Tag: homestay review

8 Farmstays Near Mumbai To Help You Reconnect With Nature

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Tired of looking at screens all the time? What you need is a farm-style holiday where all the green can soothe your eyes. Think lush orchards, fresh fruits, pleasant walks and a rejuvenating breath of fresh air. Here are 8 farmstays near Mumbai where you can get a taste of that rustic lifestyle!

1. SaffronStays Ambaram, Raigad

You know that feeling of peace and quiet after a good yoga session? Staying at this 3-bedroom private villa in Raigad is just like that. Nestled in Sun Valley, this gorgeous home rests within a cocoon of majestic hills, lush forests and sweeping rivers. With verandahs on all sides of the house, just cosy up in a chair with a hot cup of chai and let the musical sounds of nature delight the senses. 

No. of guests: 6-10

Book your date with nature now: SaffronStays Ambaram

2. SaffronStays Mango Huts by The River, Pali

Sitting amidst the Sahyadris, with a river running by the side of the estate, this farmstay near Mumbai is ideal for a quick getaway. Get a refreshing dose of nature by taking serene walks through the fresh air, playing badminton games on the court and gazing at the dazzling sunset from a swing. With 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom options, you can bond with your friends or your whole family over here!

No. of guests: 4-20

Book your date with nature now: SaffronStays Mango Huts by the River

3. SaffronStays Zen, Igatpuri

Just like the name suggests, among the red brick walls and airy rooms of this luxury villa you can completely switch to zen mode. Feel all your stress float away with the cool Igatpuri winds as you gaze at the beautiful view of Lake Kadwa. Take this opportunity to trek to Kalsubai Peak, walk through the surrounding farm or drive to Sula Vineyards and truly disconnect from the world. 

No. of guests: 4-6

Book your date with nature now: SaffronStays Zen

4. SaffronStays Sohana By The River, Karjat

A charming traditional-style villa, you can find lush greenery around almost every corner of this home. You can hear the melodious gushing of the River Pej in every corner. We recommend taking a dip inside in the sunny afternoons. Let indoor games, gossip sessions, and games in the pool keep that holiday spirit going. If you’re lucky, you might just see a peacock while having your morning chai!

No. of guests: 4-10

Book your date with nature now: SaffronStays Sohana By The River

5. SaffronStays Olive Greens, Karjat

Bring your furry friends along to this farmstay near Mumbai, where the expansive green fields will feel entirely yours. Whether you want to run around and play with your pet or relax by the swing and unwind in the pool, you can reconnect with nature in a myriad of ways. This fully staffed private villa will bring you closer to nature, your loved ones, and yourself. 

No. of guests: 8-12

Book your date with nature now: SaffronStays Olive Greens

6. SaffronStays Ambe Moha, Karjat

Head to this quaint villa on a mango farm for the perfect countryside getaway! While the home has plenty of nooks to cosy up in, the chic seating areas on the lawn will entice you to spend your time outdoors and soak in the sunlight and fresh air. You can even take walks through the orchard and feast on fresh fruits. Need to cool down? Just take a dip in the open-air pool!

No. of guests: 4-6

Book your date with nature now: SaffronStays Ambe Moha

7. SaffronStays SanvinaFarm, Karjat

Get the complete farm experience with milking cows, fruit picking, and paddy farming at this 3-bedroom farmstay near Mumbai. The sprawling estate paints a pretty picture with vibrant flowers, twittering birds, ducks and geese — perfect for a digital detox. Enjoy a lip-smacking farm-to-table experience for every meal as well as the pleasant company of the resident dog, Simba!

No. of guests: 6-12

Book your date with nature now: SaffronStays SanvinaFarm

8. SaffronStays Nature’s Bounty, Nashik

About two and a half acres of organic farms await you at this rustic Nashik abode. An ideal villa for large groups, you can play lively games of football on the lawns or stroll through the estate and pick guavas and mangoes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner can all be savoured outdoors with the wind in your hair and Nashik’s natural splendour spread around you. 

No. of guests: 8-16

Book your date with nature now: SaffronStays Nature’s Bounty

Give your holiday a pastoral vibe with any of these enchanting farmstays near Mumbai, where you can enjoy a combination of rustic surroundings and luxury amenities. Book your holiday now!

