If one is longing for a relaxing holiday, head to Taj Exotica Resorts and Spa, Havelock. One can safely say it is heaven on Earth. Our trip to Andaman was majorly aimed at staying at this newly opened luxury hotel in the lap of nature.
The hotel had arranged for a pick up from Havelock Jetty and the cordial staff was punctually present to pick us up. Believe me it is a big deal to be punctual at Andamans as everyone seems to have a very lackadaisical approach. The hotel is about 40 minutes drive from the jetty but the lush green surroundings do not let one take eyes off the window screen.
The Hotel is set in the middle of these thick green surroundings. We were welcomed by a refreshing welcome drink which was coconut water and even a cute song in the local language sung by a group of young men and women.
The1500 sq feat villa made on stilts with complete wooden finish has a chic ambience combined with style even though it is inspired by Jarawa huts. The property which is set in the midst of nature has mostly coconut trees and has a variety of flora and fauna. In the morning, coconut was being taken off from the trees next to our villa. The staff gave us fresh coconut straight taken off from the tree – the most refreshing drink till date.
The lobby area, recreation room and dining is completely of wood. It feels as if you are in a country like Cuba and Hawai as you can hear the roaring waves of the sea while having meals at Turtle House. The food is also awesome and as their precedent is, the staff is extremely cordial. Be it Indian or continental, the food is always to the satisfaction of the person.
The pool is nestled next to the dining area and infact peeps over the blue seas through the green screen of trees. I must mention here that the vegetation here is of typical equatorial climate and hence huge trunks reaching for the skies (literally). One realizes the how miniscule mankind is standing in front of these trees. It is awesome and yet inspiring.
The highest point of the resort is the access to the Radhanagar Beach which is few steps from the property through a small passage. As one walks down, the most acclaimed beach of Asia stands in front of the eyes glittering in white sands and green waters. We were provided mats by the hotel staff to sit and absorb the sun at the beach. It is almost like private beach with few visitors in this part of the beach. One can sit and laze for hours together till the sun goes down – another spectacular visual. The beach has variety of crabs, snails etc running around making patterns on the soft white sands. Some corals are also washed ashore. But the crowning glory is the blue skies and sea overlooked by thick green forests – a sure treat to the eyes. It’s like getting the best of both the worlds.
So, pack your bags next time for this place on Havelock which is truly exotic and an exhilarating experience.