Frequently Asked Questions

Please check online at the Indian High Commission or your local Indian Embassy regarding which visa you will need to apply for. All the countries do require a visa for entry into India which is called a Tourist Visa. Some countries are now able to apply for a 30 day visa on arrival which is called an e-Visa. To ensure you have an easy and stress free journey to Nalanda Retreat make sure you have allowed sufficient time for your visa to be processed before arrival.

**(Please do not apply or mention studying yoga as this will come under a student visa for University studying and may delay your visa or worse still be declined)

We strongly recommend that all guests traveling to India have comprehensive travel, cancellation & medical insurance for the duration of the trip should in the unlikely event of an accident or emergency you are covered. Please consult your travel or booking agent for further information.

Please check first with your own country’s Health Regulations for guidance and recommendations. Many of our visitors do not take any vaccinations. It is completely a personal decision. 

Malaria is not common in Goa however we do still recommend that you wear mosquito repellent and try to cover up a little when mosquitoes are the most active during dawn and dusk. Not because of a malaria risk but because we do not want you to have any annoying bites during your peaceful stay at Nalanda.

Not at all. We welcome families and guests with children. However we do ask all guests to be reminded that Nalanda Retreat is a place of peace, calm and serenity. Therefore we would be grateful if younger guests were supported to be mindful of noise levels around the resort. All of our buffet meals are child friendly and we have a leisure pool safe for our little guests.

Nalanda Retreat is in Northern Goa with a warm tropical climate, so please pack for warm weather. During the winter months it can become cooler in the evenings so perhaps a cardigan and or shawl. During our off peak season from June to September you can expect monsoon rains so please be mindful of this when you are packing such as a light jacket.

You will need comfortable clothes for yoga class and perhaps you would like to bring along your own shawl or sarong for shavasana, meditation and moments of relaxation.

We provide filtered drinking water around the resort for all our guests so we advise to bring your own water bottle ideally made from non-toxic plastic or stainless steel. We are passionate about our local environment and sustainability. You can also buy stainless steel bottles from our reception. 

Please do not forget your beach towel, sun protection and an open heart for your Nalanda Retreat experience.

Many of our guests are lone / female travellers. Goa is a tourist hot spot part of India therefore more relaxed than other parts of the country. However as with any areas of the world we would still advise you to take precautionary safety measures. Such as, having emergency contact numbers in your phone, not leaving belongings unattended on the beach, or always using reputable transport providers which Nalanda Retreat can arrange for you.

At the resort we have security 24 hours a day and on site security cameras around the resort.

Nalanda Retreat is a family run resort with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Here you will make friends and enjoy the community a yoga and wellness centre creates. Our Nalanda Team will be happy to support you before arrival or during your stay with any questions or help you may need as a lone traveller.

Dabolim International Airport (GOI) is the nearest airport to Nalanda Retreat and is 90 minutes away by car. Airport transfers can be pre-booked through [email protected] or with our reception after arrival. Taxis are to be paid directly to the driver. 

Taxis and bike rentals can be booked for you via reception. We support our community and so we only use local, trusted providers. No money is made by us providing this service to you.

We have private parking directly outside the resort that can accommodate bikes and a few cars. More parking can be found on the main road but is all first come first served allocation. 

Check-in time is 14.00pm. However if your room is available earlier then of course we will happily check you in before this time. Check-out time is 10am. However breakfast, luggage storage and hotel amenities will still be available to you if your departure is later on during the day. Reception is open from 7.30am until 22.00pm but if you are checking-in late night, please let us know in advance and book only an in-house taxi.

You will be provided with everything you need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. All of our rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, a private balcony, beds, a cupboard, air conditioning, a ceiling fan, bed lining, and towels. Filtered drinking water is available. Toiletries are not provided at Nalanda Retreat outside of hand soap and toilet paper. An iron and mosquito net are available from reception on request. There are many convenience stores locally if you prefer to purchase here rather than risk your case being overweight!

We have provided free Wi-Fi in all the rooms and public areas around the hotel including the reception area and restaurant.

All of our bedrooms have hot water for showers.

We provide bath towels within the rooms. We also provide pool towels on request. However we kindly ask you not to take these to the beach as they become spoiled. Please bring your own beach towel. 

India often has electrical black outs. Goa, being a tourist state, means that these black outs are usually very short in time especially during the rain. At Nalanda Retreat we do not have a generator back up because we believe in conserving energy not wasting it. Please do not panic if we have a local black out during your stay, the electricity usually returns within a few minutes.