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5 Ways Your Vacations Can Benefit The Environment

Posted in Community tourism, Goa, Hosts, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Weekend getawaysTagged , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Are you a nature lover? Wish to contribute to environment protection? Well, there is an exciting way to do that – make your holiday eco-friendly. How? On World Environment Day we show you how to contribute to the environment while enjoying the abundance of nature.

Plant Saplings: One Seed Bears Many Fruits

Whether by a beach or in the mountains, everyone loves to rest and relax amidst abundant flora. For those escaping the crowded metros of our country, a dash of green is always more soothing than the dull greys that surround us. So, while armchair activism about fewer trees in the vicinity may provide temporary respite to the weary mind, planting saplings, especially of indigenous plants, would be a perfect long-term answer for the greater good. Take Kurinji Estate, Kodaikanal for example: This lovely heritage property sits nestled in the midst of an award-winning garden, a percentage of which is the fruit of all its guests. How, you ask? Every guest SaffronStays hosts is gifted a sapling before check-out and can place it anywhere they like on the 9-acre property. Inclusion at its best, innit?

Harvest Water: Each Drop Counts

The fact that our country has to face water scarcity every summer is no news. Interior Maharashtra, the Himalayan region and Central India are some of the worst hit. But you can do your bit by saving your usage of water, and recycling what you can. While lush lawns may look visually appealing, sometimes less is more, and in case of water scarcity, absence can be sweet. The charming owner of L’attitude, Kamshet forfeit the traditional water-guzzling, ecologically disruptive short-grass lawn and planted 108 drought-tolerant trees around the home. Practicality and presentation can always go hand-in-hand. After all, 8th Grade Environmental Studies was taught for a reason, right?

Create Indoor Gardens: True Beauty Is On The Inside

Remember when your mother said ‘Looks don’t matter till you are actually beautiful from the inside’? While an acne-ridden face could not digest this statement, there is no truer line for a home. Imagine waking up to a stunning garden inside your home, rather than just around it? Fresh air, cool ambiance, branching shade and gorgeous flowers, literally at your doorstep is a perfect setting to grab your morning cuppa. While Master’s Coutryard, Gholvad has a central aangan with bed of trees, the various indoor plants sprouting within Cabo de Goa make both these holiday destinations

Source Locally: Nobody Likes A Foreign Body

Being different and trying to push an exotic concept, be it through architecture, materials or plants may not be the best approach to creating a home. Villa 270°, Dapoli is the epitome of inclusive creation: terracotta tiled roofs, structures made of local laterite stone, vernacular architecture that make the cottages charming, yet conserve the environment.

Ventilate Organically: Natural Is Normal

Summers in India are nothing short of harsh. Imagine planning a getaway and then facing the horrid heat, where even an Air-Conditioner is a mere tool against the forces of nature? But, there is a way to beat the blues organically: Create using the natural pattern of wind to maximise the breeze through windows, and curate using natural plant-based materials like Vetiver (Khas) that can provide a day’s cooling on a few drops of water. Simple and easy, right? The owner and the architect at Maya, Khadakvasla got this formula absolutely bang-on.

 

So get going, and let’s save the environment!

Gharwale-Baharwale: Families That You Did Not Know Existed

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Have you ever seen someone’s name flash on your phone and wondered how that person became such an integral part of your life? We all have these friends who walked into our lives unexpectedly and stayed on to become much more. On this International Day of Families, we want to shout out to those ‘families’ who may not be related by blood or name, but those groups whom we cannot imagine our lives without.

  • Bridge-playing buddies

seniors playing cards bridge
Friends get better with age.

Those Sunday afternoons seem so boring without the gang, eh? Ask your parents or your grandparents who their closest pals are and they’ll most likely mention the gang they play cards with at the neighbourhood club. In fact, why limit it to only a gymkhana? This International Day for Families calls for an outing with this bunch, and don’t the weekday prices at most our properties sound lucrative too?

  • Social Work Club

social workers take a break
A little breather from work can work wonders.

So you and a bunch of mates rally together to produce some socially relevant difference to the world? Why not get together today and chill out over a drink. For all the work you guys have done, ya’ll deserve a little break, no? So meet up, discuss the week that was and just unwind after that last piece of activism.

  • MBA group

suit drinking working
Drinks on?

If you’ve spent 2 gruelling years with a bunch of individuals who were equally intent on finding themselves and building up their careers, you will know that you all know match on that same wavelength. They say friends made during an MBA course are friends for life. Here’s your chance to put that saying to test: Make sure you and your entire gang land up at a designated bar tonight. Drinks on the last one to arrive!

