ICynosure: Travel Experiences

Mumbai life is full of chaos and when we need a breather, N and I head out to explore idyllic getaways around the city that offer us peace, calm and a luxurious refuge amidst the raw beauty of nature. So after our amazing experiences at The Resort - Madh Marve Mumbai and The Jakson Inns - Phaltan, we were super kicked about heading to our next resort - The Khanvel Resort in Silvassa.

The paradise we found a couple of hours from Mumbai in lush green, naturistic Silvassa - the Kanvel Resort is a perfect place for an idyllic lifestyle to unwind with family or friends…. here’s sharing the aspects that made our stay at the resort an unforgettable experience.

Accommodation
The check-in into our cottage was super quick and hassle-free and was absolutely comfortable for the four of us with two full-sized double beds. The exteriors were inviting and the Indian style thatched roofs mixed with modern interiors made it perfect. A swing in the balcony area made it an instant win with the kids and they refused to every step down from the swing for hours and continued to enjoy the scenic beauty of the hills and the river.

Amenities
Once our check-in was done we stepped out to explore the property and absolutely loved the pool and play area for the kids. Installations of a life-size chess board, the gait of horses, a couple in the rainfall all are absolutely mesmerising and photo worthy. Thought with the kids the first thing we did was take a dip in the pool to unwind from the journey. As it was mid-day the water was warm and the kids played for quite a while and after freshening up we headed to the kids play area where we spent a good few hours followed by loads of photo-sessions all around the property.

Food
The Resort’s restaurant - Emerald Room is a perfect place to tantalise your tastebuds as every meal is a delicious assortment of cuisines ranging from Gujarati, Marwari, Kathiawadi and Punjabi to Chinese and Continental; all perfectly cooked vegetarian meals. A special mention warrants for the amazing desserts that are on the buffet, which pushed a no-dessert person like me to a second helping.

Spa and Health Center
No holiday is complete without a spa session to relax those tense mom-dad bodies. N and I took turns to go to the in-house spa at the resort and enjoyed a number of services. We spent the afternoon with professional technicians who worked on our concern areas and gave us a new lease of stress-free bodies. I would absolutely suggest booking in advance as the spa is almost booked at all times and last-minute requests might not be possible. Take the couple spa if possible.

Adventures
N and I were surprised to know that not only within the resort but even around the resort there are so many things that we could do. Of course due to the limited time we had on our hands we picked carefully to include a plethora of activities. We went to the Butterfly Park - home to a large species of butterflies, a truly wonderful experience for the kids. Then we headed to the Satmalia Deer Park - a wildlife sanctuary to a wide variety of Deer species, including Sambhar, Nilgai, and Chital. Heer was also keen to know the history of Silvassa so we visited the Tribal Museum to marvel on artefacts and portraits about the lives of the local tribes who live in the early 1900s. We ended our outing with a bird’s eye view of the Madhuban Dam, a spectacular watchtower that offers a breathtaking view of the area.

We ended our trip with an amazing AVT Adventure ride, that Heer took with N, and then the little boy in N wanted a ride again. Such simple things make a man and a kid, super happy.

The staycation at the Khanvel Resort has renewed my energies and I’m already planning a longer visit to this amazing property in the summers.

Until next time,
~ Heena

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Last year as we started organising things to ring in #PrincessHeer's 6th birthday, she dropped a bomb on us. She didn’t want a birthday party, she wanted a birthday holiday. With less than a weeks to go, it seemed like an impossible task to pull off. As I tied to coax her, DH was making silent plans to take his little mermaid off on a beach holiday. I was miffed when I got to know that instead of a domestic destination, we were heading to Thailand, one of the few countries that offer a Visa-on-Arrival for Indian Passport holders. I began calculating our finances when DH mentioned that I need not worry and if required we could get a quick personal loan to cover the trip expenses that would not change our set investment plans.

However even though I was a bit apprehensive because of the reputation Thailand enjoys, I couldn't do anything except throw caution to the wind, pack our bags and head out. I was pleasantly surprised as DH chalked out the travel plans, there are so many things for children to enjoy and experience in Thailand apart from beautiful and scenic beaches. Here is a low down of some of the major attractions that could keep the children engrossed while parents can relax alongside or revisit their childhoods.

Can Thailand Be A Fun Trip For Little Kids? 3-Day Itinerary For Thailand

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Bangkok
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is one of the largest and most popular floating markets in Bangkok. Sellers arrive at dawn in boats laden with tropical fruits, flowers and other fresh produce, artefacts and souvenirs; creating a colourful inviting scene. The best time to experience the market is early morning when it is the busiest, in a long-tail boat to sight-see and shop. It is a blessing that sellers accept both cash and credit cards.

