Sandal Suites - A Comfortable Extended Stay Accommodation Option in NOIDA

I could imagine myself staying at the elegantly designed and furnished Studio as I hear Mr. Rattan Keswani, Deputy Managing Director, Lemon Tree Hotels and Director, Carnation Hotels Pvt. Ltd speaking at the launch of Sandal Suites on 7th June 2017. I could imagine starting my day working out at fully equipped gym; cooling myself down at the rooftop swimming pool; enjoy playing tennis or squash; and relaxing and rejuvenating myself after a long day at Kiyomi, spa managed by O2.

Located within Assotech Business Cresterra, the LEED Gold Certified office complex in the IT hub of Sector 135, Noida, is this property Sandal Suites that is an answer to the growing demand for comfortable and convenient extended stay accommodation options for business and IT professionals in the vicinity. It is the only upscale accommodation available within an 8 km catchment and is the perfect for those looking for a “home away from home” – be it business travellers, project teams or relocating families.

Sandal Suites features 195 suites, extensive banqueting facilities, numerous dining options, and an array of recreational facilities -

Citrus Café, the Lemon Tree Hotels signature all-day dining restaurant, serving the best of Indian, European, Western and pan-Asian cuisine. Citrus Patio, the al fresco dining area, provides a beautiful outdoor extension to the café.
Bitters, the bar, set to open soon, will provide the perfect venue to catch up for a quick meeting over a drink or relax in a cosy and intimate setting, with its eclectic mix of delectable and masterfully blended cocktails.

The Citrus Café

Bitters - The Bar

Each of the elegantly designed and furnished Studio, Standard and Deluxe suites, feature an independent balcony, a separate living area, a well-appointed workstation, and a kitchenette featuring a tea/coffee maker, a microwave and a mini-bar. Deluxe Suites, designed with a focus on extended stays, include a separate dining area, a kitchen equipped with a hob and chimney and a large refrigerator, and washrooms with a separate bathtub and shower area. In addition to this, smoking, non-smoking and interconnecting suites are available in order to provide convenient accommodation solutions.
The Crest Suite, spread over 1,340 sq. ft, is synonymous with modern luxury, featuring a luxurious bedroom, a beautifully designed dressing area, a study, and an opulent bathroom. The expansive suite exudes a sense of understated luxury, comfort, and style, complemented by state-of-the-art technology and personalized service.

Studio Suite

Deluxe Suite - Living Room

I particularly like the fact that keeping Lemon Tree Hotels inclusive policy, Sandal Suites also features a suite for the differently-abled, which has been specially designed for their convenience. In addition, an entire floor has been dedicated for women guests.

With a view to cater to MICE requirements of the business and social needs of the community in Noida, there is an extensive array of well-appointed spaces for business or board meetings, conferences or private events, large or small. The large pillar-less ballroom, Tangerine Grand, spread over 4,000 sq. ft., with a large pre-function area, caters for events of up to 400 guests.

Tangerine - The Conference Room

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Rejuvinate Yourself at Aamari Resort Ramgarh

I get invites from many big and small properties but I hardly get time to visit and review them all. This time around when I got the invite from Aamari resorts, a luxury resort in Nainital, something clicked. May be it was the perfect weather for an outing or it's location - the quaint Kumaon hills or it was meant to be like this. The property looked inviting in pictures on the net. So without any second thought, I instantly finalized the plan and headed towards it the very next day.

Started early morning from Indirapuram. Around a kilometer before Gajraula when I was looking for a place to have breakfast, an interesting sign board attracted my attention - "Enroute - The Dhaba". The place looked interesting, so thought of checking it out. A very good decision it was to stop there. The ambiance, the cleanliness, the staff all looked perfect. And the food was just amazingly delicious. (review in another post). Such a good start it was to the trip. 

It was an enjoyable 8 hrs journey through the villages, green fields and small market places. I took a detour from the highway through Suar and Kaladungi to make the drive more interesting. The road condition also is better on this route than the highway. Via Kathgodam, Nainital and Bhowali, driving on the picturesque road through pines I reached Ramgarh.

The scent of pines and the lovely view of the valley and the snow covered peaks welcomed me to my lovely abode - The Amaari Resort. 

Picture by Vinod Verma

The smiling staff showed me around and took me to my room. It's a huge property with 22 rooms and 3 villas located on a hill, Mine was a well designed room with huge glass window overlooking the valley. A hot shower after a somewhat tiring journey refreshed me to the core. A small walk in the woods there after made me forget all the worries and hurries of the busy city life and I was fully in the holiday mood.

