Raison D’etre: Beas River Bliss
Nestled by the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh, Raison D’etre offers a tranquil escape with four guest bedrooms named after the seasons. This one-acre property
boasts a 250 ft waterfront, providing stunning views of orchards and the river against snow-capped mountains. A unique feature is the perennial artesian spring that feeds the infinity pool, offering a refreshing dip. The two-bedroom guest suites, spanning 1200 sq ft, include spacious glass-fronted living rooms and pantries. Meals are served in a separate guest lounge and kitchen, with alfresco breakfast often enjoyed under an ancient apricot tree. The culinary offerings are diverse, featuring local dals, regional chicken curries, Pahadi-style goat meat with rice, and international dishes like Thai curries and Burmese Khow Suey. The surrounding area is ideal for exploring village orchards, nearby waterfalls, and the Dhakpo Shedrupling Monastery. Adventure activities like river rafting, paragliding, ziplining, and quad biking are readily accessible. Hosts can assist with motorbike rentals, trips to hot sulphur springs, or arranging bonfires by the river. Doubles start from Rs 11,000, including breakfast.
Shahpura Bagh: Royal Rajasthan Retreat
Shahpura Bagh, the former summer residence of the Shahpura royal family, is an exclusive accommodation located about four hours from Jaipur and Udaipur. Spread across 45 acres, the estate features two grand mansions: the 19th-century Nahar Niwas, which serves as the family residence and offers guest dining, lounge, and bar facilities, and Umaid Niwas, housing nine suites. These suites are appointed with spacious ensuite bathrooms, vintage four-poster beds, writing desks, antique hat stands, and are furnished with fine locally sourced fabrics, with air-conditioning for comfort. The terrace provides a perfect vantage point for sunset views over the estate's mature trees and wheat fields, complemented by hammocks and a heated swimming pool with pavilions. Guests can engage with the host family, including polo player Ransher Singh Rathore, and enjoy activities like boat rides for birdwatching on the estate's two lakes to spot egrets and storks, or sundowners at Dhikola Fort, all arranged by the property. Doubles begin at Rs 28,600.
Parijaat Goa: Tranquil Garden Escape
Named after the lush Parijaat flower adorning its front lawn, Parijaat in Goa offers a distinctive stay, diverging from typical Portuguese-style villas. The entrance leads to an open-sky courtyard, with the main family residence to the right and a guest cottage to the left. This cottage features a façade composed of old windows and houses two double rooms, Magpie Robin and Drongo, which can be booked individually or together. These rooms artfully blend antique charm with modern conveniences, including king-size beds, writing desks, air conditioning, premium bathroom amenities, curated teas and coffees, and an extensive collection of books. The ensuite bathrooms, with their bright hexagonal tiles and cool grey stone finish, are particularly appealing. The rooms open onto a garden with palm trees, a bird bath, and a swimming pool, extending to paddy fields beyond. Guests can relax on garden loungers or swings under a large Fernandes Mango tree. The property encourages a leisurely weekend, offering activities such as pottery, pepper harvesting, outdoor yoga, and ample swimming in the sizable pool. Double accommodation starts from Rs10,900.
Olaulim Backyards: Goan Serenity
Located a 30-minute drive from Panjim, Olaulim Backyards in Goa offers a peaceful retreat in the village of Olaulim, away from the bustling coastal areas. This property comprises five cottages designed to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Each cottage is unique, featuring bathrooms that are partly open to the sky, beds integrated with rock formations, large windows, and modern amenities like air conditioning and hot water. The estate includes a pool area with hammocks and deck chairs, a café/bar, and a beautiful water body named Manos. Guests are encouraged to unwind by the pool with a book or observe the diverse avian population, with about 120 species of birds visiting the backyard daily. The property also provides complimentary kayaking and cycling. Doubles are available from Rs.5,000 during the off-season.
Dudhsagar Plantation: Eco-Retreat
Situated deep within the Mollem National Park, bordered by the Kalem-Dudhsagar rivers, Dudhsagar Plantation is a 50-acre family-run estate focused on sustainable living. Father and son duo Ajit and Ashok Malkarnekar have transformed previously barren land into a flourishing food forest over several decades. The plantation features five rustic cottages with tiled roofs, embodying traditional Goan village aesthetics, complete with stone beds, open bathrooms, and windows designed to allow natural airflow and birdsong. Meals are hyper-local and seasonal, prepared using ingredients sourced directly from the plantation. Guests can cool off in the property's natural pool or enjoy a relaxing dip in the nearby Dudhsagar river. Activities include exploring plantation trails, sampling local feni, and participating in cashew-picking during the season, making it an ideal destination for a slow-paced farm stay. Doubles are priced from Rs.3,000, with meals charged separately.
