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| The A-frame cabins at Porsu eco-village at Agonda. |
MELVYN MISQUITA
NOVEMBER 17, 2023
Agonda has been acclaimed for its sun, sea and sand. But this coastal village also has something special to offer. A hidden treasure in Agonda, but also away from Agonda!
Having enjoyed short holidays at beachside rooms in Agonda for over a decade, my family and I decided to return to Agonda for a two-day holiday, but this time we wanted to be away from the sea. Something about Agonda makes us want to return to this lovely coastal village for short breaks from our normal life in Porvorim.
After checking the internet, my wife and daughter were interested in ‘Porsu eco-village’ at Agonda. The photos were appealing, and the reviews were great. I called up the resort manager, Newton Fernandes, and after a short conversation, booked a room for us from November 13 to November 15.
LOCATION
Located a short distance off the Palolem-Agonda road (which is close to the road connecting the NH66 highway at the foot of the Karmal Ghat), Porsu eco village is in the midst of lush greenery. People visit the resort not for its proximity to sea and sand. In fact, Porsu has none of that as it is some distance from the nearest beach which, incidentally, is not even the famed Agonda beach. But more about that later.
The adventure at Porsu begins even before entering the resort.
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| A stream which passes through the mud road leading to Porsu eco-village. |
After getting off the busy Palolem-Agonda road, vehicles need to cross a stream (during monsoon when the water level rises, we are told that a jeep comes to pick and drop guests) and proceed along a motorable mud road leading to the resort.
STAY
On arrival, guests are greeted at the reception. After the routine check-in details and a welcome drink, guests then proceed in their vehicles over a short distance. Guests then park their vehicles by the side of a footbridge, and they are directed to the room of their choice.
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| The reception at Porsu eco-village. |
Porsu consists of nine rooms: three earth huts, three Goan villas and three A-frame cabins. The reception is located at the entrance to the property, while the restaurant and swimming pool is located atop a hillock.
The rooms are located at different levels. The three earth rooms are at the base of the hillock, the three Goan villas are located midway, and the three A-frame cabins are still higher and closer to the restaurant.
In our case, we had booked an A-frame cabin, a well-designed room which has a comfortable and wide bed. There is a spiral staircase leading to an attic, where a sofa-cum-bed is located.
The rooms do not have TVs, and I later came to know that Porsu has no intentions to provide any such facility.
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| One A-Frame Cabin at Porsu eco-village. |
Porsu offers a quiet and peaceful holiday, ideal for those who want a break from an urban lifestyle. The sounds and sights of various birds, the beautiful butterflies, the lush greenery, and the many pathways around the resort ensures that one is with nature.
Our close friends joined us on Tuesday and stayed in the adjacent A-frame cabin for an overnight stay, making our holiday even more pleasant and memorable.
Porsu manager Newton Fernandes and the staff were very courteous, and they offered us wonderful service during our stay.
RESTAURANT
The restaurant atop a small hillock offers a breathtaking view of the hills. The restaurant is well-designed and even features some antique wooden artefacts outsourced from Canacona and Karwar.
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| The restaurant at Porsu eco-village. |
Newton, a marine engineer from neighbouring Khola village who retired from life at sea, said one of the features that Porsu offers is its ‘farm-to-table’ concept at the restaurant. Porsu also has its own stuffed mango pickles.
“All our vegetables are home-grown. We also distill our own Feni. Besides, all wet waste is recycled and converted into manure and only dry and non-biodegradable waste is handed over to Agonda panchayat,” says Newton.
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| A fish thali served at Porsu eco-village. |
A Goan fish/veg Thali is served on a banana leaf and coconut shells from their plantations, making the dining experience different and special.
There is a swimming pool in front of the restaurant as an added facility. Porsu also offers a jeep ride to Butterfly Beach in Agonda, which, incidentally, is closer to the resort than the main Agonda beach. This vehicle is recommended for an off-road experience to and from the beach.
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| Porsu eco-village distills its own Feni and prepares its own stuffed mango pickle. |
BONUS
There was an added bonus for us at the end of our two-day stay at Porsu.
Porsu eco-village owner Alkesh Desai, an IT professional based in the USA, happened to arrive in Goa on the morning of November 15. To my good fortune, Alkesh was at the restaurant when I had gone to clear my bills at the restaurant.
Newton introduced me to Alkesh, and I was pleased to interact with him. Not only because a Goan is passionate about his village and his property, but Alkesh was also associated with a local newspaper for about two years in the mid-1990s, and we had a common set of friends in the media.
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| Porsu eco-village owner Alkesh Desai stands near some antique wooden artefacts at his restaurant. |
Explaining the name of his resort, Alkesh said ‘Porsu’ is a Konkani term which is used to describe a traditional community garden, where people in the neighbourhood would grow their vegetables in a designated space. Alkesh had fond memories of their ‘Porsu’ outside his house at Desai Wada in Agonda.
“People in the neighbourhood would come to our Porsu and they would be given some space to grow their vegetables. This practice not only fostered togetherness and harmony, but it also encouraged people to grow their own vegetables,” explains Alkesh.
Taking this concept to a different level, Alkesh decided to set up the Porsu eco-village on 18 acres (about 75,000 sq. mtrs) of his property at Agonda in 2018.
While explaining the facilities in his resort, Alkesh said TVs were deliberately avoided in all nine rooms.
“We want our guests to experience nature and enjoy life without gadgets. Initially, I did not even want internet facilities, but there were repeated demands from guests to enable them to connect with their near and dear ones or offices. So, we eventually installed internet facilities in our rooms,” said Alkesh, while also sharing some of his plans for families and children in the future.
But what delighted me was Alkesh’s desire to eventually return to Agonda.
“I am strongly connected to the land of my family and my forefathers. I grew up here and I have wonderful memories of my childhood here. I cannot think of retiring anywhere else,” says Alkesh.
We thanked Alkesh, Newton and the staff for our memorable stay at Porsu.
We have plans to return to Porsu as it is more than just a resort. It is an experience. It is a hidden treasure at Agonda village, but away from Agonda beach.
END
For more details on Porsu eco-village, visit their website:
http://myporsu.com/