  • Co-Teachers

Nobody gets teachers the way teachers get each other.

Squabbling kids, botched education systems and immense knowledge are such a great link to connect with others. If you’ve ever been a teacher, you know exactly how important your colleagues from work are. Gather up your co-teachers and head for a relaxing weekend (sans the noise and stress) at Parsi Manor, Matheran. Consider it as a vacation for those who truly deserve it.

  • Train travellers

Who said train journeys have to be bad and boring?
Who said train journeys have to be bad and boring?

Always catch that 9:14 local, do you? You’ll surely have a train gang then. Given this new age digital boom has left very few people getting their heads out of their devices, but when they do, you’ll see how friendly your train buddies can be. Try exchanging numbers and meeting up outside, and you now have a new group to hang out with!

  • Hobby class gang

Birds of a feather fly together.

Have you and your significant other signed up for a hobby or health class together? High chance is that you’ll have already formed a clique within the class. Why not plan a trip around the said hobby or health fad? Like practicing some yoga out on the porch at Verandah by the Valley on an early monsoon morning?

  • Kid’s friend’s parents

Why should kids have all the fun?
Why should kids have all the fun?

This gang of people is one you definitely will not be able to do without. If you’re a kid reading this, you’ll know how close your parents have become. If you’re in your mid-20s, it’s quite possible that you have been out of touch with your school pals, but your parents still get together like a house on fire. And if you’re a parent, the fact that your respective kids spend some 8 hours together, get along perfectly and won’t trouble you while on vacation makes these co-parents just the best travel buddies. Right?

  • Kitty Party

Head out of the city for your next kitty party!
Head out of the city for your next kitty party!

From husband-bashing to ranting against your ma-in-law to discussing the kid’s college and your world tours. Your gang of gal pals is extremely critical for your monthly gossip sesh, and none may deny that. So after all the home and hotel kitty parties you have hosted and attended, it’s time you stepped up your game and stepped out of the city. That’s right! Host a party in a hill station or just take a vacation together. And in case you are looking at ideas for fun games and activities at your do, look no further. We’ve got you, girl.

  • Neighbourhood Pals

You know those familiar faces in your galli that don’t have names yet whose smiles prove to be just the best pick-me-ups after a long day at work? Next time stop and have a chat with them. Who knows you’ll probably make a new BFF and that smile could mean so much more then!
Here’s to all the small families we build outside our etched ones. Here’s to those who matter too!

ADVENTURES GALORE!!! Beat the #SummerHeat by Stepping Out!

Posted in Coastal Maharashtra, Maharashtra, SaffronStays Diaries, Weekend getawaysTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Hot Water Springs, Dolphins and Tandem Paragliding… sound like some exotic vacation? Guess what? These activities and some more, are right around Maharashtra. If you’re feeling the summer blues, fret not, because we’ve got a list of activities to kiss these feelings a sweet goodbye!

So what are you waiting for? Head out NOW!

Soak yourself in the Hot Springs of Dapoli

Hot Water Springs
Take a dip in the healing waters of Unhavare

Did you know you could step into healing hot water springs so close to home? Well, now you do! Head over to Unhavare for a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend of peace and quiet. Our quaint little Villa 270 promises to be the best bet for your Dapoli stay. Cheggit out!

Set Sail in the Seas around Mumbai

Sailing by the shores of Mumbai is a great way to destress.

Discover the amazing coastline Mumbai boasts of with a quick sailing trip around the shore. Many clubs around the bay provide extensive sailing classes from introduction level to advance stages. If you are even a day over 15 year, join one of the special summer courses where you can learn to be a pro sailor in just a day!

Contact: Mumbai Sailing Club

Go Up, Up and Away in a Balloon near Lonavala

Hot Air Balloon
Fly up into the air in a balloon with your family.

Always dreamt of going to Bristol or Cappadocia for a scenic Hot Air Balloon ride? Why look so far away when your neighbourhood has an equally eye-catching ride for you? The lush hills of Lonavala are a delight to see from 1200 ft and you must see it to believe it. Go and book your family a trip right now!

Contact: Adventure Nation

Two’s a Company at Kamshet’s Tandem Paragliding

Go solo or fly tandem! Paraglide away the summer heat.

