Living in Goa during the monsoon is the most calm and serene experience. The weather is windy and rain is just around the corner, raining without a warning. Rains put a halt to the fishing boats and festivals are also about to come. It is also the breeding season of fish and many people prefer to turn to a vegetarian diet. Whether you're tending to your own vegetable garden at your villa in Goa or you visit local markets like Panjim Market for grocery shopping, you will see a wild range of seasonal produce in the rainy season.

Markets in Goa transform into a wild vegetable garden, with exotic wild monsoon veggies that most city dwellers are not even aware of. Panjim market in the monsoons is taken over by Goan women selling local vegetables. These veggies are naturally grown in nature’s organic garden. They grow commonly in the state’s green patches and are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Panjim Market

These are some commonly known monsoon veggies in Goa: Naval Kol (German Tulip), Kurdu (Celosia), Haldi (turmeric) leaves, Chauli (black-eyed peas) leaves, Aalu (Colocasia), Telpat Ranbhaji (Wild Veggies), Neerfanas (Breadfruit), Kantoli (Spine gourd), Shirali (ridge gourd), and Vaghate or Ranmeva (Ceylon Caper).

The veggies are also a part of the local festivals and rituals like the Rishi Panchami and Ganesh Chaturthi. Where a special meal is prepared for pooja with these wild local monsoon veggies. Apart from vegetables, there are local mushrooms which have very good taste, some late mangoes, Ole Khajur (raw dates), and local fruits like Papaya, Pumpkin, and Kohla (Ash Gourd).

Monsoons in Goa bring a quiet beauty to everyday life. The rains refresh the land, and the markets fill with fresh, wild vegetables. It’s a season where everything slows down, and people come together to enjoy simple meals made from local produce. There’s a calm in the air, and a sense of connection to nature and tradition. It’s a reminder of the peaceful, meaningful moments that make life in Goa so special.

The House with Three Pavilions is a sustainable house in Goa, designed and developed by GROUNDED.

The house explores the intimate relationship between the land, its people, water, and the biodiversity that exists in Goa in India. It is designed as a cluster of three pavilions that gently weave around existing trees in an attempt to coexist with nature and to minimize the impact of new construction on virgin land.  

The architecture of the house takes inspiration from the surrounding Goan village houses. Mostly constructed as ground-floor structures, each pavilion attempts to match the volumetrics of its village peers. Throughout, a simple sweeping roof form is used in red terracotta tile that is ubiquitous to the Goan village built-landscape. Proportions are borrowed from doors, windows, and plaster bands of vernacular Goan structures even as a distinct contemporary style is articulated in the design.

With a focus on connection with nature, the materials used in the house are kept subtle and natural. All floors are finished with a natural Indian ‘kota’ stone in a blue-green color that merges with the landscape. Pigmented cement and exposed local ‘laterite’ are used extensively to mirror the rustic countryside character. ‘Teak’ is used for doors and windows to add warmth and rich texture to the interiors. Antique wood columns and stone pedestals are also incorporated to bring a sense of luxury and timelessness throughout.  

The project also prioritises the enhancement of the site’s resources and biodiversity through a comprehensive water-management system which includes a natural seasonal pond connected to a newly planned system of bioswales. This on-site wetland feature harvests rainwater, recharges depleted underground aquifers, and offsets the load on the public drain system. Furthermore, it preserves the pre-existing site habitat. It is a win to see that insects, birds, and animals continue to find the site a safe space even as they come in close contact with the human life around, making this truly a space for all seasons and species.

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Grounded in Goa is a series that documents the everyday beauties and joys of living in Goa. For anyone looking to move to Goa, it offers a glimpse into Goa's undeniable connection with nature, a life lived in harmony with the fertile land, changing skies, and the giving waters.

Also read - What To Look For While Buying A House in Goa and Designing a House in Goa