Featured - Publications
Here are notable magazine publications and features that Pousada Tauma has been part of over the years. These articles have helped position the hotel as a pioneering boutique destination in Goa, appreciated for its architecture, privacy, and immersive Goan charm.
Condé-Nast
POUSADA TAUMA For all its package tourism, Goa has one gem of a hotel that has managed to go against the grain. Pousada Tauma is a 10-minute walk from Calangute Beach and has all the aura of a mini-resort – irregular-shaped pool with bar and water-cascade – but done on such an intimate scale (there are only 12 suites) that it feels much more chic, as if you’re the private guest of the charming Indian owner-manager. (Helen Hamlyn, behind Château de Bagnols in France, recently booked the whole hotel for a week-long house party.) The Pousada is also one of those rare places in Goa where the noise level hasn’t sent the local mongooses into hiding, while the gardens, thick with palm fronds, are like a Rousseau tableau. The rooms, all with patios, are air-conditioned and simply decorated with colonial-style furniture; the bathrooms, covered with shattered tiles, are almost Gaudí-esque. Although Ayurvedic cuisine is available on request, it would be a pity to eat boiled vegetables when you could be feasting on lobster masala or prawn balchao, a spicy Goan speciality cooked to perfection. A highly recommended mid-priced hotel for food-loving travellers.
There are 10 suites well-positioned around a pool with swim-up bar and water cascade – potentially naff but actually pretty, in spite of the acreage of crazy paving. More like a private villa than a resort, Pousada Tauma is run by Neville Proenca, the delightful hands-on owner. The rooms are simply decorated with cotton bedspreads, copper-pot lamps, colonial-style furniture and playful, Gaudí-esque bathrooms covered in shattered, brightly coloured tiles. Each clean and comfortable room has a private terrace. The Copper Bowl restaurant serves good European and superlative Goan specialities.
Madame Figaro
"In Goa, a hotel like home." Hidden like a treasure in the tropical jungle, this secret retreat of fashion insiders is fine-tuned to perfection by a collector's eye. Overview & Setting Location: Near the Calangute crossroads in Goa. Vibe: Referred to as a “heritage hotel” or “boutique hotel,” it contrasts with larger resorts, appealing to artists, creatives, and European travelers looking for an intimate and private escape. Architecture: Built stone by stone over three years using local orange laterite rock, creating a warm contrast with the surrounding greenery. Design Influence: Blends a Roman cloister feel with traditional Goan homes. Property Description The property includes eight houses arranged around a 30-meter swimming pool. Suites are decorated in custom color palettes and traditional materials like teak, cane, and stone from Rajasthan. Handpicked antique furniture and objects complete the authentic Goan-Portuguese ambiance. Ceramic mosaics in the bathrooms and pool area are inspired by marine life and traditional Goan techniques. Interior Details Custom touches by Neville Proença (owner and designer): Walls adorned with painted motifs and antler-style decorations. Local antique pieces from Panaji. Lighting created from recycled glass bottles. Contemporary yet traditional furniture, co-designed with graduates from a top Bombay design school. Cuisine & Ambience Food is homemade and personalized to guests' preferences. Ingredients are locally sourced: fresh fish from nearby fishermen, tropical fruits, and produce from surrounding farms. Described as delicate, thoughtful, and refined, tailored to guest wellness and enjoyment. Owner’s Philosophy Neville, the owner, started as a hotel trainee. He dreamed for years about building a place like Pousada Tauma, with everything hand-curated down to the smallest detail. His perfectionism is evident in how rooms are maintained and how every decorative element tells a story. Atmosphere "A moment of sweetness... coconuts, bananas, tropical flowers, and orchids invade the terrain. The heat, the hum of insects, and the birds’ songs wrap the guest in an exotic reverie."
Cool Hotels
Goa is justly famous for its beaches, Still, times change, but all is not lost. Sitting pretty (and pretty quiet) amidst the mayhem of Calangute is the haven of Pousada Tauma, a small 12-suite boutique hotel. It is really the last place on earth you'd expect to find a personal, rarefied and top-notch resort, but trust me-it's there. Only a kilometer or so from the beach and set within a walled compound, the only sounds here are the trickle of running water and the breeze rustling through the palms. Discovering it is like stepping from Dante's Inferno into Alice's Wonderland Because there are no views to speak of, the layout-both conceptually and architecturally— looks inward. Clusters of buildings, constructed from the local laterite stone usually reserved for the foundations of houses, are scattered around a central amoeba-shaped pool. Because each building is individual and each block of stone is irregularly shaped and fits with its neighbors like a jigsaw puzzle, the effect is pleasingly informal. Loosely linked by a series of arches, pavilions, swathes of plants and hardscapes of local pebbles, there are two main buildings a more open-plan, pavilion-style restaurant and the suites. Once encased within the compound walls, you get a taste of how Goa was pre-packaged tourism -slow-paced, serene and sybaritic. The hotel is the brainchild of owner/manager Neville Proença and was born from his "passion for the industry." As he wryly admits, if he hadn't been passionate about hoteliering, he wouldn't have chosen to spend three-and-a-half years battling with banks and builders to see his project to fruition, then routinely spend 17-hour days on site. After working for 13 years for the Tai Group. the soft-spoken Proenca inherited the land from his father-and decided to go it alone. The word tauma is a shortened version of his father's name and also loosely translates as "restful'-and this Is the experience Proença is keen to offer his guests Nothing is too much trouble," he says, "I have a multi-skilled staff, and our job is to cater to every need of our guests. We offer an extremely personalized service." It is this human touch that sets Pousada Tauma apart from some of its competition An advocate of the "small is beautiful" ethos, Proença is constantly looking at ways to improve his product. Swathes of lawn, which required constant watering and encouraged mosquitoes to breed. were recently replaced with river pebbles. After theyve been soraved with water, their dan. pled surfaces not only look beautiful, they help cool the air. Ceramic roof tiles, sourced from derelict Indo-Portuguese houses, are replaced regularly; not only does their U-shape encourage ventilation they look a lot prettier than the new ones. The fumiture in both the restaurant and the rooms is in large part custom made in copper and metal, and when it was seen that the furniture scratched the Rajasthani floor tiles, small rubberized "feet" were specially made for the legs. Such attention to detail even if it is time-consuming and non-essential-is characteristic of Proença's labor-of- love attitude This individualistic approach is extended to the suites themselves. These are haphazardly arranged around the swimming pool, and each is decorated around a theme of field, sea, hill or castle. The suites come in different shapes, sizes and décor, but each has a bedroom, bathroom, sitting room and a small outdoor terrace with a garden view. Field suites convey the cool feel of bamboo, grass and palm, both in the design on the grilles and windows and in the paintwork stenciling which is echoed in the bathroom tiles. Similarly, the Sea suites evoke the ocean, with octopus, starfish and shell motifs, and cool shades of aquamarine and indigo. Fumiture is carefully sourced or custom made to suit-bamboo and cane for the Field rooms, for example, and Goan antiques for the more formal décor of the grander Castle rooms. Bollywood stars, French nobility, publishing magnates and many others have all experienced the red carpet treatment at Pousada Tauma, and much of Proença's trade now comes from repeat visits and personal recommendations.
