Coco Shambhala Sindhudurg
Tropical modernist
India’s beach belt
Experience the rugged beauty of India’s west coast at Coco Shambhala Sindhudurg, a cluster of four-eco friendly villas overlooking the Arabian Sea. Set on a verdant hillside that descends to an unspoiled beach, each open-sided villa was designed in the spirit of tropical modernism, the revolutionary style made famous by Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Polished concrete floors are contrasted with potted plants and furnishings carved from renewable coconut wood, creating an earthy look that sits perfectly with the landscape. In fact, eco-friendliness is at the heart of the hotel – but that doesn’t stop the staff from tailoring every experience to you. Maharashtrian meals are designed around your own preferences, butlers can deliver drinks to your pool and a team of expert guides are on hand to lead you into sacred forests and lush mangroves.
Facilities
Rooms
Four villas.
Checkout
11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 2pm.
More Details
The standard rate includes in-villa breakfast, free airport transfers and welcome drinks. The premium rate includes all of the above as well as lunch and dinner, which are served in your villa.
Also
The stepped pathways and lack of adapted rooms make the hotel unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Free Internet Access
Laundry
Pool
Room Service
Spa
At the Hotel
Beach, free WiFi throughout, laundry. In rooms: flatscreen TV; iPod dock; bar counter with a fridge stocked with wine and beer; coffee machine; tea and a kettle; organic bath products by Ayca.
Our Favourite Rooms
The four villas are the same size and style, featuring pitched ceilings, polished concrete floors and furnishings made from coconut wood, a sustainable material with a rich, dark grain. All of the villas have two bedrooms, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private terrace overlooking the Arabian Sea. The living rooms can be also be opened up to the elements, using the sea breeze to keep the rooms cool in the tropical warmth; in the wet season, a wall of windows is installed, keeping the sweeping views but repelling any wind and rain. If we had to pick one, we’d ask for the villa that sits highest on the hillside, which has the loftiest views out to sea.
Poolside
Each villa has a private infinity pool with sweeping views of the Arabian Sea. During the summer, the living rooms are open to the elements, making the pool terrace feel like an extension of the room.
Spa
There are two treatment rooms perched high over the beach, looking out over the treetops to the sea beyond. The spa menu draws on the ancient traditions of ayurveda and aromatherapy, providing a range of treatments designed to soothe mind and body alike. Coco Shambhala have collaborated with wellness brand Ayca to develop their luxurious range of signature oils and skincare products, which are natural, paraben-free and packaged in recycled materials, ensuring their treatments are as kind to the environment and they are to your skin.
Packing Tips
If you’ve got them, bring a pair of binoculars – you’ll have a better chance of seeing whales from the terrace of your villa.
Also
Planning a party? The seclusion and small size of the property make it a winner for celebrations. Booked out in its entirety, it sleeps 20 in serene comfort.
Children
All ages are welcome. A cot (free) or extra bed (free for under-12s) can be added to any villa on request. For adults and children over 12, an extra bed is INR300, or INR6000 a night on the premium package (which includes all meals).
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
On your last night, ask for a table to be set up overlooking the Arabian Sea.
Dress Code
As you wish – dinner is entirely on your terms.
Hotel Restaurant
There’s no restaurant per se – meals at Coco Shambhala are bespoke, and served in-villa at a time of your choosing. The hotel’s team of chefs will contact you before your stay, getting to know any preferences and dietary requirements so they can come up with a menu in line with your desires. The hotel grows its own herbs and micro greens, and sources all the rest of its produce from within a 50km radius of the hotel, making the meals a culinary survey of Sindhudurg’s lush interior and bountiful coast – expect spicy curries, fruity sauces and an abundance of seafood. Culinary director Shagun Mehra is equally skilled in other cuisines, however, so don't be put off if spicy food isn't your thing – she'll ensure your menu suits yout tastes to a T. She's also one of India’s best sommeliers, so you can be assured that the wine will be as fine as the food it's pared with. On request, you can dine in various locations around the grounds – some spots overlook the crashing waves, others are beneath the canopy of a tree, which will be illuminated by hanging oil lamps.
Hotel Bar
Each villa has an honesty bar with single malt whiskies, craft gins, fine wines and beers. There’s also a communal honesty bar under one of the cashew trees overlooking the sea.
Last Orders
Breakfast can be served any time from 7am to 11am; after that, meals can be served pretty much any time up to 11pm.
Room Service
Your butler is on hand to make cocktails or bring poolside snacks.
Planes
Goa International Airport is currently closest, and can be reached directly from Delhi, Mumbai and Abu Dhabi. From there, it’s a three-hour drive to the hotel. Flights should start touching down at the new Sindhudurg Chipi Airport in 2019. Once they do, Chipi will be the closer option, only 30 minutes from the hotel by car.
Trains
The nearest station is Kudal, a 30-minute drive from the hotel. Unless you’re coming from one of the neighbouring states, it’ll be a long journey (10 hours from Mumbai, for example), so you’ll be better off flying.
Automobiles
Most visitors give driving a miss, opting to hire a car with a driver instead – the price difference between the two is often negligible.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
If the sight of the sun streaking across the Arabian Sea isn’t worth getting out of bed in the morning, we’re not sure what is. But if the views alone don’t do it for you, the sound of your butler delivering breakfast to the villa will. Once sated, you could answer the siren call of the sea, having the team arrange a snorkeling, scuba diving or dolphin watching session; alternatively, travel inland to explore the local mangrove forests in one of the hotel’s luxury kayaks (little Smiths can collect any plastic they find and exchange it for treats and gift shop vouchers). Eco-friendliness is at the heart of the hotel’s mission, and the staff are passionate about sharing the splendour of Sindhudurg with guests – don’t pass on a guided walk in the sacred forest on the hotel’s doorstep, which has been designated as a reserve for Indian bison and leopard. In the afternoon, join had chef and sommelier Shagun Mehra for a food and wine matching workshop or Indian cooking class. Built at the end of the 12th-century, Vijaydurg Fort is the oldest of all the forts on the Sindhudurg coast, and was famous for being nigh-impregnable during its centuries-long heyday. Though worn by time, the dark stone walls still loom high over the bay – a fitting reminder of the one-time might of the local Maratha navy. If you’re looking for a spectacular spot to cool off, take a drive into thickly-forested Amboli, a hill station in the Sahyadri Hills. The impressive Amboli Ghat waterfalls lure visitors from around the area, some of whom use them as an all-natural power shower. For litter-free sand and crystal clear surf, head to beautiful Tarkarli Beach, which is fringed with palms and strewn with fishing boats in a dozen colours.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
