What’s the first thought a Mumbaikar would get while selecting a weekend destination. For most, it would be Lonavala, for the numerous childhood memories we have attached to this place, but not anymore. It’s over-crowdedness and long hours of traffic at the entry and exit points push away the thought of visiting Lonavla, constantly searching for an alternative.
If you want to explore an offbeat destination in the vicinity but without the clutter and chaos of the regular over populated hill stations and visit sights other than the monotonous Tiger Hill and Bushy Dam, then you have a new jewel hidden in the outskirts of Maharashtra, between Lonavla and Pune, named Talegaon.
Keep reading to know why…
So for a quick weekend getaway recently, we decided to step out of the city hustle-bustle in search of a place which would offer relaxation and urban facilities coupled with a connect with nature and we visited Talegaon which is 30 km from Lonavala, 130 km from Mumbai and 35 km from Pune. Situated 2200 feet above sea level, it offers the perfect climate for your rejuvenation.
Our stay was arranged at Orritel which is a Convention, SPA and Wedding resort in Talegaon, at Old Mumbai Pune Highway. It took us not more than 2 hrs to reach the resort from Mumbai. Can you imagine, that’s the amount of time an average Mumbaikar spends daily to commute to work! But on a sunny Saturday morning, these 2 hours led us to the most soothing weekend experience in a long time. Here’s a little about what Orritel did to make it memorable for us!
About Orritel Convention, SPA & Wedding Resort:
Orritel defines itself as a property that offers 4-star styling at 3-star pricing! And true to this statement, it does offer everything you ought to seek from a staycation or a weekend holiday resort. As the name says it’s an awesome prospect for weddings and if you are from Mumbai or Pune, this can be the perfect destination wedding experience for you. With a total of 98 executive rooms, 12 executive suites, 2 duplexes and spacious banquet halls, you and your guests are in for a royal treat.
Amongst its various offerings is a beautiful restaurant by the pool named Ammbiir which can be a perfect choice for an intimate candle light dinner. Right next to it is Amnesia which serves choices of alcohol and appetisers and can be the perfect venue for a fun filled bachelorette celebrationor a girl’s night out in a safe & closed environment.
If you are here for a business conference, they have multiple meeting and conference rooms which can accommodate from 10-300 people.
They have an in-house SPA named, Rudra & a salon which is just what you need to turn your weekend into a relaxation bliss.
And the highlight of this extravagant holiday resort is a huge atrium housed with a cosy sit out, a spacious play area for your kids to enjoy an outdoor experience and a plethora of indoor games such as Table Tennis, Fuse Ball, Carom board and a pool board – providing for a wholesome family experience.
Itinerary:
Here’s a little about the itinerary we followed that enabled us to not only experience the comfort of Orritel Resort, but also explore the neighbouring areas nestled between the green hills of Maharashtra.
We started at 7:30 am from Mumbai and reached Orritel by 9:30, only to realise that an entire day’s activities were carefully picked & planned for us. After a sumptuous breakfast, we set out to explore Bedse Caves. Roughly 19 kms drive from Orritel and close to 400 steps of easy hike, this is a Buddhist rock-cut monument, the history of which can be traced back to 1st century BCE. Bedse Caves are less known when compared to Karla and BhajaCaves, so you won’t find overcrowding of tourists here and can peacefully enjoy the spectacular views this place has to offer. The best time to visit Bedse Caves is during monsoon when you get lush green views of the hills.
Next on, was a true gem in the interiors of Maharashtra – Pawna Lake which turned out to be an absolute visual treat, given its beautiful landscapes & enchanting vistas that stretch as far as your eyes can reach.
Pawna Lake is an artificial lake at 10 Km distance from Bedse Caves and 27 Km from Orritel which is gaining prominence as a camping site for backpackers & travellers. We were here only for a couple of hours but for a better experience you may plan an overnight stay in a nearby tent and enjoy babrbeque, bonfire and stargazing which will make your stay worth the time spent here.
Our last exploration for the day was Japalouppe Equestrian Centre – a must visit if you are an animal lover. It was built in 1998 and is the only equestrian facility in the country built on 12 acres of land, providing service such as horse riding, breeding, training and nutrition consultancy.
Besides horses, they take care of other animals such as dogs, donkeys, rabbits, pigs, goats, turtles, farm animals and birds like parrots, turkeys, emus and so on. As you set foot in this nature retreat, you are introduced to each of these beautiful species by name. You can easily spend a whole day here, hearing the chirping of birds & animal noises. A perfect place for a digital detox and in the company of nature, nothing can be a more soulful experience than this place!
So dropout your Lonavala plan this weekend, and explore the unexplored. Visit Talegaon & enjoy the luxury of Orritel Resort!