Vogue
POUSADA TAUMA The sheer genius of Pousada Tauma-a boutique hotel-becomes apparent the moment you step across the threshold. The hotel is just metres away from the busiest intersection in the most crowded kilometre of coastline in Goa. But each step leaves the mayhem behind, as you are transported into Neville Proenca's tropical idyll. Pousada Tauma has a powerfully seductive appeal. Service is attentive but unobtrusive. Even in the low-key dining area, which might just house the best Goan restaurant in the state, visitors experience a kind of blissful privacy that's unimaginable once you step back into the outside world. Recently, Proenca had an opportunity to expand his 12-room hotel on to a new purchase of land next door. To the amazement of his neighbours, the hands-on hotelier built a lovely, looping lotus pond, stocked with a thousand carp. "More rooms would have ruined what is special here,' says Proenca. It's a logic that's lost on most hoteliers of Goa, who watch with disbelief as Pousada Tauma wins international acclaim, and retains a loyal base that happily pays a premium for true value.
Elle
Man's World
If you’re Lord Hamlyn of Hamlyn Publications, you can pretty much choose where you want to celebrate your birthday. In February this year, the Lord and Lady Hamlyn flew down to Goa in their private jet and checked in to Pousada Tauma, the all-suite boutique hotel, for a week. Their only request: no outsiders allowed. “It wasn’t a big deal,” says Neville Proença, the soft-spoken proprietor. “They had booked all 12 suites. We just locked the gates for a week.” Tucked into a quiet corner of Calangute village in Goa, Pousada Tauma is a pocket-sized idyll of nature and Goan hospitality — and the place to be this summer. The property was envisioned with an emphasis on natural and traditional architecture, using minimal resources while maintaining a distinctly Goan character. The walls, crafted from Goan laterite stone, were pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. For this feature alone, masons from neighboring states labored an entire day to lay just ten stones. The rustic U-shaped roof tiles, typically seen in old Portuguese homes, were carefully sourced over a two-year period and used for roof finishing. Besides their charm, these tiles help naturally cool the air. The restaurant kitchen, helmed by Chef Andrews, welcomes guests who wish to observe their meal being prepared. Food critic Rachel Reuben recommends the Prawn Balchão with poee, the traditional crusty Goan bread perfect for mopping up the rich, red gravy. “The idea was to create a secluded, intimate retreat,” says Neville, who firmly believes that the future of hospitality in Goa lies in boutique hotels like Pousada Tauma. Eighty percent of Pousada’s bookings now come through the internet (www.pousadatauma.com) — a testament to its growing reputation. Five years ago, Neville was working at the Taj Aguada in Goa. “That year, real estate prices skyrocketed,” he recalls. He left his job, sold a portion of his inherited land, and used the funds to bring Pousada Tauma to life. Partnering with local architect Dean D'Cruz, the hotel was constructed literally block by block over three and a half years. Pousada Tauma opened its doors in December 1998. ‘Pousada’ means ‘nest’ in Portuguese, while ‘Tauma’ is derived from Taumaturgo, Neville’s father's name. The suites, scattered around the central swimming pool, are themed around Sea, Field, Mountain, and Castle. Each suite offers a private dining area and a patio with either a secluded garden or terrace. Check-in: Pousada Tauma, Porba Vaddo, Calangute, Bardez, Goa Located less than a kilometre from the beach, with complimentary shuttle service provided. The hotel is 50 km from the airport and 15 km from the nearest railway station. Transfers can be arranged upon request. For reservations, contact Neville or Angelica Proença, the owners of Pousada Tauma.
Inside Outside
Pousada Tauma: A Resting Place in the Heart of Goa Pousada Tauma is the brainchild of Neville Proença, the owner and visionary behind the property. With a hands-on approach, Neville personally oversaw every aspect of the resort’s development — from architectural concept to garden landscaping — to create a retreat that feels both intimate and immersive. Originally built on a 4,300 sq m coconut grove, the estate has since expanded to 8,000 sq m. Surrounded by a dense village, the property is located just 1.5 km from Calangute beach. With road access at one end and a service entry at the other, the resort was designed to buffer itself from the overdevelopment of its surroundings and instead offer a peaceful, inward-looking experience. To transform the flat, irregular site into a serene escape, the land was thoughtfully articulated using multiple levels, garden buffers, intermediate pavilions, and varied paving textures. These elements define different zones and create a natural flow throughout the property, giving guests the feeling of being in a private oasis. Visitors enter through a stone archway with a palm-leaf gate into a colonnaded structure that houses the entrance pavilion, a shop, and a gym. This leads into an open central space, from which all suites and shared pavilions — including the restaurant and garden pavilion — are accessed. The swimming pool lies at the heart of the resort, complete with an entry pavilion, an elevated deck, and a cascading waterfall. The open layout of this central area gives the impression of a much larger property and enhances the tranquil, retreat-like atmosphere. Most rooms are inspired by Goa’s natural landscapes — the Sea, the Fields, and the Hills. The Sea rooms incorporate shell-accented windows and fluid design lines to echo the rhythms of the coast. The Fields and Hills rooms feature earthy materials and warm tones that reflect Goa’s countryside and elevated terrain. Built using traditional Goan laterite stone, the resort combines age-old construction methods — such as arched doorways, corbelled roof overhangs, and handmade country tiles — with modern comforts. Many of the materials, including the roof tiles, were sourced from old Goan homes and repurposed to retain authenticity. A tropical garden enhances the soul of the property. With lush, layered planting in cool tones that contrast beautifully against the rich laterite walls, the landscaping is designed to reveal itself slowly. As one moves through the resort, new courtyards, walkways, and spaces unfold naturally — encouraging exploration and reflection.