The next day was spent exploring the surroundings. There's a lot that can be done in the area. Go to Mukteshwar temple located on a top of the hill, do bird watching at Maheshkhan, visit Sitla for a panoramic view of the gorgeous snow covered Himalayan ranges or just relax at the resort. I went to explore the nearby village Nathuakhan. Had fun time interacting with locals and having local sweets and snacks. After a tiring day, my evening was spent relaxing at the resort and enjoying the play of colors on the sky that created dramatic patterns along with clouds.

Picture by Vinod Verma

WHAT I LOVED:

The location:

A cozy corner in my room

The place had a welcoming aura to it.  It is placed beautifully on a hill amidst pine forest with a wonderful view of Himalayan peaks and is perfect for those looking for a relaxing vacation in the lap of nature.  Most of my time was spent by the huge glass window in my room sipping tea and watching the sky and peaks changing colors. I wasn't surprised to hear that Aamari is built on the same hill where the famous writer & poet – Rabindranath Tagore wrote the verses of his Nobel Award Winning Epic Geetanjali and also Poetess and Freedom Fighter Mahadevi Verma got the idea of writing her famous story “Lachma”.

The pool
The infinity pool overlooking the Himalayan ranges and the valley is the highlight of the resort. 

The range of activities:
Inspite of its remote location the resort has a wide range of activities to offer for all age groups and interests. The games room for kids, outdoor activities for the teenagers and adventurous lot, a well equipped gym for health freaks, the spa and sauna for relaxing, nature walks and bird watching for nature lovers. This makes the resort ideal getaway for group of friends, families and corporate, precisely everyone!

Activities in the resort

The classy restaurant and the smiling staff:
Tastefully done interiors combined with the tasty food and perfect service made the dining experience something to remember.
The well groomed local staff ever-ready to talk and help was commendable.

Picture by Vinod Verma

My cozy room, sleeping to the sound of wind passing through the pines, waking up to see the valley being slowly lit by warm sun rays, the nature and village walks in the day, the evening snacks and hot cup of tea by the pool side, watching the changing colors of the evening sky and sleeping while watching the stars at night... I loved it all!

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A Perfect Weekend Getaway Just A Few Hours Drive From Delhi!

Tip tap tip tap... as the drops of rain fall on the ground, on the leaves and on the slate roofs, we sit in a cozy balcony of our cottage sipping hot tea. We are surrounded by forest all around with a few village houses in the vicinity. Just a few moments before the golden rays of setting sun  had engulfed the whole valley creating dramatic patterns on the sky together with clouds.

Just 8 hrs drive from the capital city takes you to this tiny village Nathuakhan. It is a quiet place located at an altitude of 1940mt in Kumaon range of the central Himalayas. Just a kilometer before the market of Nathuakhan is a beautiful cottage that we had booked to spend a weekend in the lap of nature.

The drive from Delhi was enjoyable. We got to experience it all... sunny sky, clouds, rain, fog and again sun. We had no idea what the place will be like, all places look good online in pictures. But we were sure we will have good experience the moment we entered the place. There was warmth in everything. Ever-smiling staff to take care of every little thing; tastefully done interiors, nick-nacks placed in the outdoors; the cozy sitting areas inside and outside the cottage... that's exactly what we needed for a relaxing holiday away from the city.

A nice cup of tea in the lap of nature after 8 hrs long drive refreshed us

It's a paradise for bird watchers

Evening was spent exploring the surroundings. Small meandering path through fruit trees took us to the village. A small village with just a few houses with farms and the livestock. Just a kilometer away from the cottage was the local market.
A short drive little further took us to Sitla from where we got a breathtakingly beautiful view of the Himalayan ranges - Trisul, Nandadevi and Panchachuli. There's a shop here where you can buy locally made stuff that includes spreads, jams, juices, handicrafts etc.

Once back to our nest, we picked our corners to just relax and soak in the serenity of the place. The music from the wind chyme was the only sound we could hear. After a refreshing cup of tea, we all got together and enjoyed chatting in a cozy balcony lit by candle lamps creating a mystic effect.

We picked our corners to relax and soak in the serenity of the place

Had sumptuous dinner cooked and served with lots of care and love.

The living area became our favorite place. The wide range of books and music collection, the wooden interior, cozy couches made it a place you would want to spend days relaxing at. Just a night was not at all sufficient.

