Is Bhakti Kutir the Best Place for Yoga in Palolem? (2026)
During my solo trip to Goa, I stayed in Palolem for a week and took yoga classes at a wellness centre called Bhakti Kutir. Secluded in the trees behind the south end of Palolem beach, it’s a peaceful place to practise yoga. There, I met Nadia, an American freelance writer also attending the yoga classes. What follows is her detailed review of Bhakti Kutir – plus an update from me on how it compares today to the other places for yoga in Palolem.
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Bhakti Kutir at a glance
- Bhakti Kutir is an eco-retreat established in 1996 in a coconut grove just south of Palolem beach
- It has 22 unique bamboo cabanas with private bathrooms
- There’s no air conditioning and hot water is available on request
- Daily yoga classes are open to non-guests and retreats run by visiting teachers
- There’s an Ayurvedic treatment centre on site and a vegetarian restaurant
- Prices vary depending on whether it’s peak season (from November to March) or off-peak
How to find Bhakti Kutir
Bhakti Kutir is located within a two-acre coconut grove at 296 Colomb, Palolem in South Goa. It’s a 10 minute walk from the southern end of Palolem beach. Follow Ourem Road past Cafe Ourem, then turn left at the bike rental place onto a narrow private lane which brings you to the gate.
Explore the interactive map to find Bhakti Kutir and other accommodation options nearby:
A review of Bhakti Kutir
This is a guest review of Bhakti Kutir written by my friend Nadia, after she stayed there in 2013. I have added updated information for 2026 below.
What is Bhakti Kutir?
I spent a lot of time at Bhakti Kutir. Not only because of the relaxed atmosphere, excellent organic food and friendly people, but because I’m not treated like a tourist there. In that sense, for me, it truly is a sanctuary.
Bhakti Kutir (pronounced without the ‘r’ by the locals) is a Sanskrit word for ‘a home of devotional meditation.’ There are 22 cabanas, all unique, all with attached toilets and showers. The aim of the Goan-German founders is to provide a space for spiritual seekers and holistic healers to connect and retreat. Any guest with skills and training can set up a workshop for other guests while staying.
Many adjectives come to mind when I think about how to describe Bhakti Kutir: lush, laid back, tranquil, luxurious. When you first arrive, it’s clear why this is a destination spot. It’s gorgeous and when you enter through the gates you leave behind the chaos of India.
Why stay at Bhakti Kutir?
Before I go further, I want to explain that under most circumstances, I am a budget backpacker on a pilgrimage through India. The week I spent at Bhakti Kutir was an important week for me. I came to Palolem specifically for Bhakti Kutir because I wanted to be in a place that felt safe and comfortable. Here I could be solitary if needed and I knew that would be respected and appreciated. Looking back on my stay there, I am grateful for my choice.
I spent four nights in total. Theirs was the most comfortable bed I’ve had thus far in India. The room was decorated in an Afro-Caribbean style, complete with my own spray bottle of lemongrass oil to deter mosquitoes and a small night table lamp (a real rarity in guesthouse or hostel rooms). Mosquitoes are a big downside to living in this tropical oasis. Also, the pre-dawn noise level is off-the-charts from all the crows and roosters in the trees. Bring your ear plugs or embrace being an early riser during your holiday.
The room comes with an open-air toilet and shower attached, which gives it a beachy feel. Perfect for a shower just after sundown when the heat of the day starts to dissipate. There isn’t hot water at Bhakti Kutir yet, but the staff will bring you a bucket if you request it, for no extra charge.
The restaurant
One of my first stops at Bhakti Kutir was the restaurant which goes by the same name. This is organic healthy food at its best.
They have a range of Indian dishes, English-style breakfast, salads and a few Chinese dishes. Their fusion daily specials include dishes like cauliflower stir-fry with a green salad and chapatti. I’ve tasted nothing that I haven’t absolutely loved.
Favourites include the carrot and beetroot salad with peanut sauce, the open cucumber chutney sandwich and the energizing Ayurvedic drink. I also liked the local dish known as nachani or ragi. Called finger millet in English, it’s a porridge grain native to Goa and served with fresh fruit and molasses.
The massage studio
There is an Ayurvedic massage studio at Bhakti Kutir, called Kailas Aurvedic. They have over a dozen different services, from a basic head or foot massage to a lymph drainage massage or liver stimulating massage. During my stay I had the standard one hour Ayurvedic massage, the last of my splurges for the week. The massage table is a large slab of wood with no cut out for your face, which makes it rather uncomfortable for the portion of the massage done while on your front. However, despite this I felt safe in the hands of an expert and I would recommend Kailas Ayurvedic as a trustworthy place for a massage experience.
The visiting Swami
Bhakti Kutir has a yoga centre on site, called the Yoga Temple. During the high season of November to March, they have long-term residential yoga courses and drop-in classes.
What differentiates Bhakti Kutir’s Yoga Temple from the other places for yoga in Palolem and nearby Patnem, is the presence of Swami Yogananda Saraswati. He is known as Swamiji, which signifies that he is a Swami: yogi who has been initiated into a religious monastic order.
Swamji is the real draw and teaches at Bhakti Kutir over the high season. The rest of year he can be found at his ashram in Manali in North India, close to Ladakh. Because it gets so cold around Ladakh at this time of year, Swamiji comes to Goa and many of his students follow him here.