Hi Blitz
Pousada Tauma, a name that has come to represent serenity and seclusion, is the brainchild of Neville Proença, intriguing aspects like a table with chains as its support which were originally ship anchor chains welded together, or flattened bottles that form a curtain in the restaurant and then the 100-year-old palm tree at the entrance that has stood witness to the many that have walked this path. A lot of the furniture is from old Goan homes that adds to the local feel that Neville wants to give his guests, "I want them to get a feel of how it was in the 60s." The resort has 10 suites with no intention of increasing that number because the owner believes in protecting his guests' privacy and peace. This is of such paramount importance to Neville that he has build his walls high to keep away prying eyes but done so aesthetically that you feel you are in a protective cocoon, far from the madding crowds.
The FountainHead
POUSADA TAUMA The sheer genius of Pousada Tauma-a boutique Ayurveda hotel-becomes apparent the moment you step across the threshold. The hotel is just metres away from the busiest intersection in the most crowded kilometre of coastline in Goa. But each step leaves the mayhem behind, as you are transported into Neville Proenca's tropical idyll. Pousada Tauma has a powerfully seductive appeal. Service is attentive but unobtrusive. Even in the low-key dining area, which might just house the best Goan restaurant in the state, visitors experience a kind of blissful privacy that's unimaginable once you step back into the outside world. Recently, Proenca had an opportunity to expand his 12-room hotel on to a new purchase of land next door. To the amazement of his neighbours, the hands-on hotelier built a lovely, looping lotus pond, stocked with a thousand carp. "More rooms would have ruined what is special here,' says Proenca. It's a logic that's lost on most hoteliers of Goa, who watch with disbelief as Pousada Tauma wins international acclaim, and retains a loyal base that happily pays a premium for true value.
Cosmopolitan
A small photoshoot done at Pousada Tauma for Cosmopolitan
Vinterrejser
POUSBuilt in honey-colored Goa stone, Hotel Pousada Tauma welcomes guests seeking a unique holiday experience. The hotel is designed by the owner Neville Proença, a perfectionist with an eye for all the small details, and who personally planted the tropical garden. Around the pool are just 10 suites, each with its own theme — such as the sea, the mountains, the fields, and the river. These themes are reflected in the suites’ interior design and furnishings. All suites have a living room, a large bedroom with a double bed, air conditioning, TV, refrigerator, minibar, ceiling fan, elegant bathroom, and a furnished terrace or garden. The hotel features a fantastic restaurant and excellent service throughout.
Jetwings
The Pousada Tauma Hotel in Calangute, Goa, is a charming world of its own — a sort of distant paradise. The 10 suites, scattered around the pool, are endowed with different motifs — the Sea, the Fields, the Mountains, and the Castle — giving guests a flavour of Goa. It is the only boutique hotel built on the lines of a natural, traditional architectural concept using exposed masonry. Goa laterite stones have been used liberally, and the glow it emits is distinctly Goan. A variety of flora and fauna enhance this otherworldly charm that makes your stay a tryst with nature and a solace for the soul.
Featured - Publications
Here are notable magazine publications and features that Pousada Tauma has been part of over the years. These articles have helped position the hotel as a pioneering boutique destination in Goa, appreciated for its architecture, privacy, and immersive Goan charm.
Condé-Nast
POUSADA TAUMA For all its package tourism, Goa has one gem of a hotel that has managed to go against the grain. Pousada Tauma is a 10-minute walk from Calangute Beach and has all the aura of a mini-resort – irregular-shaped pool with bar and water-cascade – but done on such an intimate scale (there are only 12 suites) that it feels much more chic, as if you’re the private guest of the charming Indian owner-manager. (Helen Hamlyn, behind Château de Bagnols in France, recently booked the whole hotel for a week-long house party.) The Pousada is also one of those rare places in Goa where the noise level hasn’t sent the local mongooses into hiding, while the gardens, thick with palm fronds, are like a Rousseau tableau. The rooms, all with patios, are air-conditioned and simply decorated with colonial-style furniture; the bathrooms, covered with shattered tiles, are almost Gaudí-esque. Although Ayurvedic cuisine is available on request, it would be a pity to eat boiled vegetables when you could be feasting on lobster masala or prawn balchao, a spicy Goan speciality cooked to perfection. A highly recommended mid-priced hotel for food-loving travellers.
There are 10 suites well-positioned around a pool with swim-up bar and water cascade – potentially naff but actually pretty, in spite of the acreage of crazy paving. More like a private villa than a resort, Pousada Tauma is run by Neville Proenca, the delightful hands-on owner. The rooms are simply decorated with cotton bedspreads, copper-pot lamps, colonial-style furniture and playful, Gaudí-esque bathrooms covered in shattered, brightly coloured tiles. Each clean and comfortable room has a private terrace. The Copper Bowl restaurant serves good European and superlative Goan specialities.
