Sahakari Spice Farm

Far away from the beaches, a visit to the Sahakari Spice Farm is a lesson in Indian herbs and spices—and a pretty entertaining one at that. About half an hour from Panaji, this tropical spice plantation is scattered across 130 acres of lush vegetation, and you're greeted with a garland and a handful of cashewnuts while an Aarti is carried out to welcome you in. Moving in, you can pick and taste your way through rows of ginger, nutmeg, turmeric and cardamon in addition to fruit bearing trees like guava, papaya, pineapple and jackfruit among others. It's a great way to school kids on a wide variety of food-bearing trees and plants, and the organisers make the entire experience lots of fun by throwing in entertaining extras like elephant rides (you can even feed and wash the elephant) and folk dances. End your visit with the sumptuous buffet served on the premises​—which is the ideal way to culminate your experience.