Ripleys Believe It or Not, Pattaya
Ripley's, the world-famous walk-through museum, offers visitors seven attractions to choose from. It houses more than 300 unique artefacts creating a balanced spectacle between strange, shocking, and beautiful. Visitors can get a fright at two haunted attractions, or meet their favorite stars at the waxwork museum or struggle to find their way out of the mirror maze, and escape the laser challenge to get a unique cinema experience all under one roof.

Teddy Bear Museum, Pattaya
The Teddy Bear Museum is the first and only museum that has over 2000 teddy bears in various shapes and sizes to hold and hug. Divided into twelve concept zones that enable children to unwind and relax, the temperature, light and sound within each zone make it a different world to experience with special shows on the weekends.

Phi Phi Island, Krabi
The Phi Phi group of islands consist of four islands that remain a ‘must-see’ in Krabi. Touted as ‘the jewels of the Andaman Sea’, the Phi Islands is a day trip in standard speedboats. The islands are worth visiting for the incredible shifting landscapes, myriad hues of the water and the pristine white sand.

Chang Chui Plane Night Market, Bangkok
The Chang Chui Plane Night Market is taking the Bangkok night markets to new heights with the huge shell of an Airbus at the center of it. Visitors will find the best of shopping and dining, and for those who are a little more into experimentation, there is a huge ground around where one can explore sculptures and urban art pieces.

#PrincessHeer did enjoy all of this and much more. And she has decided she wants a birthday holiday every year, instead of a party. What about you? Any of your kids ever made unreasonable demands that made some wonderful memories?

Let me know in the comments below.
~ Heena

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Set in the cool climes of Nuwara Eliya, surrounded by mountains and hills, way above sea-levels, the Heritance Tea Factory Hotel is the first factory to have been converted into a hotel in Sri Lanka, earning a UNESCO Merit Award for its restoration. A modern architectural masterpiece, the old tea factory used under the British rule, boasts of a great ambience highlighting the Colonial times while offering the best services to make our family getaway filled with the luxury of history.

We arrived at the hotel after a few hectic days in Kandy and were greeted with the rustic quaint, cooler than the rest of the country; breeze. The staff welcomed us with warm towels followed by a traditional Sinhalese welcome. The elaborate welcome made us feel like modern day royals; as we firmly wrapped our overcoats to protect ourselves from the dropping temperature. We waited for our rooms to be assigned while being serenaded with a variety of tea flavours from the hotel’s own tea estate. DH sipped on Vanilla tea while I warmed up to a cup of Broken Orange Pekoe tea infused with a handful of spices.

The hotel is indeed ‘on top of the world’ at 3600 meters above sea-level, almost dancing into the clouds. The backdrop changes colours every second of the day, from a sunshine yellow to a burning orange, melting into a teal blue and finally seeping into a grey hollow. Needless to say, we spent one of our three days just gazing into the skyline against the plush green stage offered by the plantation.

The owners have done an amazing job with preserving the heritage of the factory while re-modelling it to meet the needs of the new age traveller. Instead of taking down the original machinery they have created installations out of them to overwhelm the visitor. One of the most bewitching visuals that as a hotel guest we witnessed was the minute-long running of the original engine that powered the factory, placed in the basement. The hooting and the force we felt from the top floor of the hotel is still as real as when we took the pictures that day.

Another win for the hotel is responsible tourism. The overall facility leaves little to no carbon footprints with their own water management system to waste reduction initiatives; organic farming to utilising local produce and generating local employment. All around the premises we saw numerous placards explaining the importance of that particular feature or in-room material emphasising ways and means of preserving natural resources. The hotel is the perfect example of luxury combined with eco-friendliness, which otherwise is a rarity.

If we thought that we had seen and experienced everything that the hotel had to offer, we were so wrong. As soon as we entered our room, we were amazed by the spacious Flowerdew Suite, which included a master bedroom, a kid’s bedroom and a sitting area with the best views of the Ragala and Randeingala reservoirs. And to top it all, we had a twin bathtub in the master bedroom opening into a Jacuzzi; overlooking the hills. It was indeed heavenly, perfect to relax and unwind at the end of a super cold day.

As vegetarians, we were restricted in terms of cuisines in the island country with so much of sea-food in abundance. However at the Heritance Tea Factory Hotel’s main restaurant Kenmare, there was a full-buffet for vegetarians as well as a large a la carte menu. We tried the buffet and were pleasantly surprised at how tea-themed dishes can add flavour to the palate. One afternoon, we indulged in a unique dining experience at the TCK 6685 restaurant, a 1930’s train carriage that was initially used to transport tea from the factory to mainland, now converted into dining chambers. The experience is unique with the Head Chef understanding the culinary preferences of each ‘passenger-on-board’, and then serving dishes specifically made for the guest with ‘whistle-blowing’ antics by the attendants immaculately dressed in railway uniforms. It is definitely a must-do at the hotel.

