A little away from the village, SwaSwara in Gokarna lies on 26 acres of rolling hills and gardens adorned with flowers, shrubs and spices that sit next to each other on a carpet of green lawns, lined with serene coconut palms. Beyond the lawns is a vegetable garden bursting with the greens of the season and paddy fields that nourish those who stay at SwaSwara. Within this spiritually enlightened and sensitive environment nestle 24 villas inspired by the homesteads, tradition and craft of the Uttara Kannada region of Karnataka. This is another unique property owned by CGH Earth group of hotels and is where your journey of discovery begins.

FACILITIES: Guests staying at SwaSwara Resort can expect a holiday experience that is surreal without being removed from reality; a journey of discovery combining the elements of yoga, Ayurveda and art, offering a series of experiences that opens up to a new way of living. Everything here furthers your journey; a special dome for meditation, yoga experts to teach the basics and help you to recognize the needs of your body and how to respond to them, Ayurvedic massages and therapies designed to refresh your body, soothe away frazzled city nerves, improve blood circulation and put the spring back in your step. Resident artists invite guests to discover their own talents in the guise of pottery making, sculpturing and painting, whilst for those who just want to relax and soak up the sun, there is a swimming pool with sun terrace. Beach lovers can take the short walk through the gardens and down the path to the lovely Om beach where kayaking is one of the activities on offer. Cuisine at SwaSwara is, for the main part, vegetarian and guests are invited to assist in picking the vegetables and cooking them, along with the culinary team, in the interactive kitchen. In addition to the home grown fresh tropical fruit, vegetables and rice, delicious fresh fish and seafood, from the catch of the day, are also served. To complement the wonderful fresh produce there is a selection of Indian wines on offer but no other alcoholic beverages are available.

ACCOMMODATION: The beautifully designed villas at the Swaswara Resort are built in local Konkan style and are designed around a splitlevel open area with small grass lawns on both levels; just big enough to lay out a towel to enjoy a bit of private sun bathing. The lower level has a mini-bar with soft drinks and tea/coffee making facilities and on the upper level there is an enclosed, air-conditioned bedroom and a semi-open bathroom. Steps lead up to a covered terrace above the bedroom designed for meditation and yoga and perfect for watching the lovely sunsets. Definitely not a mainstream holiday but more of a lifestyle experience which will leave you feeling calm, relaxed, healthy and rejuvenated. Accommodation at Swaswara is offered on Full Board basis and includes most activities on offer except Ayurveda massages and treatments. 24 villas

MEALS: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

TRANSFER TIME: Approximately 3½ hours from Dabolim airport.

Note: We do not offer a representative service at SwaSwara but we do provide contact numbers for our office in Goa, where our local staff are based should you require any assistance during your stay.