Madame Figaro
"In Goa, a hotel like home." Hidden like a treasure in the tropical jungle, this secret retreat of fashion insiders is fine-tuned to perfection by a collector's eye. Overview & Setting Location: Near the Calangute crossroads in Goa. Vibe: Referred to as a “heritage hotel” or “boutique hotel,” it contrasts with larger resorts, appealing to artists, creatives, and European travelers looking for an intimate and private escape. Architecture: Built stone by stone over three years using local orange laterite rock, creating a warm contrast with the surrounding greenery. Design Influence: Blends a Roman cloister feel with traditional Goan homes. Property Description The property includes eight houses arranged around a 30-meter swimming pool. Suites are decorated in custom color palettes and traditional materials like teak, cane, and stone from Rajasthan. Handpicked antique furniture and objects complete the authentic Goan-Portuguese ambiance. Ceramic mosaics in the bathrooms and pool area are inspired by marine life and traditional Goan techniques. Interior Details Custom touches by Neville Proença (owner and designer): Walls adorned with painted motifs and antler-style decorations. Local antique pieces from Panaji. Lighting created from recycled glass bottles. Contemporary yet traditional furniture, co-designed with graduates from a top Bombay design school. Cuisine & Ambience Food is homemade and personalized to guests' preferences. Ingredients are locally sourced: fresh fish from nearby fishermen, tropical fruits, and produce from surrounding farms. Described as delicate, thoughtful, and refined, tailored to guest wellness and enjoyment. Owner’s Philosophy Neville, the owner, started as a hotel trainee. He dreamed for years about building a place like Pousada Tauma, with everything hand-curated down to the smallest detail. His perfectionism is evident in how rooms are maintained and how every decorative element tells a story. Atmosphere "A moment of sweetness... coconuts, bananas, tropical flowers, and orchids invade the terrain. The heat, the hum of insects, and the birds’ songs wrap the guest in an exotic reverie."
Cool Hotels
Goa is justly famous for its beaches, Still, times change, but all is not lost. Sitting pretty (and pretty quiet) amidst the mayhem of Calangute is the haven of Pousada Tauma, a small 12-suite boutique hotel. It is really the last place on earth you'd expect to find a personal, rarefied and top-notch resort, but trust me-it's there. Only a kilometer or so from the beach and set within a walled compound, the only sounds here are the trickle of running water and the breeze rustling through the palms. Discovering it is like stepping from Dante's Inferno into Alice's Wonderland Because there are no views to speak of, the layout-both conceptually and architecturally— looks inward. Clusters of buildings, constructed from the local laterite stone usually reserved for the foundations of houses, are scattered around a central amoeba-shaped pool. Because each building is individual and each block of stone is irregularly shaped and fits with its neighbors like a jigsaw puzzle, the effect is pleasingly informal. Loosely linked by a series of arches, pavilions, swathes of plants and hardscapes of local pebbles, there are two main buildings a more open-plan, pavilion-style restaurant and the suites. Once encased within the compound walls, you get a taste of how Goa was pre-packaged tourism -slow-paced, serene and sybaritic. The hotel is the brainchild of owner/manager Neville Proença and was born from his "passion for the industry." As he wryly admits, if he hadn't been passionate about hoteliering, he wouldn't have chosen to spend three-and-a-half years battling with banks and builders to see his project to fruition, then routinely spend 17-hour days on site. After working for 13 years for the Tai Group. the soft-spoken Proenca inherited the land from his father-and decided to go it alone. The word tauma is a shortened version of his father's name and also loosely translates as "restful'-and this Is the experience Proença is keen to offer his guests Nothing is too much trouble," he says, "I have a multi-skilled staff, and our job is to cater to every need of our guests. We offer an extremely personalized service." It is this human touch that sets Pousada Tauma apart from some of its competition An advocate of the "small is beautiful" ethos, Proença is constantly looking at ways to improve his product. Swathes of lawn, which required constant watering and encouraged mosquitoes to breed. were recently replaced with river pebbles. After theyve been soraved with water, their dan. pled surfaces not only look beautiful, they help cool the air. Ceramic roof tiles, sourced from derelict Indo-Portuguese houses, are replaced regularly; not only does their U-shape encourage ventilation they look a lot prettier than the new ones. The fumiture in both the restaurant and the rooms is in large part custom made in copper and metal, and when it was seen that the furniture scratched the Rajasthani floor tiles, small rubberized "feet" were specially made for the legs. Such attention to detail even if it is time-consuming and non-essential-is characteristic of Proença's labor-of- love attitude This individualistic approach is extended to the suites themselves. These are haphazardly arranged around the swimming pool, and each is decorated around a theme of field, sea, hill or castle. The suites come in different shapes, sizes and décor, but each has a bedroom, bathroom, sitting room and a small outdoor terrace with a garden view. Field suites convey the cool feel of bamboo, grass and palm, both in the design on the grilles and windows and in the paintwork stenciling which is echoed in the bathroom tiles. Similarly, the Sea suites evoke the ocean, with octopus, starfish and shell motifs, and cool shades of aquamarine and indigo. Fumiture is carefully sourced or custom made to suit-bamboo and cane for the Field rooms, for example, and Goan antiques for the more formal décor of the grander Castle rooms. Bollywood stars, French nobility, publishing magnates and many others have all experienced the red carpet treatment at Pousada Tauma, and much of Proença's trade now comes from repeat visits and personal recommendations.
Vogue
POUSADA TAUMA The sheer genius of Pousada Tauma-a boutique hotel-becomes apparent the moment you step across the threshold. The hotel is just metres away from the busiest intersection in the most crowded kilometre of coastline in Goa. But each step leaves the mayhem behind, as you are transported into Neville Proenca's tropical idyll. Pousada Tauma has a powerfully seductive appeal. Service is attentive but unobtrusive. Even in the low-key dining area, which might just house the best Goan restaurant in the state, visitors experience a kind of blissful privacy that's unimaginable once you step back into the outside world. Recently, Proenca had an opportunity to expand his 12-room hotel on to a new purchase of land next door. To the amazement of his neighbours, the hands-on hotelier built a lovely, looping lotus pond, stocked with a thousand carp. "More rooms would have ruined what is special here,' says Proenca. It's a logic that's lost on most hoteliers of Goa, who watch with disbelief as Pousada Tauma wins international acclaim, and retains a loyal base that happily pays a premium for true value.
