Can you feel the festivities in the air? The fragrance of cheery autumn flowers, the sound of your loved ones having a hearty laugh, the aroma of freshly prepared festive goodies, the colourful traditional outfits, the lighting outside each home…
We sure can.
After a year of missed celebrations and social distancing, it is time to get together and celebrate the warmth of familial bonds. How about celebrating this Diwali at a safe and sanitised SaffronStays villa?
If you wish to celebrate the festival of lights in a unique way, there’s no better way than to celebrate it with your close set of people at a SaffronStays home. Laze around on expansive lawns, swim it up, and feast on unparalleled views. More importantly, enjoy hot, home-cooked meals prepared as per your liking. Be it piping hot vada sambhar for breakfast or chicken curry with fluffy rotis topped with ghee for lunch, their home-style food will make you fall head over heels in love with food once over.
Aura, Alibaug: If, much like the home owner, you too love spacious lawns, a large pool and all things artsy, this home is just for you. A 5-bedroom villa, it is a melange of all things bright and cheery – art, nature, sunlight, the sweet-smelling frangipani and lemongrass coupled with good vibes. The massive living room is attached to the pool deck, with an open bar on the terrace. Speaking of the bar, we totally believe that a bar-and-barbecue experience spells celebrations – something you can witness here.
Bond with your family in the games room on the garden level that has a pool table, table tennis and other board games. This area opens up to lawns at the back, where there’s an outdoor gym and cosy coves. This home is perfect for kids to frolic in. Don’t miss out on the authentic, home-fresh, Alibaug-style meals while here.
Aqua Chalet, Murbad: What began with the idea of organic farming is now a home for couples and small families, with lots of activities to choose from. If you and your bae are looking for a secluded getaway this festive season, this 1-bedroom home is the perfect choice. The villa has a private Machan made of pinewood and opens out to the river on one side and a man-made pond on the other. A nature’s retreat on a 3-acre estate, the wooden interiors have been designed with lofts that will keep children occupied for hours! The pool here sits right under a neem tree. Have an unforgettable holiday as you relax in it, with the cooling effects of neem leaves that fall from the tree.
The farm vegetables are used in the preparations of delicious, authentic, local, home-cooked meals. Here, every day is a great food day!
Le Soil, Nashik: If yours is a family of three (a pet included), we can’t recommend this home enough. Couples looking for privacy, head over to this cosy space. This 1-bedroom private getaway offers a 360° view of the valley, surrounded by water from three sides, making it an ideal escape for those who wish to live amidst nature. This rustic villa will captivate you with its glass windows and eco-friendly interiors as you soak in the tranquility surrounding it. Nature lovers can choose to capture a picture-perfect moment with the sunset, or stargaze in the open balcony of this private villa that boasts enthralling views of the lush green Nashik hills.
If you are in the mood for some adventure, you can even head for a dive in the river. If not, you can simply hop on the swing facing the stunning views as you sip on a hot cup of chai with your gang. Dreamy, right?
Nature’s Bounty, Nashik: Dreaming of mountain views, lush greens, and an experiential getaway? This villa lying alongside a 2.5-acre organic farm is the perfect choice for a family get-together or a friend’s reunion. Four aesthetically planned bedrooms, a hall, and a sprawling lawn are all on the same ground level, which makes this a great festive family getaway. Walk across the estate and pick fresh guavas and mangoes, bite into their deliciousness and relish this unique tree-to-taste experience! There is also an outside kitchen and dining area, where you can enjoy a meal amidst the lush greens and feel the wind in your hair.
The outdoors will beckon you and what they offer, you cannot refuse. Split into teams and play football, volleyball, basketball, or badminton with your gang on the lawn. Enjoy indoor fun with carrom, chess, UNO, dart game, cards, monopoly, and table tennis. If you’re in the mood for nothing in particular, just take a stroll across the farm and the ponds, where you can hang out with the ducks, the rabbits, and the hens.
Suvarna Sangam, Udupi: Away from the buzz of the city lies Suvarna Sangam, a set of 4 river-facing cottages – Shambhavi, Sharavathi, Netravathi, and Vedavathi. Situated on a 4-acre river island (almost) with the Suvarna River on three sides and flanked by over 550 coconut trees, the cottages can be booked individually and are situated at an average distance of 100 meters from each other, all with a cohesive warm, homely vibe. Enjoy a mix of togetherness and privacy, and have a memorable dining experience on the private deck that offers spectacular views of the backwaters.