Nalanda Retreat can provide a laundry service however this is not provided in-house. Please expect 48 hours for your laundry to be returned to you. We advise that you hand wash delicate items rather than send them to the local laundry service. Nalanda Retreat can provide an iron on request from reception.

Nalanda Retreat has two beautiful swimming pools within our resort. Our leisure pool has a four foot depth with a small area suitable for younger children.  Both pools are surrounded by sun loungers for your relaxation and comfort. Both pools have toilets and a shower close by.

We accept all card payments, cash payments and payments via bank transfer. However, please note fees may apply for bank transfer payments.

The Nalanda Retreat is fluent in English, Spanish, Hindi, Konkani and Rajasthani. We also have many international yoga teachers staying with us so from time to time we have many multi-lingual speakers at the resort.

We do offer room service at Nalanda however encourage our guests to dine together in a more social environment at our beach front Restaurant. Our self-service refreshment bar serves filtered water and teas. Chia Lounge - our beach restaurant also has little hideaway areas if you prefer to drink or dine quietly.

We can and we do cater for all. At the time of booking please notify us of any specific dietary requirements or allergies. Our buffet meals as standard are vegetarian. All of our meals are made with a health conscious lifestyle in mind. We mostly use only organic and local produce.

We provide all of our guests with filtered drinking water however we prefer not to contribute to the increased amount of plastic being added to our environment around the world. We encourage you to please instead bring along an empty water flask or bottle from non-toxic plastic or steel so that you may top up from our supply as and when you require. We recommend you do not drink the tap water but it is safe for brushing your teeth and washing.

We are actually a beach resort situated on the beach. Our Chia Lounge restaurant is beach front, whilst all our rooms are within a minute walk to Mandrem Beach. Sea Side Standard room has sea view from the Balcony. 

Nalanda is situated in North Goa in the beach village of Mandrem. It is home to a variety of birds and is a nesting site for the endangered species, the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle.

Locally to us we have some bars, eateries’ and fine dining restaurants. Please note due to local licensing laws all music establishments have to cease at 10pm. Convenience stores, a local market and a fish market are all close by. Of course we also have many road side Goan stall sellers offering locally made produce and wares. Mandrem has temples and churches close, but not forgetting the beautiful Mandrem sandy beach soothed by the warm Arabian Sea.

A short taxi or scooter ride (if you are feeling energetic all of these places are within walking distance along the beach) we have Morjim and Arambol. Our closest town is Mapusa offering a Friday local market. 

The nearest ATM and money exchange is about a 10 minute walk from the resort. Goa airport also have a money exchange along with Mumbai (Bombay) should you have a layover there and need to fill the wait time.

Our teachers are trained in Vinyasa, Iyenger and Hatha styles. However on occasion you may find classes offering other styles of yoga. All classes will specify the teacher and the style on the daily information class board found at reception.

All of our yoga and other classes are taught in English unless otherwise specified.

Yes, we welcome everyone to Nalanda Retreat. From beginners to intermediate to fully fledged yogis. Our teachers will offer you an inclusive class or programme. All of our teachers are qualified and very experienced and will be happy to discuss any support needs or questions you may have.

Nalanda has fully equipped yoga shalas complete with all props, bolsters, blocks and mats. However we do recommend you bring your own mat along if you are able to. When we do not have a class in the shalas please feel welcome to use these at your leisure anytime.

We certainly do. Private classes are available at an extra cost and subject to availability.

Yes. Classes are free to attend for those who have booked a yoga holiday package or at an extra cost for guests or outside guests not included on a yoga holiday package. Our daily class schedule will be available online and at reception.

We offer evening classes including activities such as meditation, chanting, dancing and Indian music. We are also able to provide activities such as local excursions and boat trips. Please contact bookings@devaryawellness.com

Nalanda Retreat has a no smoking and drinking policy in public areas and bedrooms. This is because we like to keep our rooms and public areas sacred, peaceful and clean for all our guests. We do have a designated smoking area so please do not worry if you are a smoker. Our Chia Lounge offers a sea view Bar and Restaurant. 

For the safety of all our guests we please request that no outside persons are permitted into Nalanda Retreat without prior consent of the management team (A photo ID will be required at reception).

We do offer a range of holistic and Ayurvedic therapies in our treatment rooms. You can download our Spa Book in downloads.