Couple resort lonavala – Page 3 – Award-winning eco-friendly resort in Lonavala

Unveiling the Starlight Machan experience

The journey towards disconnect, revival, inner peace, and enlightenment requires a safe space. Space where you can be free from having to manage external concerns so that you can be free enough to take a journey inward. Your mind shifts from survival-based orientation to a more poetic, whimsical, and creative state of being that soak in the beauty and ignores outwardly muddle. That’s why at the Machan, we have thoughtfully designed these spaces for you so you can fully immerse in nature’s goodness.

The Starlight Machans strikes a perfect balance between natural bliss and modern comfort. The ideal, translucent roofs of these Starlight Machans, let you soak in the distinctive beauty of the forest and the night sky. The elegant space provides you comfort, peace, and privacy along with all the contemporary amenities.

The forest takes on a distinct life of its own under the influence of the night sky. You will indulge in that immersive experience in our luxury resort near Mumbai. Each of our five Starlight Machans offer a unique and captivating ambiance, that’s perfect for a romantic stay.

The Starlight Machans have duplex bedrooms, with separate bathrooms, so they easily accommodate a family of four. The charming settings to dine and unwind, including a four-poster bed, and an antique writing table. To top it all off, there’s a pool underneath the guest bedroom for you to just laze or revel in.

The large glass walls of the Machans, including the ceiling section above the bed, offer an unrestricted view of the surroundings. At night, the sky reveals all its glory, providing a rare opportunity for urban dwellers to immerse themselves in its sensational beauty. In monsoons, rain pours through the glass and strikes the ceiling, creating the most beautiful orchestra. It makes you forget all those ear-splitting traffic horns.

The private deck in front of the master bedroom contains a bathtub and an open shower so you can soak in the beautiful sunset while dousing in the plunge bath. At Machan, we are very cautious about your privacy. It is ensured by dense trees, bordering all the Machans, which hide them from one another. The resort is beautifully planned without disturbing the natural foliage in the area.

The Starlight Machans provide an escape from city noise and blinding lights. The sight of starry nights is a rarity in most metro cities, as the sky is curtained by pollution. Here, at our luxury resort near Mumbai, you witness what nature has to offer. You gaze upon the distant yet mesmerizing constellations such as Orion, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Ursa Major/Minor, Sirius, Venus, Mars, etc. October through May is the best time to visit our luxury resort near Mumbai if you’re particularly interested in watching constellations. Our naturalists accentuate your star-gazing experience with facts, myths, and stories.

The most sensual thing one can experience is mysterious. While stargazing, it’s hard to be self-centered as you submerge into the enormity of the universe. The stars are calling, from our luxury resort near Mumbai, and you must visit.

The Machan Architecture

” Our thoughts shape our spaces, but our spaces return the favor. .”
Steven Jonhson

We shape our environment and our environment shapes us back, we are a product of our surroundings. A way to mediate our interiority, aside from mindful self-inquiry and meditation, is through harnessing the power of the built environment, which is Architecture. It is a revolutionary concept that we can architect the mind by architecting the space around us.

Why do form and function matter?

The design, shapes, shadows, and forms have a great impact on human subjectivity. Holy spaces, Cathedrals are monumental in nature, and witnessing majestically beautiful designs and spaces transcends us to a state of aesthetic arrest. The open corridors, spacious halls, high ceilings, and floating treehouses in the midst of the forest are a few of the things that inspire awe.

The Machan started with a vision of creating an accommodation that reflects the idea of, “designing with nature”. It is built to portray that construction doesn’t mean the demolition of the surroundings. Our purpose is to dissever our guests from the city life. Our guests are not contained or limited to a small view from a window. Rather, they are exposed to an unrestricted view of the vast, endless, and majestic forest that leaves them spellbound.

The location was a mountain slope and the area was limited. So, we decided to make the house around a wild fig tree. On the one side we had a ramp that connects it to the falttish part and the tree becomes a coutyard where the house is built.
Shabbir Unwala, the architect

Every single Machan is a universal space. We refrained from putting walls between the living and the dining area so that the guests can enjoy a big open space. Bedrooms are concealed by wooden partitions. We are meticulous about the privacy of our guests that’s why all the Machans are intelligently placed where they are curtained by dense trees. It strikes the perfect balance between life and luxury. Nature’s therapy can be enjoyed while being nicely tucked in the comfort of your machans.