Elle
Man's World
If you’re Lord Hamlyn of Hamlyn Publications, you can pretty much choose where you want to celebrate your birthday. In February this year, the Lord and Lady Hamlyn flew down to Goa in their private jet and checked in to Pousada Tauma, the all-suite boutique hotel, for a week. Their only request: no outsiders allowed. “It wasn’t a big deal,” says Neville Proença, the soft-spoken proprietor. “They had booked all 12 suites. We just locked the gates for a week.” Tucked into a quiet corner of Calangute village in Goa, Pousada Tauma is a pocket-sized idyll of nature and Goan hospitality — and the place to be this summer. The property was envisioned with an emphasis on natural and traditional architecture, using minimal resources while maintaining a distinctly Goan character. The walls, crafted from Goan laterite stone, were pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. For this feature alone, masons from neighboring states labored an entire day to lay just ten stones. The rustic U-shaped roof tiles, typically seen in old Portuguese homes, were carefully sourced over a two-year period and used for roof finishing. Besides their charm, these tiles help naturally cool the air. The restaurant kitchen, helmed by Chef Andrews, welcomes guests who wish to observe their meal being prepared. Food critic Rachel Reuben recommends the Prawn Balchão with poee, the traditional crusty Goan bread perfect for mopping up the rich, red gravy. “The idea was to create a secluded, intimate retreat,” says Neville, who firmly believes that the future of hospitality in Goa lies in boutique hotels like Pousada Tauma. Eighty percent of Pousada’s bookings now come through the internet (www.pousadatauma.com) — a testament to its growing reputation. Five years ago, Neville was working at the Taj Aguada in Goa. “That year, real estate prices skyrocketed,” he recalls. He left his job, sold a portion of his inherited land, and used the funds to bring Pousada Tauma to life. Partnering with local architect Dean D'Cruz, the hotel was constructed literally block by block over three and a half years. Pousada Tauma opened its doors in December 1998. ‘Pousada’ means ‘nest’ in Portuguese, while ‘Tauma’ is derived from Taumaturgo, Neville’s father's name. The suites, scattered around the central swimming pool, are themed around Sea, Field, Mountain, and Castle. Each suite offers a private dining area and a patio with either a secluded garden or terrace. Check-in: Pousada Tauma, Porba Vaddo, Calangute, Bardez, Goa Located less than a kilometre from the beach, with complimentary shuttle service provided. The hotel is 50 km from the airport and 15 km from the nearest railway station. Transfers can be arranged upon request. For reservations, contact Neville or Angelica Proença, the owners of Pousada Tauma.
Inside Outside
Pousada Tauma: A Resting Place in the Heart of Goa Pousada Tauma is the brainchild of Neville Proença, the owner and visionary behind the property. With a hands-on approach, Neville personally oversaw every aspect of the resort’s development — from architectural concept to garden landscaping — to create a retreat that feels both intimate and immersive. Originally built on a 4,300 sq m coconut grove, the estate has since expanded to 8,000 sq m. Surrounded by a dense village, the property is located just 1.5 km from Calangute beach. With road access at one end and a service entry at the other, the resort was designed to buffer itself from the overdevelopment of its surroundings and instead offer a peaceful, inward-looking experience. To transform the flat, irregular site into a serene escape, the land was thoughtfully articulated using multiple levels, garden buffers, intermediate pavilions, and varied paving textures. These elements define different zones and create a natural flow throughout the property, giving guests the feeling of being in a private oasis. Visitors enter through a stone archway with a palm-leaf gate into a colonnaded structure that houses the entrance pavilion, a shop, and a gym. This leads into an open central space, from which all suites and shared pavilions — including the restaurant and garden pavilion — are accessed. The swimming pool lies at the heart of the resort, complete with an entry pavilion, an elevated deck, and a cascading waterfall. The open layout of this central area gives the impression of a much larger property and enhances the tranquil, retreat-like atmosphere. Most rooms are inspired by Goa’s natural landscapes — the Sea, the Fields, and the Hills. The Sea rooms incorporate shell-accented windows and fluid design lines to echo the rhythms of the coast. The Fields and Hills rooms feature earthy materials and warm tones that reflect Goa’s countryside and elevated terrain. Built using traditional Goan laterite stone, the resort combines age-old construction methods — such as arched doorways, corbelled roof overhangs, and handmade country tiles — with modern comforts. Many of the materials, including the roof tiles, were sourced from old Goan homes and repurposed to retain authenticity. A tropical garden enhances the soul of the property. With lush, layered planting in cool tones that contrast beautifully against the rich laterite walls, the landscaping is designed to reveal itself slowly. As one moves through the resort, new courtyards, walkways, and spaces unfold naturally — encouraging exploration and reflection.
Hi Blitz
Pousada Tauma, a name that has come to represent serenity and seclusion, is the brainchild of Neville Proença, intriguing aspects like a table with chains as its support which were originally ship anchor chains welded together, or flattened bottles that form a curtain in the restaurant and then the 100-year-old palm tree at the entrance that has stood witness to the many that have walked this path. A lot of the furniture is from old Goan homes that adds to the local feel that Neville wants to give his guests, "I want them to get a feel of how it was in the 60s." The resort has 10 suites with no intention of increasing that number because the owner believes in protecting his guests' privacy and peace. This is of such paramount importance to Neville that he has build his walls high to keep away prying eyes but done so aesthetically that you feel you are in a protective cocoon, far from the madding crowds.