The living area 

I woke up to chirping of a bird on the window sill of the attic I stayed at. It was very early in the morning. The same lazy me who would not get up early morning for anything in the city, was up and straight at 5.30 am with no intentions to go back to bed again. Sitting in the small sit-out area of the attic sipping my morning tea, I could see the forest slowly getting lit and the life getting started in the village. The deep breaths of cool fresh air refreshed my body and soul. I was rejuvenated to take on the stress of busy city life again.

Bid goodbye to the team with a promise to be back again

It was a perfect getaway - "A home away from home" in a true sense!

----THE GUIDE----

HOW TO REACH:

On Road: New Delhi to Nathuakhan: 340 kms via Moradabad, Rampur, Rudrapur, Haldwani, Kathgodam, Bhowali, Malla Ramgarh, Talla Ramgarh. The journey takes approximately 8 hours. Parking lot available.
Other distances from Nathuakhan: Nainital - 40 km, Bhowali - 30 km, Mukteshwar - 14 km

By Train:

Ranikhet Express runs daily; Departure from Old Delhi at 10:40 PM, Arrival at Kathgodam at 5:20AM.

 Indian Railway Information available here

Khatgodam AC Express runs on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; Departure from Delhi Anand Vihar at 6:00 AM, Arrival at Kathgodam at 11:55 AM. Indian Railway Information available here
Take a taxi from Kathgodam to Nathuakhan, a hill journey of 60 km.

The Village Stay - Home away from home

THE STAY

The cottage has 5 rooms and an attic.

The Attic: Perfect for a group of 4-5 friends. The attic has an attached bath.


FOOD

Meals are scrumptious and home-cooked. Local produce sourced from home garden or the neighboring farms is used.
Breakfast is a hearty affair, complete with eggs, porridge, flakes, bread, jams and spreads, and even poha or idlis or upma or parathas.
Lunch is usually an Indian vegetarian spread. Kumaoni/ Gujrati/ Bengali etc. The spread consists of a daal, vegetables, yogurt, salad, rice & chapati/ puri.

Indian, Continental, Mediterranean or Chinese cuisine is served as per choice in dinner. It starts with soup, main and side dishes and dessert. Bar-Be-Que too can be arranged. Non-veg is served for dinner for those who prefer it.

You can book your stay in this cottage at Homestays of India

If you also know places like these, do share in comment section. Would love to know :)

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A Royal Retreat - Prim Resort PUSHKAR

Pushkar to me was primarily either a place for backpackers or for pilgrims till my last visit. Amazed and thrilled I was to experience a stay at a boutique resort in the heart of desert that gave me a royal experience in moderate prices.

Just 6 hrs from Delhi and 2 hrs from Jaipur, I find Pushkar as a perfect weekend getaway for everyone. Be it small treks to Gayatri and Savitri devi or relaxing hip-hop cafes, culturally rich locals to feel the pulse of Rajasthan or 400 temples for those with religious bend of mind; mesmerizing views of sunset at the dunes or a refreshing mornings at the lake!

A traditional welcome by the hospitable staff set the course for the royal stay that it was. Quite impressed I was to see the interiors of the rooms. Traditionally decorated, every room was different. In-spite of my tiring journey I could not stop myself to explore the resort and see their beautifully done rooms. I particularly liked the Haveli rooms with the colorful glass windows, huge wooden doors and old paintings. The lamp shades that gave the character to the rooms. Staff told me that these rooms are made keeping in mind the Rajasthani style of architecture with private sitting loungers facing the Aravalli and interiors are done like the heritage havelis.

Pushkar is a heaven for foodies and there is a lot to chose from in the market. There are cafes that serve best Italian and Israeli cuisines and there are places where you get delicious local food. And I was glad the resort food was no less. There is a variety of food to chose from and every dish I had, had that traditional flavor to it. 

The morning temple bells woke me up, I opened the window and you saw camels pass by with locals in colorful dresses. Was happy to see the atmosphere in the lawn. kids running and enjoying near the pool, a couple having morning tea in a cozy corner, men playing badminton in the garden. 

Spent my day exploring this little hamlet and its surroundings. I started with a hike to Gayatri Devi temple. From up there I got a good bird eye's view of Pushkar. Relaxed with a big glass of fresh fruit juice by the lake side cafe after coming back. visited old rangji temple as had heard a lot about its architecture. Got foot massage at a massage parlour just next to the temple. On the way back to the resort did some shopping. Got very good bargains for some silver jewelry, leather bag and some rose products. 

After resting for a few hours in the resort I planned to go and explore the desert area on camel. The dunes were not very far from the resort. Camels were stopped at a raised spot in midst of the dunes where I experienced mesmerizing sunset. And to add to the charm to the evening were a few kalbelia dancers who performed on some local tunes. 

