villa in panchgani – What's Next?

Everybody needs a vacation right now. Back-to-back day-offs fuel a greater urge to go on long weekend getaways. If you are bummed about missing out on the Holi weekend with no plans, don’t worry, there’s another one right after. Good Friday (April 2) to Easter Sunday (April 4) is the upcoming long weekend you can start planning for. Nowadays, holidays have to be planned more carefully considering all safety and social distancing norms. Escaping to private villas is an ideal choice as it guarantees the whole place to yourself, well-catered services, and taking care of your needs. So where could you step out for a safe getaway on this oncoming long weekend?

Cool Down at The Hill Stations Near Mumbai and Pune

SaffronStays Valley's Edge, Panchgani — SaffronStays Valley’s Edge, Panchgani

It is rare to not think of Khandala-Lonavala when looking at hill stations near Mumbai and Pune. A less than 2-hour drive is a relative escape from the sultry weather of these cities. There are several private villas in Lonavala where you could plan your stay and have a safe long weekend.

Include your pets in this long weekend getaway plan. You could head with your fur buddies to SaffronStays Stella Aurora, a private pool villa in Lonavala. This pet-friendly private villa near Mumbai and Pune has bright and airy interiors, giving everyone a refreshing change. There is enough space for your pets to run around too.

Other popular hill stations, nearer to Pune are Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar. A drive through the widespread western Ghats will transport one to a much cooler ambiance with panoramic views on the sides. Usually, tourists are frequented during the strawberry season, which makes a perfect destination for a relaxed long weekend.

One can add a colonial feel to their holiday at SaffronStays Dulwich Terrace, a private bungalow in Panchgani. This 4-bedroom red and white-tiled home beautifully blends old-style architecture with modern living. The terrace will be your favorite spot for the gorgeous sunset views as you sip your chai/coffee.

If you want to truly soak into the surrounding views, without even having to step out, SaffronStays Valley’s Edge is at your service! An elegant villa opens to an expansive 180-degree view right from its living room. The deliberate glass windows to its strategic location wrap you in the beautiful surroundings throughout.

Relax By The Beachside

Summer season allures to spend time by a beach. For this upcoming long weekend, you can opt for some beachside villas near Alibaug, which open up to uninterrupted views of the horizon.

Imagine expansive views of the ocean on three sides by living on a cliff! You can enjoy this dreamy scene at SaffronStays Villa 270° in Dapoli. These luxury cottages are pet-friendly too. It gets better, as they are equipped with WiFi. So do you really need to be waiting for the long weekend? Sunset views while you work facing the ocean, oh pack your bags already!

If you’ve been planning for a romantic weekend getaway, whisk away your partner to SaffronStays Little Paradise in Murud. These three wooden chalet-like cottages right across the Murud beach can be booked individually. Walk on the beach or enjoy the little white swing in the yard, this cozy home woos for a romantic holiday. A special arrangement for candlelight dinner and barbecue can be done here too.

To experience the elegance of beachside stays, you should pay a visit to SaffronStays La Casa Maestro in Kashid. This 4-bedroom private villa located 5 mins away from Kashid beach has a splash pool on one of its terraces! Contemporary interiors and lush green outdoors, the sound of waves while you dip in the pool, watching the stars, we can only fancy this as a dream come true!

Beat The Heat in Private Pool Villas

A dip in the pool is what we need right now, with the city’s rising temperatures. If hills or the beaches don’t charm you to spend this long weekend, then you can book safe private pool villas around Mumbai and enjoy your own good time, dip by dip!

Plan a reunion of family and friends together to chill at SaffronStays Summertime Oasis in Khopoli. This 9-bedroom farm stay resort with pool, rain dance, lawns, tracks for cycle rides, and a variety of indoor and outdoor games will keep every member happy with so much to do!

Long weekends are a great way to catch up on missed celebrations. If you want to celebrate special intimate occasions then SaffronStays Opal +Jade Villa, a set of twin pool villas in Karjat are an ideal venue. From nature’s retreat to sundowners by the pool, these private villas amuse with a range of activities. Jungle-themed birthday celebrations or hiking upon nearby trails enjoy a fulfilling long weekend getaway.

Hills, beaches, or pools, there are so many places you could go on this upcoming long weekend! Don’t let this weekend be a missed opportunity to make wonderful 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.

Pithle-Bhakri served in traditional copper ware
Better lunch spread, anyone?
Talk about food with a view!
The famous appe-chatni breakfast spread
Kalpana tai – name a better hostess, we’ll wait!

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!

Tag: villa in panchgani

Hills, Beaches, or Pools: Make The Most of Easter Long Weekend