The FountainHead
POUSADA TAUMA The sheer genius of Pousada Tauma-a boutique Ayurveda hotel-becomes apparent the moment you step across the threshold. The hotel is just metres away from the busiest intersection in the most crowded kilometre of coastline in Goa. But each step leaves the mayhem behind, as you are transported into Neville Proenca's tropical idyll. Pousada Tauma has a powerfully seductive appeal. Service is attentive but unobtrusive. Even in the low-key dining area, which might just house the best Goan restaurant in the state, visitors experience a kind of blissful privacy that's unimaginable once you step back into the outside world. Recently, Proenca had an opportunity to expand his 12-room hotel on to a new purchase of land next door. To the amazement of his neighbours, the hands-on hotelier built a lovely, looping lotus pond, stocked with a thousand carp. "More rooms would have ruined what is special here,' says Proenca. It's a logic that's lost on most hoteliers of Goa, who watch with disbelief as Pousada Tauma wins international acclaim, and retains a loyal base that happily pays a premium for true value.
Cosmopolitan
A small photoshoot done at Pousada Tauma for Cosmopolitan
Vinterrejser
POUSBuilt in honey-colored Goa stone, Hotel Pousada Tauma welcomes guests seeking a unique holiday experience. The hotel is designed by the owner Neville Proença, a perfectionist with an eye for all the small details, and who personally planted the tropical garden. Around the pool are just 10 suites, each with its own theme — such as the sea, the mountains, the fields, and the river. These themes are reflected in the suites’ interior design and furnishings. All suites have a living room, a large bedroom with a double bed, air conditioning, TV, refrigerator, minibar, ceiling fan, elegant bathroom, and a furnished terrace or garden. The hotel features a fantastic restaurant and excellent service throughout.
Jetwings
The Pousada Tauma Hotel in Calangute, Goa, is a charming world of its own — a sort of distant paradise. The 10 suites, scattered around the pool, are endowed with different motifs — the Sea, the Fields, the Mountains, and the Castle — giving guests a flavour of Goa. It is the only boutique hotel built on the lines of a natural, traditional architectural concept using exposed masonry. Goa laterite stones have been used liberally, and the glow it emits is distinctly Goan. A variety of flora and fauna enhance this otherworldly charm that makes your stay a tryst with nature and a solace for the soul.
Featured - Publications
Here are notable magazine publications and features that Pousada Tauma has been part of over the years. These articles have helped position the hotel as a pioneering boutique destination in Goa, appreciated for its architecture, privacy, and immersive Goan charm.
Condé-Nast
POUSADA TAUMA For all its package tourism, Goa has one gem of a hotel that has managed to go against the grain. Pousada Tauma is a 10-minute walk from Calangute Beach and has all the aura of a mini-resort – irregular-shaped pool with bar and water-cascade – but done on such an intimate scale (there are only 12 suites) that it feels much more chic, as if you’re the private guest of the charming Indian owner-manager. (Helen Hamlyn, behind Château de Bagnols in France, recently booked the whole hotel for a week-long house party.) The Pousada is also one of those rare places in Goa where the noise level hasn’t sent the local mongooses into hiding, while the gardens, thick with palm fronds, are like a Rousseau tableau. The rooms, all with patios, are air-conditioned and simply decorated with colonial-style furniture; the bathrooms, covered with shattered tiles, are almost Gaudí-esque. Although Ayurvedic cuisine is available on request, it would be a pity to eat boiled vegetables when you could be feasting on lobster masala or prawn balchao, a spicy Goan speciality cooked to perfection. A highly recommended mid-priced hotel for food-loving travellers.
There are 10 suites well-positioned around a pool with swim-up bar and water cascade – potentially naff but actually pretty, in spite of the acreage of crazy paving. More like a private villa than a resort, Pousada Tauma is run by Neville Proenca, the delightful hands-on owner. The rooms are simply decorated with cotton bedspreads, copper-pot lamps, colonial-style furniture and playful, Gaudí-esque bathrooms covered in shattered, brightly coloured tiles. Each clean and comfortable room has a private terrace. The Copper Bowl restaurant serves good European and superlative Goan specialities.
Madame Figaro
"In Goa, a hotel like home." Hidden like a treasure in the tropical jungle, this secret retreat of fashion insiders is fine-tuned to perfection by a collector's eye. Overview & Setting Location: Near the Calangute crossroads in Goa. Vibe: Referred to as a “heritage hotel” or “boutique hotel,” it contrasts with larger resorts, appealing to artists, creatives, and European travelers looking for an intimate and private escape. Architecture: Built stone by stone over three years using local orange laterite rock, creating a warm contrast with the surrounding greenery. Design Influence: Blends a Roman cloister feel with traditional Goan homes. Property Description The property includes eight houses arranged around a 30-meter swimming pool. Suites are decorated in custom color palettes and traditional materials like teak, cane, and stone from Rajasthan. Handpicked antique furniture and objects complete the authentic Goan-Portuguese ambiance. Ceramic mosaics in the bathrooms and pool area are inspired by marine life and traditional Goan techniques. Interior Details Custom touches by Neville Proença (owner and designer): Walls adorned with painted motifs and antler-style decorations. Local antique pieces from Panaji. Lighting created from recycled glass bottles. Contemporary yet traditional furniture, co-designed with graduates from a top Bombay design school. Cuisine & Ambience Food is homemade and personalized to guests' preferences. Ingredients are locally sourced: fresh fish from nearby fishermen, tropical fruits, and produce from surrounding farms. Described as delicate, thoughtful, and refined, tailored to guest wellness and enjoyment. Owner’s Philosophy Neville, the owner, started as a hotel trainee. He dreamed for years about building a place like Pousada Tauma, with everything hand-curated down to the smallest detail. His perfectionism is evident in how rooms are maintained and how every decorative element tells a story. Atmosphere "A moment of sweetness... coconuts, bananas, tropical flowers, and orchids invade the terrain. The heat, the hum of insects, and the birds’ songs wrap the guest in an exotic reverie."