Verve Estate: Heritage Portuguese Charm
In contrast to the vibrant North Goa scene, Guirim offers a tranquil setting amidst paddy fields and jackfruit trees. Here lies The Verve Estate, a restored century-old Indo-Portuguese bungalow originally built in 1925. Meticulously restored by Rubeena Singh, her husband Vivek Soni, and daughter Valeska, the estate preserves its original Portuguese-Goan architecture, including a sloping tiled roof and arched doorways. Architect Paul Rodrigues guided the restoration, blending historical features like hand-laid hexagonal mosaic floors and vintage chandeliers with modern comforts. The estate offers six majestic suites furnished with restored colonial-style beds and furniture. Common areas include a grand hall with a lounge, a colonial club-style library bar, and a large dining table. The design incorporates antique mirrors and framed botanical prints, reflecting the surrounding garden. Notably, The Verve Estate is wheelchair-friendly and caters to senior citizens and guests with mobility issues, featuring gentle slopes at entrances, a pool with easy access, and accessible suite layouts. The entire villa can be rented for Rs2,00,000.
Khas Bagh: Jaipur's Equestrian Haven
Located in the Aravallis, 30 km outside Jaipur, Khas Bagh is a grand 18-room haveli that merges heritage with exceptional hospitality, managed by the Rathore family. The ambiance is set by antique carved-wood beds, rain showers, and jharokha balconies, complemented by the central haveli's stone pillars, jaali work, and frangipani-filled courtyards. The host, Ransher Singh Rathore, a professional polo player, offers guests opportunities for lessons at the Rajasthan Polo Club and equestrian sessions. For relaxation, there is a striking blue swimming pool and an adjacent al fresco dining area. Evenings are for enjoying sundowners on the terrace, followed by bonfire nights with Rathore Senior, a retired colonel with a wealth of stories. Doubles are available from Rs.8,000, including breakfast.
Captain K's Getaway: Coorg Coffee Estate
Leila Alvares's homestay, Captain K's Getaway, named after her late father, Captain Kieren Alvares, is situated on a 75-acre coffee estate a few kilometers from Mercara in Coorg. This renovated bungalow features elegant teak woodwork, sky roofs, and marine-inspired decor, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The rooms are equipped with fireplaces and offer views of a courtyard shaded by a 40-year-old lychee tree on one side, and a large swimming pool and BBQ deck overlooking the coffee estate on the other. The pool is ideal for relaxing while taking in the scenic views of Arabica coffee rows. Leila and her children, Kieren and Keira, are accomplished cooks, offering a menu that blends Mangalorean pork baffat, chorizo on pav, and homemade chocolate mousse with Goan, Kodava, and Mediterranean influences. Guests can also enjoy a coffee tasting session with Kieren, who roasts beans from the estate's harvest. Rooms start from Rs.10,000 per night and include breakfast, a jeep tour of the estate, home theatre access, pool use, and coffee tasting.
Amni: Coorg's Jungle Sanctuary
Reaching Amni in Coorg is an adventure in itself, with host Abraham Jose providing jeep transport for the final leg due to the challenging road conditions. The destination, however, is well worth the effort: stone cottages emerge from grassy mounds against the Balyaatra range, with chimneys subtly appearing through the foliage, evoking a timeless charm. The Jose family has owned this estate for generations, infusing it with character over 25 years by collecting cast iron antiques, Victorian lamp posts, and railway sleepers. The Paati Polé river flows through a check dam at the front of the property, and a stone path leads to a beautiful stone pool on a lower level. Guests are treated to a traditional Syrian Christian feast prepared by Abraham's mother, Rosy, featuring dishes like Surmai fry, prawn gassi, and rasam with rice, rounded off with fresh strawberries from the farm. This two-bedroom accommodation, suitable for up to six guests, is all-inclusive, covering all meals, BBQ nights, treks, birdwatching, and jam-making sessions. Doubles are priced from Rs12,000 per night.
Parijaat: An Oasis in Goa
Parijaat, named after the fragrant flower that blooms on its lawn, presents a unique homestay experience in Goa, distinct from the typical Portuguese-style villas. Upon entering, guests are greeted by an open-to-the-sky courtyard. To the right is the family's residence, and to the left, a charming guest cottage. This cottage facade is a mosaic of antique windows and houses two elegantly appointed double rooms, Magpie Robin and Drongo, which can be booked separately or together. These rooms masterfully combine vintage aesthetics with modern comforts, featuring king-size beds, dedicated writing desks, air conditioning, luxurious bathroom amenities, carefully selected teas and coffees, and a library of books. The attached bathrooms, with their striking hexagonal tiles and cool grey stone finishes, are particularly noteworthy. Each room opens out to a lush garden complete with palm trees, a bird bath, and a swimming pool, beyond which lie verdant paddy fields. Guests can find solace on garden loungers or sway under a mature Fernandes Mango tree. Parijaat offers a complete escape, allowing visitors to spend a weekend immersed in its tranquility, with options for pottery, pepper harvesting, outdoor yoga, and numerous dips in the expansive swimming pool. Double occupancy rates start at Rs10,900.
