Khaama Kethna Sustainable Eco Village, Goa — Hotel in Goa

I came here 3 times in 2013 March-May when it was new, with friends. The founder Tiago was very hands-on, and the place was much smaller. But the management has shifted. The current management needs to get it together more, if they are running a hotel or retreat center in the jungle. They barely left the room at the main lodge that has a fan. The huts have expanded to 20+, and it’s a good 15-20 minute walk in the dark jungle to reach the last few huts. It is very easy to get lost coming back to the lodge, if you take a wrong turn. Stay to the right at any V in the road. ||||I reached around 4:30pm. I understand Konkani, so I overheard the female staff saying the lock was broken - but I didn’t realize she was talking about my room. I was excited to be in the jungle, and back in Goa after so many years, anyway. When I reached the cabin, I realized it was allllll the way at the end along the jungle. Previously I have seen men making feni alcohol in the jungle. Also my own friends have been raped by hotel staff in India & the US. So coming back to India post-Nirbhaya & MeToo, I have taken my personal safety more seriously. ||||So I called the front desk. They said they would send someone. I waited almost an hour and it was getting dark. So I called again. They said “the boys have gone to buy vegetables”. Ok, if you run a lodge, why not come check up yourself what’s the matter? So then I walked down to the main lodge, realizing how far it would be at night. And I saw that many new large structures have been built that are just full of old furniture and junk. It doesn’t look welcoming or safe. ||||So then I got the lock for my room, went all the way back, and it wasn’t locking. I called again, and this time the woman was annoyed that I called again. So I went all the way back to the room with the fan, to request a room change to a closer room.||||The older Indian man who runs the place was very entitled, and asked me why I’m making a fuss. So I said, “Well, I’m a woman staying alone in the jungle, and I don’t want to take an unnecessary risk.”||“What difference does it make if you are a woman?”||“Well, I am more likely to get raped than a man.”||“Oh, so they’re going to sniff you out, huh?” etc. This went on for a while ok some esoteric yoga b.s. about how the jungle is safe, and pissed me off. ||At this point some other men came to check in. So I let them check in, then told him off that he can’t be so condescending given all of the news stories. And I’m not worried about leopards, when I am talking about rape - it’s men - including possibly him - a man I just met five minutes earlier. ||||So that finally shocked him, and he gave me a cabin in front, closer to the main lodge. At this point it was very dark and they had to clean out that cabin. So he sent one of the younger guys to help me with my bags. In the dark, we had a hard time figuring out which cabin was mine. But I had left the porch light on. It was really far in the dark. On the way back, we got lost on the dark and went down the wrong trail. It turned out he was there for the first time, and had never been to that side of the property. Turns out most of the staff was brand new. So he told me I had been to the place more than he had, and I figured out how to get back to the main lodge. ||||I figured out where to turn right to go to the main lodge because there was a white tissue on the ground on the correct trail. At this point, they should put 1 sign at least.||||The next night I watched him give the same room to a French woman, and in the mornings he was complaining there was no water. The guy didn’t really seem to care. If you are going to overcharge foreigners, then at least have basic hospitality and consideration.||||The vegan food was great, but some meals repeated if you stay for all meals. Breakfast is overpriced for India at 400 rupees, when you can buy a week’s worth of vegetables for 150 rupees at the market. If you are a couple, you can easily share a breakfast plate. The Thali prices are not listed on the board - so Ask. ||||The jungle itself was wonderful, full of monkeys and good energy. The yoga and other services were great. ||||There was a man who fixed your alignment who charged 500 rupees just to look at you for five minutes, without a treatment. That seems also ridiculous to me, by Indian Standards, when a proper 90 minute at home Accupressure treatment can be 1000 rupees.||||Agonda is very close.||||Still I enjoyed my time...

I spent two weeks in Khaama Kethna during monsoon. One can go there as a hotel guest, stay for a few nights: the place is beautiful, nature is magnificent, staff is kind and helpful and food is really nice (organic veg). High season retreats seems also great, but for me, monsoon experience it’s been just MAGIC. If you’re ready to go with the flow, listen to what the place (people and nature) have to offer, you will enjoy a very very special time. Surrounded by the exhuberant force of nature and life, in my beautiful tree-house or in the spacious restaurant area I could feel life in me and around, relax, read, draw, write or just do nothing staring around with a close to empty mind. Rain was fine and it never lasted forever, I can say that I brought my poncho for nothing. Once you’ve seen how the place shines with glowing life after a good rain shower, when a dry day comes, you find yourself missing it. I was glad that there weren’t workshops, I was in quite a loner and quiet mood. Yet, we had some yoga and meditation, I could go on a group trip with other guests and I had some very good ayurveda massages. You can go for walks around and to the amazing beach (where the sea was rough for swimming deep, but I could enjoy it staying in the shore), or rent a scooter and enjoy places around. If you’re going to South of Goa for a long period and you’re not sure about it, as in August there’s no need to worry about finding a nice place for a decent price, book a place elsewhere to start with and go there for a meal or a drink ( you need to book two or three hours before). When booking I’d suggest to visit the website and write an email to get accurate information about the booking possibilities. I hesitated about this review, I pictured the place packed with people next moonsoon season, but I guess we can share a bit of paradise!||If you really hate pets around this is not the place to go, Diva and Wanda (dogs) are often oaround, they’re quiet and lovely, but they’re still dogs. Remember insects or mice are at home, it can be disturbing but when you get used, either you get caught in long moments of insect observation, or you just forget they’re there and do what you...

If the amount of effort and focus the person who replies to reviews puts in to it is even partially diverted to actually caring for the guests concerns,the world would be a better place.The sheer angst and spite brought in for a negative review sure does highlight the creativity of the person,if only the maintenance had recieved some of that insight and wit.in a an ideal utopia,the person would acknowledge the luck of having a property next to a social media famous beach destination and would be humble enough to atleast put in the effort to ensure a decent road and lights to his property.He would also acknowledge the absence of whatever activities are listed due to maintenance(which you will have a hard time finding out).Alas,this isn’t an ideal world and all you will get in return for sincere observations is wonderful dollops of spite about how they are so green in the pursuit of greenery that although they will charge you enough to live up to their lofty goals of eco friendly,they will fail to clean up the room enough to remove insect carcass when you check in for the first time either.And dare you mention the same,boy oh boy are you in for a ride!You will definitely get a lesson on how entitled you are for asking for a room that doesn’t have dead insects adorning your bed and table.You will learn about how important it is in an ecofriendly property to not ask for anything because this is pure Mother Nature and the owners are letting you access nirvana for free out of their pure goodwill.The humility and warmth of this person writing the replies is ofcourse unmatchable,as is evident from his beautiful words.Sarcasm sure Is something you will attain,maybe that’s what nirvana in an ECOFRIENDLY village is all about.Such...