GOA
Elephant rides are officially banned by Goa government/court order, but some operators still advertise 'elephant bathing' - don't book it, it's a bait-and-switch risk. Worth it for the guided tour, not repeat visits.
Sahakari Spice Farm in Curti, Ponda, was established around 1979-1980 by a cooperative of local farmers seeking to preserve traditional Goan spice cultivation methods that had continued largely unchanged since the Portuguese-era introduction of crops like cocoa and vanilla alongside indigenous pepper, cardamom, and nutmeg. The 130-acre estate has been managed by the same farming family across multiple generations. Tropical Spice Plantation, a separate estate located nearby in Keri, developed later as tourism to the Ponda spice belt grew, and both farms now combine working plantations with guided tours, traditional Goan meals, and elephant-related activities for visitors.
