Further to my previous blog on Olaulim Backyard, here are some more details about this gorgeous place!
Oh! so you like to relax and cuddle up in a room while you’re traveling vs the sightseeing?
Olaulim Backyards’ got your back here too. With spacious rooms inside nature with only nature sounds around, away from the city hustle!
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Cottage Hornbill
Perched upon a rock, big enough for a family of 4 or 5, this cottage ensures that you feel you’re staying in a cave with the natural porous boulders.
This cottage also boasts of an outdoor private bamboo bathroom.
Cottage Indian Pitta
Right opposite Mandovi river, a sunrise and a personal hammock is another cottage with the name Indian Pitta.
A basketball space, sitting area, and pool is just 10 meters from this cottage.
And what is even cuter? It also boasts of a small garden in the bathroom!
Cottage Paradise Flycatcher
The architecture of this house is inspired by the Goan farmers’ houses. It is the smallest but coziest cottage built partly with recycled waste. The cottage is architecturally smart for the winds to circulate and natural light to bounce inside the house!
If you are not comfortable with an outdoor bathroom, you can opt for this cottage which has an indoor bathroom.
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Cottage Golden Oriole
This cottage, situated at the highest level amongst all the cottages is where we crashed in!
We climbed a porous rock steps and crossed the foliage to reach our beautiful abode perched on top of boulders. It has a balcony view of abundant trees and birds!
It also has a beautiful open (without worrying about privacy) bathroom to climb down on the bamboo stairwell from inside the house!
Cottage Sunbird
Right opposite Mandovi river, a sunrise and a personal hammock is another cottage with the name Sunbird.
A basketball space, sitting area, and pool is just 10 meters from this cottage.
It also boasts of antique ancestral furniture and a four-poster bed.
Kitchen
This was the first time I have gobbled down local produce in an open kitchen!
Hosts at Olaulim Backyards
Pirkko, a Finnish born married to Goan Savio are the wonderful hosts and curators of this backyard! Each cottage is spun from their love, imagination, and creativity!
The best part is that the couple leaves no stone un-turned in making you feel comfortable. Their 16-year-old daughter, Shameena made us feel at home. One would definitely admire her way of hospitality at such a tender age!
The hosting doesn’t restrict till themselves. It extends to their furry friendly family members too!
My heart pounded of happiness when I saw three adopted dogs run towards me with wagging tails to welcome us home.
My friend who isn’t comfortable with animals roaming freely was going all bananas.
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Meals
You are in for a treat if you’d love to the idea of relishing Goan dishes for the first time!
Pirkko and Savio help the local economy by employing the local ladies in cooking for the guests and purchasing fresh local organic ingredients right from their field for the guests!
Being a vegetarian, I had a chance to savor Goan food of various curries, local red rice and an Olaulim Backyards’ special crafted feni by Pirkko herself!
If you are a non-vegetarian, fear not since you are in for a treat of freshly caught fishes/ prawns, chicken, wild boar (if you are lucky), pork, etc!
We were also showered more love with an Indo- Portuguese dessert called Bebinca – a 12 layered pudding on one day and a delicious lip-smacking locally baked cake on the other!
Who should come to Olaulim Backyards?
A couple, a group of friends, family or a solo traveler – any and everyone can!
But, if you are a person who enjoys 5-star resorts/hotels, wants AC, room service, TV, all other modernities, if you jump out of your seat just with the mention of ‘spider’ then this isn’t the place for you.
But, if you love walking on sprawling acres of greenfield, watching numerous birds chasing sunsets, do not mind some frogs jumping here and there, listening to crickets stridulating the entire night, kayaking, being mentally prepared with a probability of a prawn or tiny fishes accidentally jumping in your kayak, cycling in narrow lanes surrounded by paddy fields and smiling locals welcoming you, then THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!
They have a swimming pool and WiFi in the common area.
Please note: This backyard is amidst nature and the chances of spotting insects/reptiles are on a higher side. But that’s the beauty of a place which is amidst nature, right?!
Costs and reservations
A sleeper class train from Mumbai to Goa cost ~INR 800 one way per person.
Auto rides cost ~INR 200-500 to go to any place.
Please check the rates here and for any other queries, you can contact Pirkko / Savio here.
They are pretty quick at responding to you so be rest assured of your answer notification popping up anytime!
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Things to carry
• Do remember to pack mosquito repellant with you. You will be surrounded with nature (and unfortunately mosquitoes too) all the time.
• Pack some snacks to munch around between meals.
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After bidding them and the furry members a goodbye, we headed to explore Panjim before catching the train back home.
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Thank you, Olaulim Backyards for hosting me! Although this was a collaboration, the photos and reviews are entirely my own.
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