Top luxury villas near Mumbai for long weekend staycations

As the hustle and bustle of city life begins to wear you down, there comes a time when a break becomes necessary to rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul on the long weekends. Picture awakening to the melodious call of birds enveloped in an abundance of verdant surroundings and an unmatched sense of peace. With its opulent amenities and attentive service, these villa vacations provide the ideal balance of isolation, comfort, and leisure for your next long weekend staycations.

SaffronStays Kosha Villas, Pawna

Experience the ultimate blend of Greek charm, countryside serenity, and luxury at SaffronStays Kaia Waters, Yahvi Waters, and Ahilya Waters by Kosha Villas. These three spacious pool villas offer stunning views of Pawna Lake and the distant hills.

Featured in Architectural Digest, News18, and other notable publications, these villas boast a Greek-inspired design with an infinity pool that overlooks the entire lake. Step into the living room with panoramic glass doors that open up to the breathtaking pool and lake views.

As the sun sets, gather around the bonfire for cozy conversations and savor a barbecue feast under the starry sky. With its perfect blend of luxury and natural beauty, a stay at these villas promises an unforgettable long weekend staycation amidst the picturesque surroundings of Pawna Lake.

SaffronStays Le Farm by the Lake, Kamshet

Look no further than SaffronStays Le Farm by the Lake, a luxurious 6-bedroom lake-front villa nestled in the scenic locale of Kamshet.

This idyllic farmstay offers a retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, surrounded by lush green landscapes and dotted with trees throughout the estate. With a picturesque lake just a stone’s throw away, tranquility is guaranteed.

Whether it’s a romantic brunch by the lake or a fun-filled family picnic by the nearby river, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Your beloved pets are welcome too, with an exclusive Pet-pool and plenty of open space for them to frolic and play alongside you. For those seeking relaxation, lounge by the swimming pool or luxuriate in a soothing bath in the jacuzzi.

SaffronStays A Vantage, Panchgani

True to its name, ‘A Vantage’ offers unparalleled views from its unique pyramid-shaped architecture perched at the edge of a hill. With nothing but mountains, valleys, and lush greenery surrounding you, it feels as if you own the hill yourself.

Indulge in moments of serenity as you relax by the pool, surrounded by picturesque views of lush greenery and sweeping valley vistas. Perched on a cliff, SaffronStays A Vantage offers an idyllic haven to bask in the refreshing weather and soak in the natural splendour with your loved ones.

SaffronStays Mantra, Pawna

Enveloped by scenic nature’s beauty, SaffronStays Mantra is the perfect choice for your next getaway. Access the heated jacuzzi for the ultimate relaxation. Swim a few laps while admiring the mountain views or engage in warm conversations near the bonfire. It’s time to achieve your travel goals.

Seize this long weekend to go on a holiday with your friends and families and celebrate togetherness.

Old Friends, New Memories

As project manager for SaffronStays, my job is to squeeze lofty concepts of hospitality into the constraints of time, quality and budgets. Do this long enough and it’s easy to develop tunnel vision which is why higher management insists we, employees get out ever so often and re-visit the magic of home-made hospitality… Here’s the story of my quick getaway to SaffronStays Avabodha, Panchgani.

The Plan

My plans to visit one of our newest homes materialized with the time frame and agility of a start-up founders dream team. Within hours, the WhatsApp group was formed, the travelling companions confirmed, mode of travel locked down and the home booked. After a few restless hours of sleep, we were off at first light for a long, rainy drive to the hill station. As we navigated the traffic of NH48 and the ETA on Google Maps kept increasing, we started questioning the wisdom of the journey to such a faraway destination for a weekend trip.

Beautiful view of the confluence of Krishna and Kalki rivers from the terrace of SaffronStays Avabodha in Panchgani
7 hours later and fortified with Kalpana Tai’s masala chai, we settled down to this view and decided it was worth it after all.

Anyway, 2 hours and 100 photos later, we settled in yet again to a humble yet deeply satisfying lunch.

The Food

For me ‘home-made hospitality’ always revolves around food…

It means the softest, ghee-smeared rice bhakris with the perfectly seasoned pithle… It’s found in fried chillies set atop a mound of freshly made dry chutney… It’s in the comfort of having someone bring you hot seviya and in the joy of savouring such a meal without having to do the dishes or clean the kitchen.

There were many things about this home that drew and kept my attention:

  • The view that kept changing every 10 minutes
  • The calls of the peacock who refused to show itself
  • The quirky door handles
  • The bolt of blue in the archway,
  • The potential for interesting photographs
  • The thrill of discovering the bhel served with chai was actually jhal muri
  • Chatting with Anil bhau about the source of water
  • The local politics
  • The mongoose that keeps snakes away

The Takeaway

And yet none of those held a candle to the simple joys of just reconnecting with old friends… The reassurance of seeing my friends anew as different versions of themselves and yet finding the same comfort in their company; that’s the memory I will cherish the longest from my trip to SaffronStays Avabodha!

Kaas Plateau: The most romantic destination this season!

Remember the last scene from Twilight Saga series where Edward and Bella are reminiscing their epic love story? Sitting amidst meadow, surrounded by beautiful purple, white & yellow flowers; and perhaps a sound of bubbling stream somewhere nearby. Remember?

No wonder why Kaas Plateau is known as Maharashtra's Valley of Flowers! (Picture Credit: Ganesh H. Shankar)
No wonder why Kaas Plateau is known as Maharashtra’s Valley of Flowers! (Picture Credit: Ganesh H. Shankar)

What if we told you that you could relive that very Hollywood moment at a destination very close to Mumbai & Pune?! The picture above is of Kaas Plateau, a destination that is a rare phenomenon. This volcanic plateau turns into a magical land just after monsoon and a little prior to winter, which is exactly the second week of September up to mid-October. A walk through this 1000 hectare plateau is remarkably pleasant because of the huge patches of wildflowers visible even from a distance! It has fencing on two sides and since it is a biodiversity site, a very limited section of green field is accessible to the visitors. Also, they do not allow more than 3000 visitors in a day, which is why pre-registration on their website is even more important.

So what makes this place so special?

Given that this region is blessed with good climatic conditions, just when the monsoon is about to subside, the plateau turns into a beautiful mosaic with an embroidery of wildflowers, covering the land as far as you can see. It is a magical sight that does not last for more than about two weeks every year. And now is the time to visit.

Kaas Plateau is about 5 hours’ drive from Mumbai and about 3.5 hours’ from Pune.

The nearby locations to Kaas is Kaas Lake (About 2kms), Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani which is about an hours’ drive from Kaas. Now if you are so close to these beautiful hill stations, then who wouldn’t want to extend their trip! But since there is no accommodation or camping sites at Kaas, one can always drive back to Panchgani/Mahabaleshwar and spend rest of their time lazing around. No we don’t intend to laze around just about anywhere, we are talking about spending quality time at Verandah by the Valley, a beautiful bungalow that is located literally on the edge of a valley!

Imagine waking up to a view like this in Panchgani!
Imagine waking up to a view like this in Panchgani!

Isn’t this place as romantic as Kaas Plateau? Visit the most trending destination in Maharashtra while this lovely season lasts! And if you’ve already been here, do share your pictures 🙂