The Machaan-my tryst with the wilderness but of course 😉 luxurious !

1 Shares

The Machan @Lonavala is an eco resort located in the hills of Lonavala.The Machan,as the name suggests is a resort laden with tree houses,all located at at least 45 feet above the forest floor,giving a spectacular view of the landscaping and the tranquility that one aspires for.
The owners have tried hard to maintain the wilderness,serenity and greenery of the place.When you reach the road that leads you to ‘The Machan’,you start to wonder if this is the place.The road is a narrow trail,broken and with a depression.There are no sign boards,as they want to keep it quaint and avoid unwanted attention.Even when you enter the property,roads don’t improve ,infact at one point you will believe that you are going to slip all the way down,luckily we were in a taxi so we were not so worried about our car.This was the time when you would think that you would be better off hiking this road(but we had luggage and kids).

Reception @Machan

Wilderness personified @Machan

Everything,right from reception to the pathways to the rooms are all built in wood and stone and kept
good-looking but basic.I know it’s difficult to visualise ,but will share a few pics .
The Machan runs majorly on solar power and high power draining electrical equipments like hair dryer will not work(sadly,had no clue and had carried one).Do not try and venture out in heels and keep shoes basic(sport shoes work well).

Stone [email protected]

My kids were very worried to see the place(spoilt brats as they are),they were scared of bugs,dirtying their shoes and heat(Oh God!),till they saw the room.We stayed at the Canopy Machan.The room has four sections;The master bedroom,the loft(perfect for kids with extra double bed),the bathroom and the deck.The decor is all wood and glass and finer details like carved wooden door,copper/brass sink,brass switch boards all remind you of a bygone era and add to the charm.
Room though luxurious,has no A.C. or television.There is though antique fan and an air cooler,they like to keep it basic.The walls are either wooden or glass,offering you the view and feel from each end of the room.The view spans the entire panorama and is breathtaking.
We instantly fell in love with it.

Canopy Machan-Master Bedroom

Canopy room at Machan-The room,the deck,the loft and the view!

The other room types are Heritage Machan,ForestMachan,Cabin and Jungle Machan.

If you’re expecting,5 star services then this is not the place for you.The staff is helpful and friendly and makes your stay comfortable.But the pace is slow and laid back,and that’s what they want you to experience.They want you to connect you to nature and slow down.This is just the perfect place to nestle in their hammock with a book,go for a nature trek (which they organise),birdwatch or just stargaze .On request they also do bonfires,which is a great time for bonding if you are in large groups.

The food is served as a buffet and can be customised on request.There are also few in room dining options.
They have also recently opened their spa,which is very reasonably priced and decent.So if you are tired with all the various activities ,you can rejuvenate at the spa.

At the end of this weekend break,I knew what we needed ,a weekend home in midst of nature and away from the internet,mobile phones and the television.A place where we can actually relax,rediscover our childhood back by spending time with our little ones or just gaze emptily in the starry sky.