5 Most Unique Staycation Properties Around Mumbai! How Many Have You Explored?

'It's the weekend again, and all I want is to go someplace nice, where I can sit back, eat the freshly produced food and take a stroll amidst nature, a place which is far from the noises of the city.' These are the thoughts that encircle my mind once every few months. And to quench the thirst for peace, I often go and explore places that are around Mumbai.

In the last couple of years, I stayed at many properties and out of all the best ones are here below -

Jalsrushti Island Resort

Jalsrushti Island Resort is a one of its kind island resort in Pune near Mulshi Dam, comfortably nestled on the river Mula banks. To get inside the resort, you need to cross a river on a little plank-style boat provided by the hotel. Once you are inside the resort, you're cut from all the noises and worries of the world.

The resort has only 14 rooms and have different and unique set ups

Food - The resort has a multi-cuisine restaurant. The food served here is organic, and the veggies and herbs are sourced from their own farms.

Activities - The resort offers many activities like riding a tractor or bicycle or paying a visit to the organic farm or swimming in the pool. The resort has a little machan where you can climb up and observe the river's beautiful views and do bird watching. One can also play indoor games like chess, table tennis, carrom board and board games.

Distance - Jalsrushti Island Resort is 162 km from Mumbai and takes around 4 hours.

Cost - It cost 11000+ depending on the room and the day you go. The package includes lunch evening high tea, dinner & breakfast.

Malhaar Machi

Malhaar Machi is a mountain resort in Mulshi near Pune set in the lap of Sahyadri Mountains. The insides of the resort feels like the mountains have enveloped you in the arms far from the city noises.

The rooms are big and luxurious with all the modern amenities. The rooms here also have a balcony that overlooks Mulshi lake and the mountains.

Food -The food here is made with organically grown veggies and herb. The food is super fresh and incredibly delicious, and there are many varieties for vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Activities - It's hard to get bored in the resort as there are tons of activities to choose from playing indoor games like Snooker, Table tennis, Carrom, Cards, Chess to outdoor activities like Horse, Tractor & Cycle Ride. For more relaxing activity, one can also indulge nature walk, learn about organic farming, go for exotic SPA or use the infinity swimming pool which overlooks the part of Mulshi backwaters and the mountains.

Distance - Malhaar Machi is 170 km from Mumbai, and it takes approx 4-5 hours to reach. The best way to get here is by car.

Cost - The package starts from Rs 12,000 and includes breakfast, lunch, high tea, and dinner.

Anandvan

Anandvan is an eco Boutique luxurious family resort set in the foothills of the Western Ghats. This beautiful and unexplored place is in Bhandardara - a quaint hill station and a great getaway option from Mumbai and Pune. The resort is surrounded by greenery, and it overlooks the gigantic Lake Arthur. It offers gorgeous treehouses, villas, massages, and so much more.

Food - The resort curates many dishes with fresh and locally sourced ingredients and unique regional discoveries and has multiple dining options as well.

Activities - Anandvan has many indoor games options that can keep one occupied for the entire day, like Badminton, Volleyball, chess, carom, darts etc. Other than that, one can indulge in relaxing therapies at the spa, or take a dip in the hilltop infinity pool overlooking Sahyadri ranges or ride a bicycle through the greenery.

Distance - It is just about 3 hours from Mumbai.

Cost - Staying a night at the resort starts from Rs 4,000 a night in a superior room and goes up to Rs 27,000 for a four-bedroom Lakeview villa.

Native Place

Native place is a beautiful guest house nestled in Kamshet and blessed with gorgeous surroundings with a Vadivali lake and the mountains. The guest house has a very cosy and homely vibe, and you'll feel like you're visiting an ancestral home full of warmth, comfort and plenty of natural beauty around.

You wouldn't find any room service, Tv or ACs in the rooms and you can only dine-in at the common spaces. However, it's a place where you'd meet people as strangers and leave as friends, where you can walk to the close-by lake or learn about various plants and witness a variety of birds fly past you. The guest house design complements its earthy surroundings. The rooms are colourful, have high ceilings, large windows and are very well ventilated.

Food - Native place offers delicious home-cooked buffet-style meals to its guests that have unique local flavours. Many of the ingredients are grown in their garden.

Activities - There are tons of things to do at Native Place. For a bit of adrenaline rush, you can go on treks, try rock climbing, rappelling and paragliding. Visit the lake to take a stroll or swim, enjoy the breathtaking sunsets, or explore Buddhist caves nearby.

Distance - From Pune, the Native Place is about 60 km and takes about an hour and a half to reach. Travelling by private car is the best option.

Cost - Rooms range from Rs 2,500 to 7,500 for two people and all meals.

Jenjon resort

JenJon resort is a hidden gem in Igatpuri surrounded by an abundance of nature - Sahyadri mountains, fort, Vaitarna lake and forests of verdant greenery. JenJon has plenty of room options to choose from -Sky-Deck Machaan to Swiss Chalet, Java Plum Cottage to Lake Side Villa; all the rooms are different and provide different kinds of experience.

Food - JenJon has a multi-cuisine restaurant that offers freshly prepared vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Activities - From taking a dip in the resort's swimming pool to taking a dip in the lake, kayaking or boating, there are enough things to keep you on your toes. The resort also provides cycles that you can take out to spin.

Distance - The resort is just 85km from Mumbai, and it takes less than four hours to reach.

Cost - JenJon Lake Vaitarna Resort cost starts from as low as Rs 3,500

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