Travelling in the company of those we love is 'Home in Motion.' - Leigh Hunt
A refreshing summer escapade from Mumbai to beat the scorching heat and extreme humid climate is indeed the most essential summer break one needs to dive back into work life in the city. Having said that, this summer, we decided to explore a place that's less explored and less crowded, and we narrowed down to Bhandardara - a hill station that's less commercialized, free of pollution, and is away from the hustle and bustle of city life. And, oh boy, what an exhilarating experience it was! Driving through the empty roads full of serpentine twist and turns as we climbed the western Ghats, overlooking the range of Sahyadri mountains that welcomed us with cool breeze - was indeed an adventure!
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| Our Chalet Style Cottage with a Private Garden |
Bhandardara, also known as the 'Scotland of Maharashtra' is nested in the picturesque Sahyadri mountains on the western Ghats, and is surrounded with beautiful lakes, waterfalls (during monsoon), lush greenery, and scenic retreats, making it an ideal spot for summer getaways.
Getting There:
It takes approx. 5 hours (170 km) to reach Bhandardara from Mumbai as well as from Pune with a small refreshment break in between.
A Pro Travel Tip: If travelling from Vasai, take the Vajreshwari road instead of Thane to avoid the city traffic.
Accommodation:
We stayed in Anandvan Resort, a four star property which is one of the best resorts in Bhandardara having Swiss style Chalets that offer gorgeous view of the Arthur lake (one of the largest lakes in India) and the mountain view. It is an eco boutique resort with 22 rooms that consists of cottages, villas, tree top nest and garden studios.
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| At the Entrance |
Food:
The Oak Restaurant of Anandvan has an organic kitchen garden that serves fresh produce from farm to fork. Their regional cuisine is lip smacking, and a must try for every foodie. The buffet breakfast has a wide spread with authentic regional spices and flavours. One of their must try dish is 'Bharleli Vaangi' with 'Jowar Bhakari' or rice.
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| Bharleli Vaangi & Jowar Bhakari |
Activities:
- Sighting Fireflies: The magical fireflies sighting festival is a must visit for an incredible experience. Watching the fireflies illuminate the pitch dark nights is a treat to the eyes! This sighting is usually during summers, just before the rainy season.
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| A blurry image of fireflies sighting |
- Boating in Lake Arthur: Motor boating in the Lake Arthur gives a breathtaking view of the western Ghats. A shared boat ride lasts for about 15-20 minutes and a private boat ride is for about 30 minutes.
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| Boating in Arthur Lake |
- Cycling: The bicycles in the resort can be used for going around or exploring the place.
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| Cycling inside the resort |
- Indoor Games in the Clubhouse: It has a huge clubhouse that has various outdoor and indoor games such as badminton, basketball, table tennis, carrom and chess. It also has a nursery for kids.
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| Nursery for Kids |
- Swimming: The swimming pool area at Anandvan is at the top of the resort and is an ideal spot for viewing sun rise by the pool.
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| The pool deck is an ideal spot for witnessing sunrise |
- Star gazing: Just lying down in the garden and watching the night sky is a momentous experience!
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| A dusky magnificent evening |
- Meditation: Simply sitting in your cottage's private pocket garden and soaking into the moment is quite meditative and recharging.
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| View of the lake and mountains from the private garden |
Watching the enchanting scenery from the lap of nature was truly a mesmerizing and refreshing experience making me leave behind a piece of my heart in this beautiful paradise.💓
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| Take me back...💜 |
A change in latitude definitely helps in changing the attitude! :)
2 comments
Nice read
ReplyDeleteThankyou!😊
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