The yoga classes
There are three daily classes: beginners, advanced, and intermediate. Class with Swamiji is not your standard yoga class. Emphasis is placed on pranayama (breath). Few poses are done, like you may expect from a a yoga flow series in another class. Instead, he focuses on fundamentals and basic movements to increase your range of motion.
This could involve flapping your knee up and down or side bends and core work. Some people might be put off by the simplicity of these movements. Some may expect more from a bonafide Swami like him. But for me, I see the beauty of it.
How can you do the reverse triangle pose properly if you don’t have the range of motion in your waist? His teaching style reminds me of ‘Mr.Miyagi’ from The Karate Kid. Swamiji has a great sense of humour that comes out the more you spend time with him. ‘More up, more down. More forward, more backward,’ are his constant coachings.
I had the benefit of having a semi private lesson one day, when only two of the regular beginners showed up for class. Swamiji went over the three fundamental pranayama exercises and explained his philosophy that you can’t be a student of yoga if you’re just doing poses. True yoga practice is meditation, pranayama and asanas (poses). It was a great hour for me. I’ve been so impressed with Swamiji that I am considering spending time at his ashram as I head north to Nepal later in the year.
Socialising after class
After yoga class is my favourite time at Bhakti Kutir. That’s where I met Claire! You can socialise with friends and neighbours, enjoy a hot ginger tea and check your email and messages from home. There is no pressure from staff to leave or spend more money. Plus, the comfy chairs and benches in the restaurant make lounging almost impossible to stop once you’ve started.
The fact that I spent every morning and many evenings at Bhakti Kutir, even after I checked out and moved down the beach to more long-term accommodation, shows how comfortable I find the place. The owners and staff work to make an environment that encourages people to come back. This is good business practice in my opinion.
Bhakti Kutir will always be what I think of when I remember my time in Palolem.
Bhakti Kutir today: what’s changed since this review
Mosquito nets now come as standard. There’s no air conditioning, but the tree cover keeps the cabanas cool. Hot water is now available on request.
Bhakti Kutir hosts visiting teachers from around the world who organise their own retreats there. If you’re coming for a particular teacher, check who’s in residence for your dates.
For the latest information, check the official Bhakti Kutir website.
Other places for yoga in Palolem
Places to practice yoga in Palolem other than Bhakti Kutir include Ruban Yoga, Yoga Mandir and Palm Forest.
Ruban Yoga is in the heart of Palolem beach and has been running since 2000. It has a full schedule of drop-in classes, from 8am through to a candlelit evening session at 6.30pm, with a dedicated beginners’ class late morning. Classes are around ₹500 each, with weekly and monthly passes if you’re staying a while. They also run 200-hour teacher training certification.
At the north end of Palolem beach is Yoga Mandir. This centre focuses on traditional Hatha yoga with an Iyengar influence, so you can expect close attention to alignment and precision. Classes run at sunrise and sunset, and drop-ins are welcome. It’s led by its founder, Akshey, an E-RYT 500 teacher with over fourteen years’ experience, and it also runs teacher training.
Also at the north end is Palm Forest, a boutique yoga hotel in a garden a few steps back from Palolem beach. There are two to three classes a day, which are also open to non-guests.
Other options a short walk from Palolem include Earth Yoga Village in Colomb and Kranti Yoga on Patnem beach, which both offer teacher training.
Check the map below for the latest accommodation deals on Palolem beach for your dates:
So is Bhakti Kutir the best place for yoga in Palolem?
Bhakti Kutir is the best place if you’re in Palolem and looking for somewhere secluded among the trees, away from the tourist areas. It’s for people who value sustainability and relaxed classes with an emphasis on breath and fundamentals. While other yoga places have come and gone, Bhakti Kutir has been running for 30 years so you know you’ll be in good hands.
Frequently asked questions about yoga in Palolem
Where can I do yoga in Palolem?
There are several places offering yoga in Palolem, including Bhakti Kutir, Ruban Yoga, Yoga Mandir and Palm Forest. Most offer a schedule of drop-in classes as well as teacher training.
What is Bhakti Kutir known for?
Bhakti Kutir has been running since 1996, which makes it one of the oldest eco-stays in South Goa. It sits in a two-acre coconut grove in Colomb, just south of Palolem beach. The cabanas are hand-built from bamboo, jute and reclaimed wood, and the site is plastic-free.
Are the classes at Bhakti Kutir suitable for beginners?
Yes, Bhakti Kutir runs beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. Its emphasis on breath and basic movement rather than complex postures suits people starting out. Classes are led by visiting teachers, so check who’s teaching for your dates.
What is the price range for staying at Bhakti Kutir?
Rates vary considerably by season. Expect from around ₹700 a night at the quietest times, rising to ₹5,000 or more for a cabana over the December to January peak. There are 22 cabanas available at a range of prices.
When is the best time to visit Palolem?
The best time to visit Palolem is in the main tourist season, which runs from late November until early March.
Final thoughts on Bhakti Kutir and yoga in Palolem
Palolem is a great place to go if you like yoga, with half a dozen places running classes and retreats, from beach shalas to jungle hideaways.
What sets Bhakti Kutir apart is its secluded location in a coconut grove, far away from the tourist area, so you can really relax and focus. They host visiting teachers who offer retreats and daily classes, so who you practise with will depend on your dates.