Want to fly like a bird, but don’t have the courage to go alone? Don’t worry! Tandem paragliding is an amazing way to get some wind under your wings, quite literally. Head out to Kamshet, the less boisterous version of Lonavala, to enjoy a ride. Or sign up for a certificate course and stay at the gorgeous L’attitude Villa while you grab the ropes of this daring activity.

Contact: Indus Paragliding

Beat the Heat with White Water Rafting in Kolad

White Water Rafting
Turn up your adrenaline with an adventurous river rafting experience. From: CSG Raft Gear Ltd

Getting into a pool of water is probably the best feeling during the summers. But why stop at that? Jump into a nasty river while you go white water rafting and it shall be one guaranteed great weekend. So gather all your friends and head over to Kolad for a gala time!

Contact: Wild River Kolad

Picture Credit: White Water Mag Ltd, 

BONUS!!!

Spot a Beautiful Dolphin off the coast of Mumbai

Dolphins
Catch a glimpse of these beautiful dolphins right around Mumbai.

Want another example of how ecologically diverse and rich Mumbai is? Hire a boat and head out just a few nautical miles off the coast of Maximum City and spot bottleneck dolphins with your own eyes! Does sound splendid right? Here’s another summer afternoon planned for you and your family.

Contact: Pelican Sailing School

Spacious, clean rooms in a lovely residential locality

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We stayed here this October 2014, family of 4. Our stay was very comfortable, the rooms are large and are equipped with a mini bar (stocked with colddrinks :)) and some cutlery in case you order-in. The location of the homestay is in an upmarket neighbourhood and near Kalidasa road which is where all the popular eateries are located. But its a bit away from the main tourist attractions of Mysore. The host was very kind and attentive and helped us with travel arrangements. Even on the day of our check-out, we left very early in the morning, but the host came to see us off. The locality is very quiet and peaceful, and evening walk in the lane was a pleasure.

Themed rooms with a view of the famed Coonoor tea gardens

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Coonoor is famous for two things – its climate and its tea. At Mr. Krishna’s place you can enjoy both. The place is literally surrounded by numerous tea gardens. There is a huge common terrace which facilitates panoramic viewing of Mother Nature’s unadulterated sights. The location of the homestay earns it brownie points for being close to main Coonoor town as well as the tea gardens.

The rooms at the hometay have been designed and decorated with respect to different themes. While Nirvana and Nlighten are themed rooms the third room is a family suite which is bigger in size and accommodates more people. The Host is passionate about fitness and has substantial fitness equipment in the common area. The terrace area can be used by guests to enjoy their evening tea and unwind in the cool breeze that flows from the tea gardens.

Major tourist attraction Dolphin’s Nose is close from the homestay. Guests can also explore the nearby tea gardens on foot through nature trials. Coonoor has a lot to offer and this homestay is the perfect place to get started.

A peaceful stay with some wonderful hosts

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Beautiful homestay away from Manali city on the way to Rohtang Pass,  located in the midst of an apple orchard. The cottage has very spacious rooms & lovely amenities. All rooms have breathtaking view of the snow-capped peaks of Manali. Organic homemade delicious food is served. The host, Mr. Ved  is a very jolly person & helps his guests in all the possible ways. Perfect place to stay in Manali but to stay away from city hustle bustle.

Stunning location in terraced farms

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This was the first homestay I visited in Lingee Payong and I was immediately captivated by how simple yet beautiful it was. Surrounded by terraced farms on all sides, its location is stunning and the host, Mr. Kuber, is extremely friendly and chatty too. His little kids were very inquisitive and kept me company even when I hiked further. This is a great place for backpackers who are looking to explore rural Sikkim and learn about the local culture.

Pemba, man of the mountains

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It’s a very homely place and perfect for trekkers. Mr. Pemba is an expert when it comes to trekking and will be happy to help you plan treks. While here, he went out of his way to show me around the village and introduce me to his friendly neighbours. We also spent a lot of time watching videos of various local cultural programmes organised by him and the local committees in the past. He also prepared delicious pork curry with his wife which is a must try.

A trek that’s worth the effort. Stunning view from the homestay

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The home stay limits its accessibility owing to its location. However, it’s definitely a climb that’s worth the effort. It’s a very homely place and Mrs. Gawri loves talking to guests and cooking for them. Her chicken is a must try. The view from both the garden and the balcony is always stunning.