The Parijaat Goa Homestay is home to couple Kavita and Manoj Nair and their daughter Devaki.

And it could well be your next vacation destination.

In 2020, Kavita and Manoj decided to take the plunge and quit their corporate roles — Kavita was working with Vodafone and Manoj with HDFC.

At the time they were sceptical about how this would change the trajectory of their lives. But, today, in hindsight, they see it as the best decision.

They recall how 12 years ago, they were looking for a quaint spot to build a vacation home for themselves.

When they stumbled upon one such spot in Anjuna, Goa they were thrilled. But the 150-year-old dilapidated house was infested with termites. But in the ruins, they saw potential.

While they decided to preserve the walls, they built a new home from the ground up using stone and broken tiles along with other local construction materials.

They then proceeded to make the land arable. “We had to mulch the soil using vermicompost, which we purchased from the locals and then learn the planting cycle that works well in the region,” Manoj explains.

Kavita adds that many people were of the opinion that if they used chemicals to fertilise the land, they would get flowering plants that bloomed faster.

“But, I thought that if I could contribute in some manner to the land that I own by not putting any chemicals into it, I should,” she says.

While the couple had initially intended for this property in Anjuna to be a vacation spot for them, they decided to throw its doors open to people from across India.

Today, Parijaat Goa Homestay is self-sufficient in coconut, black pepper, turmeric, mint, spinach and tamarind. “We also grow seasonal vegetables,” Manoj says, adding after a pause, “if the peacocks allow them to.”

The pompous birds make frequent visits to the land, sometimes looking for food, other times for company. And guests are more than thrilled with these visits.

During your stay at Parijaat Goa, you will be put up in the guest cottage that features two double rooms — Magpie Robin and Drongo.

These are endowed with amenities — such as a king-size bed, a writing desk, air conditioning, a luxe bathroom, and books.

Guests can learn pottery at Kavita’s studio where they can try their hand at moulding the clay, glazing and firing.

At the Parijaat Goa Homestay, food is always prepared fresh, and the guests swear by the shakshouka and poie (eggs poached in a flavourful sauce and eaten along with Goan bread).

“I remember when we first saw this piece of land, it was way beyond our budget,” Kavita shares. “But I saw potential in it. Once you come to visit us, you will believe it for yourself.”