In the first part of this blogpost , we took you through day one of our stay at the picturesque Tripura Castle in Shillong. For day two, we decided to shift to a treehouse cottage, which was situated right on the top of the valley. It is not place where life is dictated by smartphones or the obsessive need to browse through the many apps that exist on that device.
It is a place to enjoy what you have forgotten- the sheer beauty of being in touch with the planet and its many joyous sites. It was my childhood dream to stay in a treehouse and I couldn’t be more happier.
Travel is more than the seeing of sights- it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.
So this was my first sojourn in the North East, a long awaited trip with my bestie. We took a SpiceJet flight from Jaipur to Guwahati, which is the quickest and the most comfortable way to reach. From Guwahati, prepaid taxis are available to Shillong for two thousand rupees.
About the property : Since it was just the two of us, we wanted a hotel which is a like a mini hill station in itself . Based on the reviews and images on Goibibo, we booked Tripura Castle . It is located on a hilltop and offers a panoramic view of Shillong. The property is beautiful and the plush wooden interiors give you a vintage vibe. The property is managed by female staff and Shillong is essentially a matriarchal society.
The best part is that the property blends in very seamlessly with the natural surroundings. It felt like living right in the middle of a forest with all the comforts you need. And you can witness the entire town of Shillong right from the room’s window overlooking the valley. In the evening, there are bonfires and musical performances to add warmth to the otherwise chilly weather. Sun sets very early in Shillong and by 5 pm it is all dark, a very different and quaint way of life.
Dining options : Food was something that didn’t impress me much, more so because I am a vegetarian which is not a great thing to be in North-East 😂. So, it was definitely a struggle finding decent vegan options. There’s a lot of variety for non vegetarians.
For day one, we stayed in a room located in the main building while for day two we opted for a treehouse cottage which was a fascinating experience. The pricing varies from five thousand rupees to seven thousand rupees depending on the season. Here are pictures from day 1 –
Wanderlust- “A deep, uncontrollable urge to hit the road and travel, by whatever means desired, to explore and enjoy the world.” It is not always about escaping to the solitude of mountains or to the azure blue beaches, but to utilise every moment that you get to rejuvenate yourself and to spend time with the people you love, to experience luxury and immaculate hospitality that revitalises you and prepares you for the challenges of a grilling life.
About the property : Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury. The Oberoi, Gurgaon was one such break for us even though we spent less than 24 hours at the property, it helped us to recuperate from our mundane routine. The place is an oasis of tranquility amidst the chaos of Gurgaon. It is located right in the middle of the city yet once you enter the grounds, an island of green and blue welcomes you. The property is designed around a huge square-shaped water body called the reflection pool. It plays a crucial part in lending a natural aura to the hotel.
Dining options : Two sides of the reflection pool house a luxury shopping arcade, which has brands like – Gucci, Latique. Guests looking for a luxury dining restaurant can choose between their unique gourmet theatre: threesixtyone°, contemporary Indian fine dining space: amaranta, Oberoi Patisserie & Delicatessen, or relax and unwind at the Piano Bar and Cigar Lounge.
Recommendation : We made our booking through Goibibo, you can check detailed reviews about the hotel on TripAdvisor. Also note that The Trident and The Oberoi are adjacent properties belonging to the same group, The Oberoi is high on luxury. I will definitely recommend it to all those looking for solitude, very much close to the city still giving you the Caribbean vibe and very different from a usual business hotel.
Dress like JFK, speak like Hemingway, work like Ralph Lauren, party like Gatsby 😊 Sending warm festive wishes your way 😍
This post is about a trip I took with my mother to explore “Dadhikar Fort”. It is located at the outskirts of Alwar, which is at a distance of about 160 kms from both Delhi and Jaipur, making it a perfect weekend getaway. I got to know about the place from a friend who visited the Fort for an outing with her family. I did some research on TripAdvisor and the reviews were very much positive.
About the property : Dadhikar Fort, a beautiful combination of nature, graceful history of thousand years and the reflection of ancient Indian art and culture. You get to witness immaculate hospitality, delicious meals and a tête-à-tête with the locals of the village. We even got a chance to interact with the owner of the property, who was gracious enough to give us a detailed glimpse of the history of the Fort.
How the place came into existence- When Ramji Kaushik, a middle class boy from Alwar, decided to buy a dilapidated fort on the outskirts of Alwar city, his friends thought he had lost his sanity. Neither the hilltop fort nor the Dadhikar village at its foothill had water or electric supplies. There was no road leading up to the ruins of the once-fortified haveli. Everybody else saw it as the derelict structure that was devoid of amenities but he envisioned it as a getaway far from city life, with a breathtaking view. He recycled the stones from rubble, hunted down retired masons who could work with old style of limestone construction, trained young labourers from the Dadhikar village itself. Imperial looking wooden gates were custom made from Jodhpur, janglas sourced from Shekhawati and the entire fort was furnished like an antiquated and fortified haveli.
