Maharashtra’s famous weekend escape Malshej Ghat gets its first luxury boutique resort, ideally located to tap the region’s natural bounty By Mohit Rathod
Maharahtra’s Malshej Ghat, a renowned tourist spot for weekend holiday makers, has now got its first luxury boutique resort – Saj By The Lake. As its name suggests, the resort is located by a lake and set amidst natural beauty that Malshej Ghat is known for. Malshej is nestled in the lofty rugged hills of the Western Ghats and provides spectacular views of the region’s mountains, valleys and waterfalls. Malshej is most popular among families, group travellers, trekkers and adventure lovers.
Famous tourist attractions such as Harishchandragad Fort, Pimpalgaon Joga Dam and Ajoba Hill Fort are located at a convenient distance from the resort. “This region has tremendous potential for tourism due to its proximity to Mumbai and Pune. There is a need for new locations for people to explore which should have good facilities and Malshej Ghat region serves as an ideal location,” says Karna Timbadia, managing director, Saj By The Lake.
Leveraging Malshej’s natural offerings and its popularity as a tourist hotspot, Saj By The Lake is set is an ideal location, offering the most and best of experiences to guests. The 15-room resort serves as an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The resort is about 157 km away from Mumbai. As one enters the resort, village-themed architecture with innovative use of bricks, welcomes guests. The resort offers spacious luxury rooms equipped with modern amenities and balconies. Amenities in all of the accommodations at the resort include air-conditioners, king size beds, in-room dinning, Wi-Fi among others. The rooms are categorised into: Lake View, Mountain View and Farm View. The resort also features one suite room. Other facilities at the resort include a swimming pool, lawn and kids’ play area.
Saj By The Lake takes pride in its culinary offerings. The resort follows a pure vegetarian menu and aims to promote healthy eating among guests. The resort’s restaurant – Maati Baani, meaning ‘language of the earth’ – uses only organic produce from nearby farms and fresh ingredients. The restaurant specialises in local cuisine and encourages guests to experience the local flavours, enabling them to have an authentic experience of the region, even in terms of food. Pit cooking and using mud pots to give an earthy flavour to food, make the culinary experience unique.
“Our marketing strategies would be online and offline agents across India, social and print media. We are going to build a conferencing facility, in order to cater to corporate events. We also plan to start a spa and add room inventory,” informs Timbadia.