If you’re lucky, you may come across a fisherman by the river and ask for the catch of the day. Make the most of your stay here by exploring the Suvarna backwaters in the owner’s private speedboat.
Acaso, Goa: If the art of slow living makes your heart happy, then this 4-bedroom boutique homestay in South Goa is meant for you. Romantically closeted within the tranquility of a Goan agricultural village and the grandeur of its 200+ year history, this pet-friendly homestay in Goa abuts a seasonal lake with the Zuari River flowing just a kilometer away.
The home will make you reminisce passages from our favourite old storybooks. This home is an example of colour burst in heaven with bedrooms in various hues, an eye-popping dining area, and the colours of nature. With rustic vibes and cosy interiors, the courtyard here is the perfect spot for the entire family. Make the most of your holiday with the host’s eclectic collection of books and music. The property overlooks the seasonal Mai Tollem lake, which is often teeming with beautiful migratory birds. You could start your day with some yoga under the mango tree, lounge in the hammock on the lawns, spend a night in a tent, play a game of badminton with the family or join in a boisterous game of football with the neighbourhood lads.
Relish home-fresh authentic Goan meals prepared by the professional in-home cook and leave your tum-tum happy.
Bloomingdale, Nashik: Want to hit the Ctrl + R button in life? The lush greenery that envelops this 3-bedroom pool villa in Nashik lets you do that. This bright and colorful home is a retreat away from the worries of work and city life. An elderly-friendly villa, there’s a small lawn where you will happily capture the various moods of the surrounding views. There is a 100m pathway filled with beautiful flowers – Hibiscus, Roses, Mogra, and many more, which opens up to the pool area. In the gazebo right next to the pool, sit back and have a quiet dinner with your folks.
The living room here has an outdoor deck that overlooks the seasonal river – a perfect place to sip your chai and soak in breathtaking views. Gorge on authentic Maharashtrian food like Zunka-Bhakari, Bharli Waangi, Paatode, Sukha Chicken, and Fish Fry among others prepared by our trained team of in-house chefs.
Horizon 360°, Mahabaleshwar: Nestled amongst lush green surroundings and Mahabaleshwar’s forest terrain, this chic 5-bedroom home is pet-friendly. The home has a beautiful lawn, a garden dotted with colourful flowers, a large living room and bedrooms. The home has been designed to give guests an infinite view of the surrounding greenery with ample air and light all through the day. You can catch both sunrises and sunsets, from the balcony here. All the bedrooms in this home have been decorated with intricately carved wooden cupboards and old Parsi poster beds.
A plethora of birds and butterflies in the lawns keep you occupied; not to forget the occasional (and sometimes frequent) visits from the monkeys to the Jamun trees in and around the property. You will also occasionally spot some deer running around amidst the wooded areas.
Anugraha, Lonavala: Have a ‘fruit’ful vacation at this 4-bedroom pet-friendly pool villa that has a perfect blend of antique furnishings and modern amenities. The estate is dotted with a number of fruit bearing trees such as chikoo, avocado, mango, litchi, lemon, banana, pear, and guava to name a few. Kick back your worries and lose yourself in the melodies of chirping birds that frequent the home. And while here, spend more time outdoors than indoors as you get together for a game of badminton or volleyball. The outdoor bar makes a great spot for cocktails with your folks.
Let your furry friends run freely while you curl up with your favourite book and enjoy your much-needed me-time. The home has charming interiors – old-fashioned chandeliers and antique lamps adorn the home, making it one-of-a-kind.
SaffronStays Raanwara and Aranya Vilaas, Kamshet: A place that spells fun from the word go, this is a cluster of 10 pet-friendly Greek-Maharashtrian rooms perfect for groups of all sizes. The shared infinity pool is where you will end up spending most of your time. Overlooking the Thokarwadi Lake and the mighty Sahyadris, there is a uniquely designed seating area made of stone and glass bottles, and the balcony hammocks are the best places to while away your holiday.
Relive the good ol’ days as you battle it out in board games, carrom, table-tennis, or cricket. As if the villa and its views weren’t enough, the place is also known for its lip-smacking home-cooked meals. Celebrate your best Diwali here, one of the best getaways near Mumbai and Pune.
(Here’s why you should have your next stay at a private villa?)
