Leela Goa

The Leela is brilliantly located on Morbor Beach, one of the most popular and beautiful in south Goa. It features a private stretch of beach as well as lagoons and tropical gardens, and is India’s only resort that can claim to be both beachside and riverside.

The 206 rooms and suites are spacious and luxurious, with a fresh, contemporary design complemented by traditional Indian design elements, like the beautiful carved wooden beds and furnishings. Lagoon Terrace Rooms have a Portuguese feel, reflecting Goa’s colonial past, with private balconies overlooking the peaceful, lotus-filled lagoon. Club Suites offer fantastic access to the beach and beautiful ocean views, while Club Pool Suites feature a private plunge pool. For even more exclusivity, choose a private villa, which have elegant dark wood interiors and unrivalled locations on the edge of the lagoon.

The Leela features a range of delicious dining options, spanning cuisines from across the world. At The Restaurant, open kitchens serve up a range of Indian, Southeast Asian and Western cuisine, from Goan fish curry to Thai green curry and Italian pasta dishes. Jamavar specialises in authentic, rich Indian cuisine, with dishes from the north and south of the country served up in a minimalist environment, and fine Italian cuisine is on offer at Riverside, in a beautiful spot overlooking the Sal River. The beachfront grill Susegado specialises in fresh seafood, served up on the beach beneath palm trees and looking out to the ocean.

The beautiful spa, located just off the beach, offers a range of indulgent treatments based on the ancient Indian wisdom of Ayurveda. Treatments on offer include synchronised Abhyanga, with two therapists simultaneously; traditional full body massage; Sirodhara warm-oil massage; and Ayurvedic back massage. A range of reiki treatments are also available, and yoga and meditation sessions are led by experienced teachers. The Leela is also home to a golf course and beauty salon.

Goa’s main draw is its string of perfect golden-sand beaches, and nearby Mobor Beach is arguably the best of the lot. One of the most popular in Goa, it’s a great place for water sports, such water skiing, surfing and banana boating, or just relaxing on the sand. Historical sites nearby include the village of Chandor, renowned for its collection of 15^th-century colonial Portuguese mansions, and the ethnographic museum Goa Chitra, which showcases everyday objects relating to Goan life. Goa is notable for its collection of Christian churches, and the Rachol Seminary and Church, dating from 1580, is peaceful and beautiful.