Treehouse Sonnet Anjuna: Service Dil Se

This vacation was documented as a peaceful getaway weekend at Treehouse Sonnet, a quiet 24-room facility in the centre of Anjuna, thanks to Treehouse Hotels.

Anjuna is one of Goa’s greatest neighbourhoods, located on the west coast of the state besides the Arabian Sea. Despite its lingering hippy culture, Anjuna is a favoured tourist destination in Goa for all sorts of visitors. If you enjoy the beach, you will frequently extol the beauty of the smooth white sand here, directed by the ken of softly swaying palms, which truly distinguishes the Anjuna coastline. Aside from the calm waves of the Arabian Sea softly lapping at the shore, Anjuna comes alive with its ever-famous beach parties, flea markets, and fire acts to transport you into a state of trance. And to allow for all of that to sink in, you need a relaxing, homey environment to return to.

At the Goa International Airport, I was greeted by Amit Rawat, the GM of Treehouse Sonnet. Even though it was a 2-hour trip to Anjuna, the interesting chats we had along the way made the journey seem much shorter. There was hardly a subject we didn’t discuss: science, religion, people, and psychology. I was able to see the calm backwaters and modern infrastructure such as the Zuari bridge during the interim stillness. With lagging speed, we approached the little settlement of Anjuna.

When you see a riot of colours flanked by roadside shops, trinket stores, and mansions with extended balconies, you know you’ve arrived. The narrow streets of Anjuna are plugged, with Activa(s) and small automobiles, with some of the most exquisite stained glass etchings on each side of the road. Treehouse Sonnet was snugged at the end of a road by one such lane diverging to the left. The site is classic, as it is cornered by a dead-ended corridor advancing unconfined harmony.

Treehouse Sonnet is a rectangular structure with extended balconies, clad in hues of a classic colour combination of barley white and carmine. Bijay Mishra Ji was quick to meet me with a glass of delicious, fresh coconut water when I arrived. Joanna assisted me with a quick check-in, and as she was validating my identification, I couldn’t help but notice the reception’s large Portuguese-style stained windows. I joyfully paved my way across the little lobby to finally explore my weekend accommodation after receiving the digital room key to room number 202 in no time.

Treehouse Sonnet Attic Room #202

Treehouse Sonnets 202 is a wonderful attic room upholstered in sea-inspired blue and white. This attic room leads to a very attractive bedroom design with an expanded balcony facing the street. This accommodation is equipped with all necessary facilities such as a television, telephone, walk-in closet, split air conditioning, and a tea/coffee maker.

Jaguar fittings and complimentary amenities, including a dental kit, are available in the lavatory.

A flight of steps leads to the attic, which has a second bed, a comfortable bookcase, and a fan. When travelling with children or an extra person, this extra space is ideal.

Take a look at these Dutch design wall plates, which have been hand-picked to give this room a vintage feel. My favourite element at Treehouse hotels is their love of literature and how nicely they’ve incorporated it into their establishments. You must read, especially at Treehouse Sonnet, where every room welcomes you with a wall-mounted shelf brimming with books.

The Lobby & The Pool

Treehouse Sonnet’s partially open-air lobby lets the rustic wind of scenic Anjuna into its appendages, giving you time to gather inspiration from its starfish tiled pool, hanging tiffany-styled lights, and various patterns of Dutch tiles. Furthermore, the Treehouse Sonnet staff is always available to assist you. All of the affection I got as a solo traveller left me speechless.

Thanks to Amit Rawat, Bijay Mishra, Deepankar Roy, and Chef Debu Marandi for continually checking up on me and making my stay meaningful. Between Anjuna trips, I spent a lot of time relaxing on the sun loungers beside Sonnet’s plunge pool, sipping coffee, reading a book, or just contemplating life.

Dining Options at Treehouse Sonnet

The Treehouse Sonnet is a small hotel with a quaint menu. I appreciated the breakfast selection for the two days I spent here, which included stir-fried vermicelli, omelette of your choice, fruits, and even freshly made Chole Bhature. Perfectly prepared mildly spicy meals and freshly brewed coffee – just the way I like it.

I adore the kitchen crew that went on to serve dil se. I ate one of the dinners at the property, and Chef Debu Marandi pleasantly surprised me with frenched chicken wings (chicken lollipops) and fish curry, which had me eagerly biting into the luscious meat. There are lots of vegetarian alternatives on the Sonnet menu as well.

Sunset Point and Dinner at Anjuna Beach

One of the best things about staying at Treehouse Sonnet is how close it is to everything. Almost everything is within walking distance, from the market to the ocean. Just grab on an Activa and go for a spin! Treehouse Sonnet offers a rental vehicle for INR 1500 per day and an Activa for INR 350 per day. I experimented with both. On the first day of my visit, I took an Activa to the neighbouring market and Sunset Point, and the next day, I rented a car to see Baga and Calangute beaches.