Cool Hotels
Goa is justly famous for its beaches, Still, times change, but all is not lost. Sitting pretty (and pretty quiet) amidst the mayhem of Calangute is the haven of Pousada Tauma, a small 12-suite boutique hotel. It is really the last place on earth you'd expect to find a personal, rarefied and top-notch resort, but trust me-it's there. Only a kilometer or so from the beach and set within a walled compound, the only sounds here are the trickle of running water and the breeze rustling through the palms. Discovering it is like stepping from Dante's Inferno into Alice's Wonderland Because there are no views to speak of, the layout-both conceptually and architecturally— looks inward. Clusters of buildings, constructed from the local laterite stone usually reserved for the foundations of houses, are scattered around a central amoeba-shaped pool. Because each building is individual and each block of stone is irregularly shaped and fits with its neighbors like a jigsaw puzzle, the effect is pleasingly informal. Loosely linked by a series of arches, pavilions, swathes of plants and hardscapes of local pebbles, there are two main buildings a more open-plan, pavilion-style restaurant and the suites. Once encased within the compound walls, you get a taste of how Goa was pre-packaged tourism -slow-paced, serene and sybaritic. The hotel is the brainchild of owner/manager Neville Proença and was born from his "passion for the industry." As he wryly admits, if he hadn't been passionate about hoteliering, he wouldn't have chosen to spend three-and-a-half years battling with banks and builders to see his project to fruition, then routinely spend 17-hour days on site. After working for 13 years for the Tai Group. the soft-spoken Proenca inherited the land from his father-and decided to go it alone. The word tauma is a shortened version of his father's name and also loosely translates as "restful'-and this Is the experience Proença is keen to offer his guests Nothing is too much trouble," he says, "I have a multi-skilled staff, and our job is to cater to every need of our guests. We offer an extremely personalized service." It is this human touch that sets Pousada Tauma apart from some of its competition An advocate of the "small is beautiful" ethos, Proença is constantly looking at ways to improve his product. Swathes of lawn, which required constant watering and encouraged mosquitoes to breed. were recently replaced with river pebbles. After theyve been soraved with water, their dan. pled surfaces not only look beautiful, they help cool the air. Ceramic roof tiles, sourced from derelict Indo-Portuguese houses, are replaced regularly; not only does their U-shape encourage ventilation they look a lot prettier than the new ones. The fumiture in both the restaurant and the rooms is in large part custom made in copper and metal, and when it was seen that the furniture scratched the Rajasthani floor tiles, small rubberized "feet" were specially made for the legs. Such attention to detail even if it is time-consuming and non-essential-is characteristic of Proença's labor-of- love attitude This individualistic approach is extended to the suites themselves. These are haphazardly arranged around the swimming pool, and each is decorated around a theme of field, sea, hill or castle. The suites come in different shapes, sizes and décor, but each has a bedroom, bathroom, sitting room and a small outdoor terrace with a garden view. Field suites convey the cool feel of bamboo, grass and palm, both in the design on the grilles and windows and in the paintwork stenciling which is echoed in the bathroom tiles. Similarly, the Sea suites evoke the ocean, with octopus, starfish and shell motifs, and cool shades of aquamarine and indigo. Fumiture is carefully sourced or custom made to suit-bamboo and cane for the Field rooms, for example, and Goan antiques for the more formal décor of the grander Castle rooms. Bollywood stars, French nobility, publishing magnates and many others have all experienced the red carpet treatment at Pousada Tauma, and much of Proença's trade now comes from repeat visits and personal recommendations.
Vogue
POUSADA TAUMA The sheer genius of Pousada Tauma-a boutique hotel-becomes apparent the moment you step across the threshold. The hotel is just metres away from the busiest intersection in the most crowded kilometre of coastline in Goa. But each step leaves the mayhem behind, as you are transported into Neville Proenca's tropical idyll. Pousada Tauma has a powerfully seductive appeal. Service is attentive but unobtrusive. Even in the low-key dining area, which might just house the best Goan restaurant in the state, visitors experience a kind of blissful privacy that's unimaginable once you step back into the outside world. Recently, Proenca had an opportunity to expand his 12-room hotel on to a new purchase of land next door. To the amazement of his neighbours, the hands-on hotelier built a lovely, looping lotus pond, stocked with a thousand carp. "More rooms would have ruined what is special here,' says Proenca. It's a logic that's lost on most hoteliers of Goa, who watch with disbelief as Pousada Tauma wins international acclaim, and retains a loyal base that happily pays a premium for true value.
Elle
Man's World
If you’re Lord Hamlyn of Hamlyn Publications, you can pretty much choose where you want to celebrate your birthday. In February this year, the Lord and Lady Hamlyn flew down to Goa in their private jet and checked in to Pousada Tauma, the all-suite boutique hotel, for a week. Their only request: no outsiders allowed. “It wasn’t a big deal,” says Neville Proença, the soft-spoken proprietor. “They had booked all 12 suites. We just locked the gates for a week.” Tucked into a quiet corner of Calangute village in Goa, Pousada Tauma is a pocket-sized idyll of nature and Goan hospitality — and the place to be this summer. The property was envisioned with an emphasis on natural and traditional architecture, using minimal resources while maintaining a distinctly Goan character. The walls, crafted from Goan laterite stone, were pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. For this feature alone, masons from neighboring states labored an entire day to lay just ten stones. The rustic U-shaped roof tiles, typically seen in old Portuguese homes, were carefully sourced over a two-year period and used for roof finishing. Besides their charm, these tiles help naturally cool the air. The restaurant kitchen, helmed by Chef Andrews, welcomes guests who wish to observe their meal being prepared. Food critic Rachel Reuben recommends the Prawn Balchão with poee, the traditional crusty Goan bread perfect for mopping up the rich, red gravy. “The idea was to create a secluded, intimate retreat,” says Neville, who firmly believes that the future of hospitality in Goa lies in boutique hotels like Pousada Tauma. Eighty percent of Pousada’s bookings now come through the internet (www.pousadatauma.com) — a testament to its growing reputation. Five years ago, Neville was working at the Taj Aguada in Goa. “That year, real estate prices skyrocketed,” he recalls. He left his job, sold a portion of his inherited land, and used the funds to bring Pousada Tauma to life. Partnering with local architect Dean D'Cruz, the hotel was constructed literally block by block over three and a half years. Pousada Tauma opened its doors in December 1998. ‘Pousada’ means ‘nest’ in Portuguese, while ‘Tauma’ is derived from Taumaturgo, Neville’s father's name. The suites, scattered around the central swimming pool, are themed around Sea, Field, Mountain, and Castle. Each suite offers a private dining area and a patio with either a secluded garden or terrace. Check-in: Pousada Tauma, Porba Vaddo, Calangute, Bardez, Goa Located less than a kilometre from the beach, with complimentary shuttle service provided. The hotel is 50 km from the airport and 15 km from the nearest railway station. Transfers can be arranged upon request. For reservations, contact Neville or Angelica Proença, the owners of Pousada Tauma.