One of the greatest challenge is building the machan was to keep the modernity and the automated comfort intact while blending in the natural elements. We ensure this convenience in our Stargazing Machans with the retractable roof, that unveils the mesmerizing night sky with a single click. The architecture of the Machan is crafted to give you a completely immersive experience of the surroundings.

Every Machan is unique in itself. As they have a personality of their own, guests find it easier to choose one as it matches their requirements and their desired aura. This leads to a more personalized experience. Below are the highlights from each of our Machans:

The Heritage Machan incorporates a hanging room that makes you feel aloft while you savor the scenery. A Loft is also built 40 feet above this Machan, which provides a complete 360-degree view of Jambulne and the surroundings.

The Starlight Machan is your doorway to the stars as it lets you sleep under the night sky bejeweled with stars. The experience in bewitching. It also allows you to witness several constellations through the telescope that we provide.

The Canopy Machan is made from 100% recycled hardwood that contributed to the master bedroom, a bathroom, and a private deck. It has only glass walls so guests can have uninterrupted views of the surroundings.

The Jungle Machan truly brings out the jungle experience as real trees, sprouting from the floor are fully stretched through the roof. The goal of living in harmony with nature is completely realized in the Jungle Machan.

The Forest Machan is truly fascinating as it floats 45-55 feet above the ground. This Machan is perfect for a family getaway as it is children-friendly and offers spacious rooms where you can spend time with your family.

The Sunset Machan is designed as a loft suite that has four distinct sections. It is known for its spectacular sunrise and sunset views. It is perfectly placed for guests to soak in the morning sun and watch the sky showcase brilliant shades of red and yellow when the sun goes down the valley.

The Cabin: The Machan also offers a secluded cabin for those who love their time away from the noise. It is built on the ground so it has a different look to it. It resembles those ancient samurai houses in Japan with its sliding rood that bends on the edges and the open porch with a water feature.

Woods Machan: Our Woods Machan is designed to be cozy and snug, with its fireplace, to keep you warm in the chilly nights. Sunlight filters through the tall trees and reveals seductive shades of solid brass in the Wood Machan. It’s both couples and eco-friendly.

The architecture of the Machan is planned to mirror our main purpose, which is, being at one with nature. It is uplifting to see our vision coming to life.

Carbon Neutrality at the Machan

As we idly sit by locked up in our homes and waiting on the world to change, we must realize that it is up to us to change it. This year let’s focus on reimagining and recreating the future by restoring the environment. We are capable of great deeds but often lack the emotion to execute them. Let’s find it in our hearts to be gentle to the future generation by increasing biological diversity, eliminating waste, and reducing our carbon footprint.

The Hospitality Industry and its Carbon Footprint

The hotel industry is currently responsible for 21% of the global carbon footprint and is projected to increase up to 25% by 2035. An average hotel uses its energy on space heating (31%), water heating (22%), refrigeration (31%), cooking (12%), and lighting (3%). This seems to be a very heavy price to pay for luxurious living. Can’t we find a balance between life and luxury?

Carbon Neutrality

Carbon neutrality refers to achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be done by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal or by eliminating emissions from society. As of today, the world generates 36 billion tons of carbon each year, while in India, one person is estimated to generate 1.91 tons each year. India as a country produces 2.5 billion tons of CO2 every year, which is 6.8% of the total global emissions. We all must do our part to decrease our carbon footprint, and achieve carbon neutrality for a sustainable future.

Carbon Neutrality at the Machan

At the Machan, we follow the sustainability model of people planet, and profit. This reflects in our philosophy of preservation, conservation, and community. The Machan is targeting to achieve carbon neutrality by 2023. We hope we can inspire other resorts worldwide to start their journey on becoming carbon neutral.

The journey towards Carbon Neutrality

Carbon neutrality can be achieved in the hotel industry through the following ways.

Using Solar and wind energy: We are primarily powered by solar and wind energy and built sustainably for the future.
Barren Land Adoption and Tree Plantation: Over a thousand new trees are planted every year, which has been a 25-year long effort of converting barren land into lush greenery.
Protecting Biological Diversity: We protect 100 acres around the Machan from hunting, overgrazing, and tree cutting.
Greywater Recycling: We recycle all grey water and utilize it to water the plants.

