Inland, on the fertile island of Chorao, surrounded by the marshland of the Mandovi River and accessed by ferry, the Catholic village of Calvim plays host to Sundays Forever, a homestay that’s a world away from Goa’s famous bars and beaches.

Gunjan and Priyanka, TV Executives from Delhi, bought and renovated this abandoned Portuguese villa in 2006, initially using it as a holiday home before realising they could rent it out to friends and aquaintances. From here the homestay was born.

Walking through the door it’s very easy to see its family origins. While some similar places like to recreate the idea of home, Sundays really does feel as if you’re stepping into a friend’s house.

There are family photos on the walls, magazines lying around, a shelf full of cds in the study and comfy, lived-in furniture everywhere. And thanks to caretaker Rajesh, who lives in an adjacent house, it’s all immaculately maintained and spotlessly clean.

As lovely as the villa is though, it’s the location that really makes Sundays such a fantastic place. Entering Calvim village is like stepping back in time, with whitewashed churches, houses and narrow lanes that lead to marshland and rice paddies.

The villa sits on the very edge of the village, with a large garden overlooking the grassland, river and distant hills. It makes for spectacular views and a blissfully peaceful break from the world.

Sundays is ideal for anyone wanting to get away and stop time, unwind and relax, or to simply experience a side of Goa that has faded elsewhere.