Inside Outside
Pousada Tauma: A Resting Place in the Heart of Goa Pousada Tauma is the brainchild of Neville Proença, the owner and visionary behind the property. With a hands-on approach, Neville personally oversaw every aspect of the resort’s development — from architectural concept to garden landscaping — to create a retreat that feels both intimate and immersive. Originally built on a 4,300 sq m coconut grove, the estate has since expanded to 8,000 sq m. Surrounded by a dense village, the property is located just 1.5 km from Calangute beach. With road access at one end and a service entry at the other, the resort was designed to buffer itself from the overdevelopment of its surroundings and instead offer a peaceful, inward-looking experience. To transform the flat, irregular site into a serene escape, the land was thoughtfully articulated using multiple levels, garden buffers, intermediate pavilions, and varied paving textures. These elements define different zones and create a natural flow throughout the property, giving guests the feeling of being in a private oasis. Visitors enter through a stone archway with a palm-leaf gate into a colonnaded structure that houses the entrance pavilion, a shop, and a gym. This leads into an open central space, from which all suites and shared pavilions — including the restaurant and garden pavilion — are accessed. The swimming pool lies at the heart of the resort, complete with an entry pavilion, an elevated deck, and a cascading waterfall. The open layout of this central area gives the impression of a much larger property and enhances the tranquil, retreat-like atmosphere. Most rooms are inspired by Goa’s natural landscapes — the Sea, the Fields, and the Hills. The Sea rooms incorporate shell-accented windows and fluid design lines to echo the rhythms of the coast. The Fields and Hills rooms feature earthy materials and warm tones that reflect Goa’s countryside and elevated terrain. Built using traditional Goan laterite stone, the resort combines age-old construction methods — such as arched doorways, corbelled roof overhangs, and handmade country tiles — with modern comforts. Many of the materials, including the roof tiles, were sourced from old Goan homes and repurposed to retain authenticity. A tropical garden enhances the soul of the property. With lush, layered planting in cool tones that contrast beautifully against the rich laterite walls, the landscaping is designed to reveal itself slowly. As one moves through the resort, new courtyards, walkways, and spaces unfold naturally — encouraging exploration and reflection.
Hi Blitz
Pousada Tauma, a name that has come to represent serenity and seclusion, is the brainchild of Neville Proença, intriguing aspects like a table with chains as its support which were originally ship anchor chains welded together, or flattened bottles that form a curtain in the restaurant and then the 100-year-old palm tree at the entrance that has stood witness to the many that have walked this path. A lot of the furniture is from old Goan homes that adds to the local feel that Neville wants to give his guests, "I want them to get a feel of how it was in the 60s." The resort has 10 suites with no intention of increasing that number because the owner believes in protecting his guests' privacy and peace. This is of such paramount importance to Neville that he has build his walls high to keep away prying eyes but done so aesthetically that you feel you are in a protective cocoon, far from the madding crowds.
The FountainHead
POUSADA TAUMA The sheer genius of Pousada Tauma-a boutique Ayurveda hotel-becomes apparent the moment you step across the threshold. The hotel is just metres away from the busiest intersection in the most crowded kilometre of coastline in Goa. But each step leaves the mayhem behind, as you are transported into Neville Proenca's tropical idyll. Pousada Tauma has a powerfully seductive appeal. Service is attentive but unobtrusive. Even in the low-key dining area, which might just house the best Goan restaurant in the state, visitors experience a kind of blissful privacy that's unimaginable once you step back into the outside world. Recently, Proenca had an opportunity to expand his 12-room hotel on to a new purchase of land next door. To the amazement of his neighbours, the hands-on hotelier built a lovely, looping lotus pond, stocked with a thousand carp. "More rooms would have ruined what is special here,' says Proenca. It's a logic that's lost on most hoteliers of Goa, who watch with disbelief as Pousada Tauma wins international acclaim, and retains a loyal base that happily pays a premium for true value.
Cosmopolitan
A small photoshoot done at Pousada Tauma for Cosmopolitan
Vinterrejser
POUSBuilt in honey-colored Goa stone, Hotel Pousada Tauma welcomes guests seeking a unique holiday experience. The hotel is designed by the owner Neville Proença, a perfectionist with an eye for all the small details, and who personally planted the tropical garden. Around the pool are just 10 suites, each with its own theme — such as the sea, the mountains, the fields, and the river. These themes are reflected in the suites’ interior design and furnishings. All suites have a living room, a large bedroom with a double bed, air conditioning, TV, refrigerator, minibar, ceiling fan, elegant bathroom, and a furnished terrace or garden. The hotel features a fantastic restaurant and excellent service throughout.
Jetwings
The Pousada Tauma Hotel in Calangute, Goa, is a charming world of its own — a sort of distant paradise. The 10 suites, scattered around the pool, are endowed with different motifs — the Sea, the Fields, the Mountains, and the Castle — giving guests a flavour of Goa. It is the only boutique hotel built on the lines of a natural, traditional architectural concept using exposed masonry. Goa laterite stones have been used liberally, and the glow it emits is distinctly Goan. A variety of flora and fauna enhance this otherworldly charm that makes your stay a tryst with nature and a solace for the soul.