The next day was spent relaxing at the resort and evening was at the lake first enjoying the nagara beats, then the arti and then there was a group playing music by the side of the lake. Perfect ending it was to the wonderful trip!

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CELEBRATING THE SILENCE - Prim Resorts, Ramgarh

Waking up was never so pleasing… the birdsongs, the tinkle of wind chimes, and the warm sun-rays filtering through the huge glass windows adorned with beautiful art curtains; open the curtains and your eyes will land upon the snow covered misty mountain range lit by golden sun rays. The bell rings in a school far away in the valley, the tree pie and cuckoo sing in synchrony, the bumble bee is busy buzzing on beautiful pink flowers... Welcome to Prim Resorts, Ramgarh Valley.  

View from the rooms of the resort

Nestled in the heart of Kumaon Himalayas (village Nathuakhan, Ramgarh) at 6200ft this heritage property oozes with tranquil old world charm and warmth. The beautiful estate has lush fruit orchards, a renovated bunglow and dense oak and pine forest cover.  There are eight aesthetically done cottages, and each room has its own distinct appeal.  The paintings, the little artifacts and the antique wooden pieces add pulse and character to the place. Wines climbing up the old trees, walls and the ceilings give this place a rustic charisma.

The rooms are very well maintained and have a beautiful old world charm. In spite of the seemingly rustic aura, all basic amenities like attached modern bathrooms are taken care of. A wood fire bukhari in every room keeps you warm and cozy the traditional way

Aesthetically done rooms

 The cook conjures up a variety of meals that one would least expect in a place like this. If you are visiting in summers you have the novelty to pick and relish fresh fruits like plum, peaches and apricot off the trees. What makes this place truly unique is the personized service and care from the staff. 

Catch up on your writing

This is a great place for a quiet repose. Lie in a hammock and read a book with breathtaking panoramic views of Himalayas for company, sip tea under sun umbrella overlooking the mountains, write that letter you have always wanted to at a little desk on the garden porch or stroll around the beautiful garden full of fruit trees and colorful flowers.

At any point in all directions is a stunning view of lush green hills that you will not be able to take your eyes off from. And it all comes wrapped in serene silence.

And when all that languor gets too much, ramble through the woods or village hamlets. Thirty minutes and you are in the tranquil courtyard of an isolated medieval temple; an hour and you can be beside a cool, gurgling stream - Sufi River. While you are walking towards this stream, soak in the Kumaoni life. Simple villagers will invite you for a cup of tea. Nathuakhan village is worth wandering through.

If you have some more time in hand visit Mukteshwar. The drive through Sitla Estate takes around 30 min through dense woods of deodar, silver oak, green oak and occasional rhododendrons. Take a forest walk by the side of the temple and check out the 180 degrees snow-covered Mountain View from the PWD bungalow which is famous for being associated with Jim Corbett when he had come to Mukteshwar to kill a maneater. On the way do visit Kilmora Shop for handicrafts and other local produce. 

The place is a paradise for nature lovers

Spend an afternoon basking in the sun and exploring the surroundings. This place is a paradise for nature-lovers and bird-watchers. The bunglow is located in midst of beautiful trees of deodar, Rhododendrons and oak and are frequented by birds like yellow vented bulbul, Asian koel, white crested laughing thrush, spotted dove and many others.

Fireplace makes a perfect setting for an evening drink

Join other people in the lounge for some adda in the evening. With the fireplace going, it makes for a cozy place for an evening drink or a cuddle up with your favorite thriller.

At sunset, bonfire will beckon from the sit-out outside the lounge. Witness the golden evening transforming into dark night. The silent valley, the twinkling stars, the rusty scent of the woods and some light music will touch your soul while fire warms your body.

This place is a perfect blend of chilly, silent air and warm hospitality!

PRIM RESORTS is a Collection of Boutique Resorts in most beautiful offbeat locations. For details and bookings visit their website http://www.primresorts.com/.

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A WILD ESCAPE - Corbett

With stress levels increasing in today’s competitive life, weekend getaway in the lap of nature is the best way to rejuvenate you. Corbett is one of the most sought after places for a quick escape. Just 6hrs drive from Delhi takes you to this beautiful place close to nature. While Corbett has plenty of accommodation options available finding a neat boutique hotel that is located in the heart of the jungle and moderately priced is not an easy task. Below is a brief of my stay. I hope my experience will help you make your search and decision-making easier!