The hotel has a lot of activities organised within the facility as well as in the surrounding areas. A spa along with a gym, games room, library, and a putting green form recreational activities within the hotel, while they also arrange activities such as pony rides, nature trekking, bird-watching and tea factory tours. We signed up for a couple of an eco-tours including plucking-your-own tea leaves experience and #PrincessHeer took to the pony riding adventure with her dad. However, with the volatile nature of climate, we had to cut out on a few activities, though we did not want to miss out on the beauty of the hills so we ventured out for short walks even during the slightly drizzly day. It was by far the most beautiful and romantic part of our stay at the hotel ….. walking through a gorgeous place in the rain. The hotel’s guide, Anniken was a pro and knew practically everything about the hills, the history, and the village. He also narrated stories about wild boars, leopards and mountain lions during our trek over the hills.

Doesn’t that make you want to plan your trip to Nuwara Eliya’s Heritance Tea Factory Hotel right now?

Until next time,  even #PrincessHeer says ciao!

- Heena

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To be honest we didn’t even know anything about Phaltan until Jakson Inns invited us for a weekend escape to the gorgeous location. Living in Mumbai, we always desperately seek to explore untouched locations that are a far cry away from the mundane, oh-so predictable and characterless destinations that most vacation spots are fast turning into. Phaltan at a driving distance of about 4 hours from Western Mumbai, is the answer to all the experiences you seek. The ancient capital city of Maharashtra, Phaltan is the birthplace of Shivaji Maharaj’s first wife Saibai; thus having a close connection to the rich heritage and history of the state.

As we drove down to Phaltan nothing could have prepared us for the beauty of the rugged place that is as yet so untouched. The gorgeous property nestled amidst serene sugarcane fields and fruit orchards, The Jakson Inns Phaltan is India’s first 3-star LEED GREEN platinum rated hotel. Though from the outside the hotel will look like a regular stay option, we were amazed with the six acres boutique property with 60 deluxe rooms and 4 suites. Most modern facilities and amenities are available at the Inn, with special stay provisions for lady travelers, business travelers, family vacationers as well as larger groups. One thing that really amazed us was the installation of solar panels which accounts for the electricity requirements of almost one floor of the hotel.

With a combination of contemporary design and modern facilities, the Jakson Inns Phaltan is a dream property to relax at. We were seamlessly checked in for a quick siesta post which we took the hotel tour. We were pretty impressed with the Kundalini spa, the Burn gym as well as the Green Bean restaurant and the Fulltoon bar.

The summer heat was intense, but that didn’t stop us from exploring around the hotel. One question that really kept popping in our mind was why someone would choose to come to a barren land to relax even though the property is great. The answer to that question came from the unique experiences that we had during our stay at the hotel. Though a host of activities are organized for vacationers to choose from; we decided to skip the regular run-of-the-mills holiday activities to explore some unique experiences that the Inn is promoting in and around Phaltan.

A morning at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra

KVK Baramati is a leading agricultural technology haven founded by Sharad Pawar and now managed by Dr. Appasaheb Pawar for the upliftment of the farming community. KVK is a playground where scientists and agriculturalists experiment to deliver demand driven products and services to the agricultural community. Infused with demonstration plots, exhibits of farming technology and equipment and soil testing laboratories, KVK is the perfect place for experiential learning.

An afternoon at the fields

Late afternoon, we headed for a tour of the sugarcane field and fruit orchard just besides the hotel and then settled in for a fiesta. A lavish spread set up across 20 acres of plantation while we relaxed on the traditional charpai was a scene just out of a Bollywood movie. Running around in the paddy fields and posing against the freshly ploughed read soil awakened our senses.

An evening under the windmills

How close can one think about going to a windmill? We went so close that we could hear the gentle swishing of the air, the ferocious wing pass an inch away and the breeze playing chaos with my hair. A short drive from Jakson Inn and we were lapping in the beauty of the neatly attacked row of windmills snuggled in the backdrop of the lush countryside. The highlight of the stay, which we cherish to date; the evening spent at Pusagaon sipping red wine under the gorgeously lit sun-kissed evening sky just looking at the windmills dance to the tune of the wind is something that can only be experienced. Nothing, absolutely nothing can help you visualize it; expect the pictures we took there.

During the short trip, we did experience a few unique things; however for the traditional there are a few things to do as well. For our next trip there we sure want to visit the Royal Rajwada (Palace), the Aundh Museum, and the Ajinkya Tara.

Yes, we are already planning our next visit to the Jakson Inns for their unrivalled service. The staff is beyond exemplary with their on-point service, knowledge about the property and the information about the history and heritage of the place. And not to forget the food, the Green Bean restaurant tosses dishes of your choice in a jiffy, if it is not already a part of their humungous buffet spread.

Are you packing already?
- Heena

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