Spice Plantations of Ponda
Ponda Spice Plantations
A guided tour of inland spice gardens to learn about pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and cashew trees, followed by a traditional Goan buffet lunch.
On the hills around Ponda, several spice plantations open their doors to visitors, including Sahakari and Tropical Spice Plantation. Guides lead tours through the shade of the trees to identify pepper, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla and cashew trees, and explain how each is used in Goan cooking. Visitors are usually welcomed at the entrance with garlands and spiced tea. At the end, a Goan buffet lunch is served on banana leaves, and some estates offer tastings of cashew feni. Entry including lunch costs about ₹500–900, varying by estate. The area is about 30 km from Panaji and is often combined with Old Goa and the Mangueshi Temple in an inland day trip.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–16:30
Nearby sights
- Shri Mangueshi Temple
- Shri Shantadurga Temple
- Churches and Convents of Old Goa
- Divar Island
- Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
- Fontainhas, Panaji
- Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church
- Braganza House