’t a single dish that we didn’t like. And to top it all, the warmth and hospitality that the team of Shangrila offers are unmatched. They work tirelessly to ensure that you get every comfort during your stay.
The two days passed swiftly enough playing games with my family, kayaking multiple times in the serene stream that flows, zip-lining, swinging, and sometimes just quietly absorbing nature. The stay seemed to end way too soon and surprisingly there wasn’t a moment when I missed my phone or social media. This detox was much needed and thoroughly enjoyed, so much so that now I am looking forward to a visit again soon.
If you are looking for a wholesome vacation experience, this is the place for you. And from children to older people, the place offers something for everyone and I am sure you will enjoy it. And don’t worry if you still think that you cannot be without Wi-Fi, the resort is working on the same and ideally, within this month their Wi-Fi services will be activated.
