Experience A Different Side Of Goa At The Wildernest Nature Resort

The reception area of Wildernest Nature Resort. Image credit: Arijit Nag

From the stunning sea views at Fort Tiracol Heritage Hotel to the breathtaking valley view of Wildernest Nature Resort, our visit to Goa could not be more fabulous and unique. In this blog, let me tell you about staying in a popular eco-resort in Goa, in the heart of nature, with panoramic views of the Sahyadri mountains of the Chorla Ghats in the Western Ghats ecoregion, carpeted by dense forests. 

Our journey to Wildernest Nature Resorted started from Fort Tiracol, a historical fort turned luxury hotel in the secluded location of Tiracol, Goa. If you are interested, read about it in my previous blog. A two-and-a-half-hour journey by car from the fort took us to the parking area of Wildernest, nestled in the Chorla Ghats of Goa. Here, Ghats do not mean the river ghats like in Varanasi but mountain ranges like the Western Ghats. If you are travelling from the Manohar International Airport in North Goa, it is only around 1.5 hours away. Just an important note: the Google map might take you 1 km extra along the road, but you must stop at the Wildernest Nature Resort parking sign on the roadside. Look out for it as you approach the location. Once you park your car, a resort staff member at the parking area office will arrange your travel to the resort.

The funicular ride to the Wildernest Nature Resort, Goa.

Now begins the epic journey, one you will definitely always remember! You will now board the Canopy Slope Train/cable car (a version of funicular rail), which will then move above a steep mountain slope. The cable car, like an open box, offers panoramic views of the Sahyadris that will simply blow away your mind. Rows of mountains stretching as far as your eyes can go, covered in thick forests and waterfalls running down them, appear straight out of some fairytale. The sound of the waterfalls and songs of the birds will greet your ears. You'll feel the fresh mountain breeze touching your skin, and your lungs will thank you for breathing the unpolluted air.

Waterfall view from the Wildernest Nature Resort.

Be prepared to enjoy these serene settings during your entire stay at Wildernest Nature Resort and also experience adrenaline rushes as you trek through the mountains to experience the power and beauty of raw nature.

The funicular ride takes you to the reception area in around five minutes. There, you complete all the formalities and then walk to your room in the resort. Remember, you will have to walk a lot inside the resort and climb stairs, so those with health issues must be aware of the same. 

View from the Valley View room at the Wildernest Nature Resort. Image credit: Arijit Nag.

There are different types of cottages at Wildernest: forest view, valley view, valley view with private swimming pool, and family cottage. We opted for a valley view room, and it was thoroughly worth it! The room itself was simplistic, but the view from its balcony was just otherworldly. 

I spent entire evenings hanging around on the balcony, capturing many birds, butterflies, insects, and even a Brahminy skink on my camera! The lights are quite dim here to preserve the sanctity of the wilderness, so carry your own torches or use your cell phone ones. The rooms do not have air conditioners, which is appreciated given it is an eco-resort. However, we were travelling in early November, and it was pretty pleasant and, in fact, a bit chilly inside the room. 

The sprawling dining space has both outdoor and indoor seating options with massive buffet spreads. The food served is mostly local cuisine using locally available ingredients, which is, again, good as it is eco-friendly. Whether you are vegetarian or non-vegetarian, you'll find plenty of options for both.

Enjoying a hearty meal at Wildernest Nature Resort, Goa.

Of course, another place that will entice you at Wildernest Nature Resort is its beautiful swimming pool, where you can swim to your heart's content while soothing your eyes with the spectacular view of the valley spread out in front of you. There are changing rooms and also swimming costumes available in case you forget to bring yours.

The Wildernest Nature Resort offers plenty of activities and experiences. Look for the activity board outside the restaurant, which is updated daily. 

From treks and trails to folk dances and lamp dances, there is something for every type of traveller. My focus was the wildlife of the area. The Chorla Ghats is part of the larger Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot and is loaded with an array of life, including many endemics—species found nowhere else on the planet! 

A blue Mormon caterpillar at Wildernest Nature Resort, Goa.

Wildernest is completely enveloped in native vegetation, another hallmark of an eco-friendly resort that does not maintain manicured lawns but allows local vegetation to thrive. Amidst the greenery, you'll find many species of life forms. Early mornings and evenings before sunset are ideal for birding. Many species of beautiful birds like the Malabar barbet, Malabar pied hornbill, flame-throated bulbul, verditer flycatcher, black-naped monarch, oriental-dwarf kingfisher, and others are found here. 

A yellow-eyed bulbul at the Wildernest Nature Resort. 

As the sun comes out, you'll find gorgeous butterflies flying around, like the blue Mormon and Southern birdwing. However, it is not just during the day that you get to see wildlife here. The nighttime becomes even more lively, and there are chances of sighting the Malabar pit viper snake and some massive moths like the lunar moon moth, Atlas moth, and tussar silk moth. Green vine snakes are very commonly seen both during the day and night. 

A green vine snake at the Wildernest Nature Resort, Goa.

Camera trap images have also detected the presence of several mammals in the area, including leopards, gaur, porcupines, civets, and even a tiger in 2016!

However, if you are focused on wildlife-watching activities, you must speak to the resort staff for specific guidance and take personal trips with them. Otherwise, if you go for the set treks and trails, you will only be able to get an overview of the flora and fauna as you will be travelling with a larger group. During our stay, we were offered two treks - a highest-point trek to watch the sunset and a morning trek to a waterfall. 

Karvi flowerbuds waiting to bloom at Wildernest Nature Resort

Instead of going with the crowd, we took a personal naturalist guide with us to the highest point trek in the resort so that we could move at our own pace, photograph, and observe the nature around us. This was a good choice as it gave us all the time to soak in the natural beauty and stop and observe wherever we found something interesting. We, however, avoided the waterfall trek as we were a bit exhausted from all our previous travels and just wanted to enjoy the serenity of the resort. If you want to do the waterfall trek, be aware that it might be a bit demanding, but the rewarding view of the Chorla waterfall at the end is definitely worth it. YouTube videos of the trek are available online, so you can go through them before deciding.

The highest point trek was fun but also not overtly easy. There was a fair bit of climbing and moving through large rocks and steep slopes. However, it was fairly short for around 20 minutes one-way but ours took a bit more time as we stopped numerous times to admire the wildlife around us, including beautiful wildflowers and butterflies. 

Highest point trek at Wildernest Nature Resort, Goa.

The highlight of the trek was awaiting us at the top. Along with a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and waterfalls at the Goa-Maharashtra-Karnataka border area, we also saw karvi blooms at the top. This flower blooms every eight years, and 2024 was one of them. 

Karvi flowers in bloom after eight years at the Wildernest Nature Resort, Goa.

We also observed footprints of a gaur and the scat of a leopard at the top, implying that we were on the same path that these large mammals had passed by, possibly just a couple of days back.

Women performing the Lamp Dance at the Wildernest Nature Resort. 

Evenings at the resort are equally enticing, and you can enjoy pottery-making sessions, mehendi art, and cultural performances. We fell in love with the Lamp Dance, a traditional dance performed by Goan women that is a display of both power and beauty. 

Enjoying a cup of tea in the serene settings of Wildernest Nature Resort, Goa.

So, why wait? Plan your next trip to Goa and go on this offbeat adventure, combining the seaside stay at the historic Fort Tiracol with the forest-drenched holiday in the Wildernest Nature Resort of Chorla Ghats. You will definitely return home with fantastic tales to tell!