What we loved the most-What fascinates you most about the property is the fact that the rustic charm has not been lost in keeping up with the modern needs. The locals are very much a part of the hotel’s daily activities and the place perfectly blends in with the quaint aura of the village. It doesn’t give you that typical “5-star property” vibe which interferes with the ecological balance of the surroundings.
Since the fort’s initial structure is not modified, each room is different and has been given a unique name. They also have Swiss tents which is where we stayed. You can choose the rooms as per your taste and budget. We made our booking through Goibibo , you can find more about the place on TripAdvisor and their website Dadhikar Fort.
Recommendation : A quick tip – Try visiting the place in the months of September- March as you won’t be able to venture out much in summers, also it wil be difficult to munch on the delectable food they serve. We went in December and the weather was just perfect.
A surprise coming soon, keep following us on Facebook and Instagram. Here are pictures from the trip-
The vintage charm very much maintained Admiring the view
Delicious food with spectacular views
Fort Interiors Folk performances at night
DelectableNature at its best
The Swiss tents where we stayed, so close to nature :)Beauty!
Mom with a village localThe place where breakfast is served
This was a small surprise gift I planned for hubby dearest. We did not go to any exotic locations after wedding, instead we opted for the best possible resorts in our all time favorite place- Goa. Once you have a look at these beautiful properties and the sumptuous luxury they offer, there is no stepping out. I will be doing a separate post on how we planned the entire 7 day trip. This post is exclusively about “The Leela”.
About the property : Sprawled between the Arabian sea and the river Sal, the resort has been designed by renowned architect Tom Pugliaso and it reflects Portuguese and Indian style of architecture. It has everything – limousine transfers from the airport to private plunge pools, dining areas and a designated club beach.
The rooms are spacious, elegant and airy reflecting the easy charm of Goa with balconies facing a lagoon with exotic lotus blooms.The resort has lush greenery, migratory birds and a beautiful Golf course. The setting seems straight out of heaven. The vibrant ambiance here will set the mood for a delightful stay.
Dining options : The resort offers some excellent dining options like Jamavar (Signature Indian), The Riverside (Italian), Susegado -Beachside (Sea food), Aqua (Lounge & Discotheque) and The Pool Bar. The buffet breakfast spread at Jamavar was very elaborate with at least one hundred types of delicacies on the table.
For gardening enthusiasts, there is a small spice plantation tour within the resort and a greenhouse too. What stood out the most for us was their immaculately clean beach, it almost felt like walking on a carpet made of sand. The resort was awarded the honour of being amongst the top 100 luxury hotels of the world by Conde Nast Traveller.
Recommendation : If a quite vacation in a beautiful beach setting is what you seek, it will be a wonderful experience. Also if you are planning a long trip and on a limited budget, plan a day at The Leela and pick other moderately priced resorts for the rest of the duration. For party lovers, staying in North-Goa makes more sense.
We made our booking through Goibibo and got a good deal. You can browse more about the resort on TripAdvisor.Have a look at The Leela, Goa.
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I love the idea of staycations. It is very important to take regular breaks from the routine life but not always one has the time to plan and go on a proper vacation, this is where the concept of staycations comes in. It could be a destination escape or a property located right in the middle of your city, choose as per your budget, time and requirements. This post is about one such staycation we took to celebrate our first wedding anniversary.
About the property : The property stands true to its name- it is palatial, serene and a true reflection of the Royal Bharat. We were mesmerized from the moment we stepped inside the hotel grounds. Amidst Impeccable Greenery and beautiful water bodies stands the gigantic- palace looking hotel. We were received with a traditional welcome and a beautiful stole as a souvenir. Also the welcome drink served at their “Peacock Bar” was refreshing. It was almost lunch time so we decided to go for lunch by the time the check in formalities would also get completed.
Dining options : We chose “The India Room” restaurant for lunch, it had an amazing three course Italian buffet with some splendid cocktails. The interiors of the restaurants are so tastefully done up, we were really in awe of the colours and aesthetics. After the sumptuous meal, we went to our room and where we again witnessed the ITC hospitality, our room was upgraded to a suite with an attached pool. They surely know how to keep their guests coming back all the time.
The rooms at ITC are named after cities having historical significance like Varanasi, Hampi, Thanesar etc. The decor style of the room is classy but minimal giving a very relaxed vibe. The aura of the overall place takes you back to medieval India. We spent the afternoon in there heated outdoor pool, the attached pool will be a big hit for summers.
Night lends a different charm to the place with beautifully lit chandeliers and candles. Due to immense greenery, the atmosphere is really pleasant and rejuvenating. One wishes having a permanent residence in this majestic palace.
Recommendation : I would not recommend it to people coming to Delhi/NCR for business/leisure purposes as it is quite far from the main city. Also spending so much does not make sense if you would not be enjoying the place completely. It is definitely an apt option for people looking for a weekend getaway near Delhi. You will come back refreshed and feeling like a Royal.
We made our booking through Goibibo, you can browse more about the hotel at TripAdvisor, Happy Holidaying.
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