Covid-19 brought the world to a screeching halt. Travel has been the first to get affected and will be the last one to recover from these unprecedented times. The crisis isn’t still over, but anxieties are slowly dissipating as travelers learn to live with the virus and it becomes our new ‘normal’.
Experts suggest that domestic travel will increase as the lock-down gradually opens up and locals will seek the outdoors. Given the circumstances, it is advisable to start off by travelling to places closer to your home. This is why I’m putting up a list of offbeat luxury hotels in India that are just a road trip away from your city and deliver unique staycation experiences. The list has been curated keeping the properties’ distance from a major city in mind so you can do a road-trip, which is safer than public transport right now. Each of these properties is a personal recommendation after having stayed there during the course of my travels (obviously before Corona).
Disclaimer: If you don’t find your city getaway here, it just means that I haven’t explored your region enough to make a personal recommendation. I really hope to bring you stories from these cities very soon and come back and update this list.
Once again I would stress on taking all the necessary travel precautions before stepping out.
Weekend getaway from Delhi: Haridwar
Pray in privacy by the Ganga
Distance: 220 km / 5 hours
Uttarakhand has recently opened its borders for visitors from inside and outside the state. So those staying in and around Delhi NCR can do a spiritual trip to Haridwar.
I would recommend staying at the 150 year old heritage haveli – Devnadi – on the banks of the Ganges in the holy city. This waterfront property was once the summer holiday home to the Queen of Nepal, and later to Ramanand Sagar – the creative head of the legendary TV serial ‘Ramayana’.
Devnadi is more home than hotel with most of its interiors intact including a quaint little elevator to the lower level leading to their private ghat with the Ganges flowing calmly in its backyard. They have one of the largest private ghats – The Madan Mohan Ghat – allowing guests to take a comfortable dip in the holy river with complete privacy and hygiene. During the mornings and evenings, aarti and yoga sessions are organised for guests by the Ganges. You can even decide to have your dinner by the private ghat soaking in the magical views of the Ganga glistening under the stars. Now haven’t we been longing for such views?
Click here to book Devnadi on Booking.com
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Weekend getaway from Mumbai & Pune: Nashik
Wine and Dine overlooking a vineyard
Distance: 175 km from Mumbai / 230 km from Pune
We owe Nashik a big ‘thank you’ for shining as the wine capital of India. While Sula changed the game for Indian wines, their popularity is working against them now. The last couple of times that I went to Sula, it was way too crowded. So I prefer York Winery or Soma Vine Village, within a kilometre of Sula, both have a quieter ambience and make great wines.
For a staycation experience, I would recommend staying at the Soma vine village. The 25 acres fertile property is blessed with serene views of the Gangapur Lake and surrounded by the Sahyadri mountain range in the lap of nature. Their spacious rooms open to the view of the sprawling vineyards and an infinity pool, where you can spend your evenings with friends or family sipping sparkling wine (and forgetting your woes!).
Click here to book Soma Wine Village on Booking.com
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Weekend getaway from Ahmadabad: Gir
For birding and nature trails
Distance: 360 km / 7 hours
If you ask me, Gujarat is underrated. It’s culturally very rich but little is known except Kutch and Ahmedabad. Sasan Gir in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat is the only place in Asia where one can find the Asiatic lions. But that’s not all! There are over 300 types of birds, both resident and migratory, that can be found in and around Gir, making it a haven for birders and ornithologists.
I recommend staying at the Asiatic Lion Lodge just 10 minutes away from the Bhambha Fol Gate of Gir Sanctuary. The luxury lodge has 16 individual cottages with all creature comforts and privacy for you to unwind. They organise nature trails and birding expeditions in and around their sprawling property where you can see over 55 species of birds and fauna. And when hunger pangs kick in, relish delicious north Indian and Kathiawadi food prepared using fresh vegetables that are sourced from their organic farm. They also play documentaries on the wildlife of Gir for visitors to understand the ecology of the place during the evenings in their open lawns alongside a bonfire – definitely a plus!
Click here to book Asiatic Lion Lodge on their website
Weekend getaway from Bengaluru: Mudigere
At a Planter’s Bungalow in a Coffee estate
Distance: 275 km / 5 hrs and 30 mins
For my Banglorean friends, a weekend getaway to Mudigere near Chikmagalur is a nice bet for its wild monsoons and misty winters. Chikmagalur is known as the birth place of coffee in India. So expect glorious views of coffee plantations that’ll make your trip worth the buck!
I would strongly recommend visiting the Balur Estate in Mudigere – Chikmagalur, which is India’s oldest coffee plantation since 1840. Stay at the 1853 Planter’s Bungalow that has silently stood testimony to the changing seasons and centuries at the estate. The bungalow is an epiphany of vintage charm with its antique interiors, especially the cozy fireplace and teakwood beds. Try the authentic Malnad cuisine of the region with home cooked meals by the staff at the bungalow. And when you crave some activity, take splendid walks in their lush coffee plantations learning more about Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. Come back and treat yourself to a hot brew of homegrown coffee and feel rejuvenated.
Click here to book Balur Estate on their website
Weekend getaway from Bhopal and Indore: Satpura Tiger Reserve
Inside a Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh
Distance: 130 km from Bhopal / 320 km from Indore
Madhya Pradesh recently announced the opening of tourist activities including the directive to reopen all national parks in the state. For those craving a dose of adventure, sign up for a unique walking expedition inside the Satpura Tiger Reserve – the only Tiger reserve in India where one can camp inside the forest.
I would recommend checking out the Reni Pani Jungle Lodge who organize a mobile camping expedition called Satpura under Canvas. Under the programme, adventurists hike about 21km over two days inside the forest. By day, you spot animal life in the wild, and at night, stay in luxury tents inside tiger territory. You can jump of gorges if the heat gets harsh during hikes and eat dinners under the naked sky while thousands of stars shimmer above. The best part of this programme is that when you leave, the camp leaves with you. There is no trace that you ever lived there!
[Also read: Camping inside the Satpura Tiger Reserve]
The best time to do the Satpura under Canvas expedition is between October and March (forest is closed during monsoons). So check them out now!
Click here to book on the Satpura Under Canvas programme
Weekend getaway from Visakhapatnam: Konaseema
In the jewel of the east coast
Distance: 260 km / 5 hrs and 30 mins
Tucked away in the Eastern Ghats along palm fringed backwaters and azure skies, Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema region looks like a scene straight out of a postcard.
For a true taste of Konaseema culture, stay at Sterling Palavelli Godavari. Here you’ll wake up to beautiful mornings with views overlooking the mighty Godavari River. You can also experience river life on a private houseboat gliding past vast paddy fields and shrimp fisheries and savoring life’s unhurried moments.
The local cuisine of Konaseema is popular for its generous use of coconut that is abundantly grown here. The tangy Pulusu Fish Curry with steamed rice at the local kitchen at Sterling Palavelli Godavari is sure to activate your taste buds. Other house favourites include the Chinta Chiguru Pappu (lentils cooked with tamarind), Jackfruit Biryani, Peetala Koora (crab curry) and Putharekulu (sweet wafer-thin crisp with dry fruit and jaggery filling). For your memorabilia from this getaway, take home a Tholu Bommalu (colourful leather puppets) or the famous Uppada silk sarees from the region.
Click here to book Sterling Palavelli Godavari on Booking.com
Liked this post on offbeat luxury hotels in India? Also see…
- Room with a view: 10 offbeat hotels in India I stayed at
- Five Mumbai weekend getaways under 250 KM
- Off wine, windmills and waterfalls – Exploring Phaltan in Maharashtra
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