After a lovely drive of around six hrs from Delhi we reached Ramnagar. An exciting drive started just a few minutes after we crossed the Kosi barrage that took us through the dense forest passing the grasslands and crossing the river beds. While we were driving through this magical land, a friend Pankaj who has already been here many times told us the tales of the area. He has witnessed a lot of wildlife here on this drive. Be it spotting beautiful little Himalayan birds or bumping into a herd of wild elephants or spotted deer one can expect anything. This drive is no less than a wild safari.

A beautiful drive through the Jungle that takes you to the resort

We passed through the uneven terrains enthralled and captivated by the beauty of the jungle. Shy golden rays of sun could hardly reach the wet bushes and leaves longing for its warm touch. We were mesmerized by the sight, sounds and scent of the jungle when we realized we have reached our destination - The PRIM Resort, located at Kyari - the buffer zone of Corbett National Park. Just outside the resort gate is a river bed that fills with water during monsoons. 
A warm welcome by the well trained soft spoken staff immediately made me feel at home. Just a walk around the nicely maintained beautiful resort was enough to assure me of a comfortable stay in coming days - hospitable staff, clean spacious tastefully decorated rooms with nice big bathrooms and hot water available 24hrs, enough green space and well trimmed gardens to walk around and a well maintained clean pool to relax.

A comfortable stay in midst of the forest

After relaxing for an hour, I pushed off to explore the village Kyari. Mud houses and the green fields, ladies working in the fields and carrying fodder, kids playing with sheep and old lady with her grandson sitting in the courtyard – I felt like I have been transported back to my childhood days. An elderly lady in one of the houses courteously invited me for a cup of tea. We sat in front verandah of her house looking at the sky. The sun was setting and the reflections of the setting sun on clouds created magical spell of colors.

Exploring life at village KYARI 

My group was relaxing by the pool side with some drinks and nicely prepared snacks when I reached back. I could not resist and joined them. The hotel staff deserves a mention here. They were extremely accommodating to our requests and went an extra step to ensure they are met. Delicious dinner was served absolutely on time.

A relaxing evening by the side of the pool 

Next day was dedicated to the adventure activities that the resort had organized for us. We did jungle safari in the first half of the day that was full of excitement while rappelling, rock climbing and river crossing at River Khichdi and body surfing satisfied our adventurous souls later in the day. I was quite skeptical in the beginning to try all this but as I met the expert and spoke to him, his assuring and comforting talks made me do it all. And now I thank him for instilling the courage in me else I would have missed the entire thrill.

River-crossing, Rappelling, Surfing and Jungle Safari to satisfy your adventurous soul

The guided lantern walk in the jungle after dusk was what the resort people offered us to do in the late evening. Though we were dead tired, could not resist it. Walking through the jungle at night was like a musical spell. The sound of cricket and occasional calls of deer mixed with the sound of rain drops on the saal trees resulted in a mystic effect beyond the darkness. Though we could not stay out for long due to rain, I decided to visit the place again just to do more of it. 

I wanted to spend the next day at leisure. It started with a hot cup of masala tea while watching mesmerizing sunrise. Post breakfast I picked up my book and walked up to the machaan (watch tower). PRIM is the only place around that has a machaan where you can sit and enjoy reading or keep an eye on the surroundings for some wildlife or sit at night with friends and chat.  Around the resort are many river beds. Spending some quiet my time on a huge boulder, feet dipped in water sitting in middle of the jungle refreshed me.

River beds with huge boulders all around offers an ideal setting to spend some quiet time with yourself

It being a pleasant weather I took a walk in and around the resort and tried to capture as much as I could in my eyes and camera. 

My tired city soul was now fully refreshed to start my journey back to the city

Important Information:

1. The resort is just 6hrs drive from Delhi through Gajrola, Moradabad, Kashipur and Ramnagar (around 240 km.) and is located at Kyari, the buffer zone of Corbett.
2. Resort Amenities: Swimming Pool; TT table; Library; 50 ft. high Machaan to enjoy the forest; Beautiful dining area overlooking the landscape and 60 seated conference hall.
3. Room prices for this resort starts at Rs. 4000 with meals for two. They give the best rates at www.primresorts.com'. 
4. Room Amenities: Tastefully done rooms with big sit out areas and gardens; TV; Intercom; AC/Heaters
5. Activities like River crossing, rappelling and body surfing can be organised on request
6. Jeep Safari to Corbett National Park can also be arranged. Pick and drop from the resort at no extra cost.

PRIM RESORTS is a Collection of Boutique Resorts in most beautiful offbeat locations. For details and bookings visit their website http://www.primresorts.com/.

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