The Chapter: A room of our own in Goa

Goa at every age is a different experience. During college, its the go-to for every graduate, as a coming-of-age ritual destination. However, at a more mature stage, while travelling with kids, Goa has much more to offer than the nightclubs and beaches that it is known for. For the discerning few, parts of the culturally rich and flora-fauna diverse state has been the chosen place for many to settle down into beautiful villas and communities for intentionally slowing down and choosing a wellness-led life.

One such community is the Portuguese-inspired block of villas called The Chapter Volume 001, situated a mere 20-minute drive away from the old Goa airport.

A smooth ride down Goa’s red-earth, coconut tree swaying villages, The Chapter reveals itself as a brilliantly white, gleaming block of row houses, each fitted with its own swimming pool and garden looking out to the backwaters and forests surrounding the area.

Designed as a residential community nestled within Moira, Goa – the architect was cognisant of Goa’s architectural legacy and natural environment. Neo-Portuguese influences – from terracotta roofs and ornamental detailing to airy verandahs and layered spatial planning – are reimagined with clean lines, restrained geometry, and modern functionality.

Design elements across the project consciously balance warmth with a note of luxury. Textured facades, natural materials, expansive openings, and seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces allow light, ventilation, and the surrounding landscape to become integral to the living experience. The highly curated design approach allows homeowners to personalise their interiors through a selection of thoughtfully developed design templates, creating homes that feel individual from the very beginning.

Beyond the homes themselves, the architecture encourages a balance between privacy and community, reflecting a more mindful and intentional way of living that is increasingly shaping contemporary luxury design.

The Chapter has a range of amenities as part of community living. It includes the entire gamut of activities you could imagine of while living in a community, from a bicycle on hire, to doing a workout in the fully-equipped gym, or a game of pickleball at the spanking new court with other residents. We chose to relax most of the time at our villa pool, or in the garden that is idyllic to walk into from the beautiful french windows. As for me, I decided to spend an entire day pool-rotting – a much better take on bed-rotting if you ask me, a regulation that my city-frayed nervous system much needed. Lolling about in the pool as the water lapped and a koel called out in the distance, and the summer sun gleamed through the green tropical leaves at a distance was an experience I want to return to again and again. After spending about half-a-day by the pool, while the attendant staff made us a jug full of lemonade, it felt like a return to the summer holidays of childhood. The bedroom’s coolness where I took an afternoon nap after ages added to my summer week of rest.

Designed like a club, the common facilities also include a coffee bar and a pool table, where we spent some time while the kids unwinded at the dedicated play area after a hot day outside. For those who need to work, private offices are available. Buggies are on hand to transport you around the villa and community. While the villa is hard to leave, we chose to visit the neaby church Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church and the Mandrem beach, both of which are worth exploring. If you’re travelling with kids, may I also suggest Bagheera Goa, a gem of a library and play area tucked away in the bylanes of Sangolda, where thanks to the excellent collection of toys and books, and animal-shaped waffles, children can spend hours at a stretch when some quiet time is required in the heat.

Food at the villa

We were a group that comprised 50 percent of children below 12 years, and the villa worked out very well for us. While the children enjoyed ample space to run up and down, or kick off energy at the pool and garden, the two attendants and chef who looked after us made sure they were well looked after, from homestyle hot meals to snacks when required.

The menu is limited but delicious, the aim is not a culinary display but to provide the comfort of a home, essential for those travelling with family.

The ground floor includes a double-height drawing room with huge french windows looking onto the pool and garden. The ground floor also includes the kitchen and dining room, looking out onto the garden as well. A lift ensures accessibility for elder members of the family, where three bedrooms, decorated in distinct styles invites a more private experience. Luxury is in the details here, from the huge bathrooms fitted out with the blue-pottery coded tiles to the decorative lights of the bedroom, the big balcony looking out to the forest and backwaters in two of the bedrooms to the natural elements inspired lighting in the bedrooms. Everything about the villa screams modern yet authentic, an oasis if you’re looking to connect to Goa’s pluralist roots and yet immerse yourself in its natural wonder.

The Chapter seems on board with all the latest cultural directions of our age, slow travel, return to nature and a focus on personal health and well-being, with the many wellness options to choose from. It is intentionally within a 20-minute ride away from Anjuna or Vagator, where all the it-openings in Goa always seem to be, however, it is tucked away in the countryside to give visual and sensory relief from Goa’s hustle and bustle.

Book here.

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