A Verdant oasis meets virgin beaches in secluded South Goa. Set on the south west coast of Goa, overlooking the Arabian sea, the hotel is situated on 56 acres of exquisitely landscaped lawns, complete with tropical plants and graceful palms.

Snake down Goa's length to the southerly region of Salcete and you will find deserted beaches, greenery in abundance and a pace of life that's decidedly slower than its northern neighbor. It is in this secluded and undeveloped landscape that the Taj Exotica lives. Fifty-six acres of land have been transformed into a horticulturalist dream; over 1,000 palm trees stretch dizzily towards the sky, while bougainvillea, jasmine and 28 varieties of hibiscus flower inject flashes of tropical colour and drift onto the meandering pathway.

At the foot of the gardens in Benaulim Beach, which stretches in glorious isolation along six kilometers-more than enough room to play a game of cricket or practice yoga asanas as the sun begins to set. It may be difficult to prise oneself away from the all-consuming art of relaxation at the Exotica, but a full range of activities-from rock-climbing to reflexology-is lurking should you care to look beyond the cerulean-blue horizon.