This was a visit to remember. I booked the Hotel Waterfront Shaw online through www.booking.com. The drive to Lavasa is via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Once you reach Wakad, you go off the expressway and go to Lavasa via Hinjawadi.
The drive is very straightforward until you reach the final 20 km segment, which is a ghat that you have to drive over to reach village Dasave, where Lavasa has been created by Sharad Pawar. It is an expensive weekend getaway that Punekars come more frequently to - and they don't even stay here overnight. There are plenty of things to do here, such as dining out, visiting a gym, participating in water sports (closed due to monsoons), cycling, indoor sports, etc.
The hotel itself was excellent in most respects. It is located soon after entering Lavasa (you need to pay INR 200 to the local municipality to enter the resort. They call it parking charges :-P). There are breath-taking views over the valley, and most people come to the top stopping at different places to take photos, admire the valley views and perchance eating corn on the cob (there are at least a hundred outlets on the road where this is sold at exorbitant prices).
All the structures along the waterfront are similarly designed and it makes for a beautiful view. The hotel is part of the same long chain of buildings. The rooms were actually large, self-contained apartments with a kitchen, a living room and a bedroom. We had booked two adjoining rooms, of course. Although we did not get rooms facing the waterfront, it did not matter as the facilities inside were very good. There are several themed restaurants, and we took the first meal of Saturday and the next days' complimentary breakfast at the American Diner. We took dinner from a smaller place, while we did not get a chance to visit their Indian restaurant, named the Chor Bizarre. There was also a Grandma's Bakes outlet for baked stuff and cakes, and some other outlets (including one that made and served Lebanese food). Just next door was a Cafe Coffee Day, where I had the opportunity to have one cup of coffee late in the evening.
During the afternoon, we strolled, had hot bhajiyas and tea, cycled on single seat and double-seat tandem bicycles and visited a games center, where we played Table-tennis.
All in all, it was a weekend well spent. We checked out after breakfast on Sunday and returned to Mumbai by the late afternoon, Hannah and I driving in turns.
 |
| The Waterfront Shaw |
 |
| The promenade |
 |
| Bridge over the artificial canal |
The hotel itself was excellent in most respects. It is located soon after entering Lavasa (you need to pay INR 200 to the local municipality to enter the resort. They call it parking charges :-P). There are breath-taking views over the valley, and most people come to the top stopping at different places to take photos, admire the valley views and perchance eating corn on the cob (there are at least a hundred outlets on the road where this is sold at exorbitant prices).
All the structures along the waterfront are similarly designed and it makes for a beautiful view. The hotel is part of the same long chain of buildings. The rooms were actually large, self-contained apartments with a kitchen, a living room and a bedroom. We had booked two adjoining rooms, of course. Although we did not get rooms facing the waterfront, it did not matter as the facilities inside were very good. There are several themed restaurants, and we took the first meal of Saturday and the next days' complimentary breakfast at the American Diner. We took dinner from a smaller place, while we did not get a chance to visit their Indian restaurant, named the Chor Bizarre. There was also a Grandma's Bakes outlet for baked stuff and cakes, and some other outlets (including one that made and served Lebanese food). Just next door was a Cafe Coffee Day, where I had the opportunity to have one cup of coffee late in the evening. 
During the afternoon, we strolled, had hot bhajiyas and tea, cycled on single seat and double-seat tandem bicycles and visited a games center, where we played Table-tennis.
All in all, it was a weekend well spent. We checked out after breakfast on Sunday and returned to Mumbai by the late afternoon, Hannah and I driving in turns.
what lovely pictures...lovely reportage...lovely family bro...God Bless!...nice enjoyable piece
ReplyDelete