The Anjuna market is a shopaholic’s dream, with so much to choose from, including Tibetan souvenirs, Kashmiri handicrafts, psychedelic t-shirts, comfortable kaftans, and artificial jewellery. But I hope you’re an excellent negotiator! I fell in love with this one lady, Kavita, while market hopping and ended up buying a lot of outfits and accessories from her store. Tara later sold me an evil eye charm and a bracelet at Sunset Point.

With its sea sound, the sunset point, past the market, will immediately lure you into its fold. As you get closer to the sunset spot, you can hear the sound of calm waves crashing on the coasts. Although it is always busy, this is one of the greatest sites in Anjuna to watch the sunset.

Anjuna beach fills with pleasant scents from the shacks that urge you to indulge in all things seafood along the shore in the evening. With fire juggling and trippy music playing in the background, Anjuna becomes the epitome of what a lazy vacation should be. My first night in Anjuna ended with a seaside meal at Pinakin beach café. I had my first Feni with sprite here, as well as some seriously delicious golden fried prawns with a fish sizzler. Fire jugglers performed all night near the shore, adding to the fun.

Anjuna: Sightseeing Near Treehouse Sonnet

On the second day of my visit, Treehouse Sonnet had something exciting scheduled for me. The day began with a delicious breakfast at the hotel, followed by a visit to the 16th-century Chapora Fort, a well-known historical monument in the area.

Chapora Fort

It only took us a few minutes to get here, and while the fort itself is no longer standing, a walk past its northern bastion provides some spectacular vistas. The Maharaja of Sawantwadi erected this fort over the Chapora river. Later in 1717, the Portuguese completed major renovations, including the addition of bastions and an emergency tunnel that stretches to the coast. Chapora Fort stands high above the Chapora River, offering views north across the river, south across Vagator, and west to the Arabian Sea.

Lunch at Anand Seafood Restaurant

Anand Seafood Restaurant near Saraswati Mill on Anjuna Siolim Road is just about the perfect venue to meet those sporadic cravings for excellent Goan seafood at a reasonable price. At Anand, you may pick between AC/Non AC and open-air chairs to savour finger-licking food, whether it’s Goan, North Indian, or Chinese. We arrived at 12 noon and ordered a drink because the restaurant didn’t open until 12.30 p.m. Surprisingly, Anand gets REALLY crowded by 1 p.m. on any given weekday, so I recommend arriving early to avoid the long lines.

Amit and I both had a fish Thali, and the lunch was one of the most wonderful I’ve ever had in Anjuna. Rawa fried Modso, Kokum curry, dried Goan prawns with shredded coconut, and two distinct varieties of Goan fish curry were among the dishes I sampled. These delectable curries were served over a heaping helping of steaming rice. To say the least, scrumptious! This quaint little place hooks you! Plenty of parking.

St. Michael’s Church, Assagao

Anand’s protein-rich meals produce enough tryptophan and serotonin to make you want to sleep. But, on our way back to the hotel, we decided to stop at a few churches. The Roman Catholic church of St. Michael’s in Assagao was the first we visited. This 16th-century church is said to be one of Goa’s oldest still-intact structures. The Sanskrit writing “Mornna Uprant Sukhachem Jivit” can be seen on one of the church’s rises, which was pitched during early colonial Portuguese India.

Our Lady of Piety Chapel

The neo-classical “Our Lady of Piety Chapel,” on the Chinvar Anjuna road, was the second chapel we visited. This gorgeous church of Piety, which is close to Indumatis farm, is also one of the region’s oldest. It was constructed by the Portuguese about the same time as Saint Michel’s church but is notable for its magnificent Gothic style.

Wind Off at Mango Tree

Mango Tree, located next to Treehouse Sonnet, is the ideal pub and restaurant to unwind in the evening. Namrata (the Treehouse Group’s lawyer and public relations specialist) had arrived in Goa at this time, and we spent the evening bonding over beers, Martinis, butter garlic calamari, and chilly prawns. Great ambience, excellent people and amazing times!

I became so close to the entire Treehouse Sonnet crew over these two days there that it ached to leave. I took one final glance at the lobby’s tribal art and paintings, drank the last of the coconut water, and prepared to start on a new adventure. This time at Panjim, with Treehouse Neptune.

Treehouse Sonnet Room Rates

Attic Room: INR 4500 onwards (Off season) INR 7500 onwards (Season Time)

Address: Panchayat Road, Anjuna