World Bicycle Day: Finding the balance

We all remember that sense of accomplishment when we rode a bicycle successfully for the first time. Constantly worried about falling down, but as we grew up, we realized that riding a bicycle is just like riding through life. We are always trying to perfectly balance ourselves on those slim wheels of life, without plummeting on either side…

Those nostalgic bicycle rides with our childhood friends used to be our daily dose of happiness and joy, but the pollution of modern-day city life seem to have clouded those memories. This world bicycle day, we at the Machan try to revive and relive that same experience in the midst of nature, and hope to find the right balance between nature and luxury.

Why World Bicycle Day is celebrated?

We celebrate the uniqueness and longevity of the bicycle to reimagine, recreate and restore the future. In a study conducted by the Institute of Transportation and Development Policy, it was found that in the present scenario, bikes and e-bikes make up 6% of total miles traveled in world cities. If by 2050, bikes and e-bikes make up 14% of travel, there would be an overall 11% reduction in carbon emissions.

World Bicycle Day 2021

2021 is the era of eco-awakening. It draws attention towards a futuristic and sustainable transportation system that promotes economic growth, reduces inequality while supporting the fight against climate change. In many progressive and eco-centric countries, people are making this switch from cars to bicycles whenever they can.

Bicycles are simple, affordable, and environmentally sustainable means of transportation. It is an amazing sight when a group of bikers in their pointy little helmets and gears, pass you by in whoosh. You instantly get motivated to ride a bicycle yourself!

Cycling along the Western Ghats at the Machan

Riding a bicycle among lush greenery amplifies its physical and psychological benefits. The Machan is the only resort in Lonavala that lets you explore a biological hotspot in the Western Ghats within the protected paths of the Machan. Hop on to one of our bicycles and take it for a spin anytime you want!

Benefits of cycling to the environment

Riding a bicycle reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of air pollutants like methane, carbon dioxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. The largest car factory is 70 million square feet, making 3,800 cars a day, which is 13,87,000 cars in a year, which is an additional 63,80,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year. Doesn’t that number shock you? Be a part of something greater than yourself to save valuable green spaces from deforestation by adopting the habit of riding a bicycle. The global average carbon footprint per person is 4 tons, which needs to drop to 2 tons by 2050 to ensure a sustainable future. Won’t you like to be a part of this revolutionary journey?

The Eco- Awakening Movement

We often forget the fact that over a million species on this planet are prone to extinction! The millennial generation has been declared as the most charitable, environmentally sound and caring generation in history. The global search percentage for terms related to biodiversity have increased over 65% globally, since 2016. It’s heart-warming to witness this wave of change that has the potential to rinse the old and detrimental human practices that harm nature. Rising concerns over the destruction of biodiversity are being reflected upon social media, as people show a great level of interest. We are currently a part of the eco-awakening movement that’s escalating quickly throughout the globe.

What is Eco-Awakening?

Eco-Awakening means that we as human beings are being increasingly mindful of the disruption that we cause towards nature and its gifts. We’re moving towards more sustainable ways of living and conducting business that is harmonious with the environment’s well-being. This provides humanity a golden chance to fix its relationship with nature and re-establish a stronger positive one.

Frequent protests are being conducted against government deals that deteriorate forests and wildlife. The youth is raising questions and demanding solutions for the problems created by generations before them.

Since today is National Endangered Species Day, we would like to raise awareness regarding a few majestic species that are prone to endangerment in the Western Ghats.

Pangolin: Pangolins are often hunted as they are a source of protein and have unfounded medicinal benefits. They are traded in the international market, particularly in China and Vietnam for their meat and scales. According to the Seizure reports, around 3,000 Pangolins were hunted from 2009 to 2013. During the same period, 5,000 kg of Pangolin scales were also confiscated in 25 seizures. IUCN has declared these creatures as critically endangered.

Nilgiri Wood Pigeon: These beautiful native Indian birds are found in the Western Ghats and are distributed in the states of west Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra. They occur in altitudes from 50 to 2,250 meters. Nilgiri Wood Pigeons require dense forests to survive, and they feed on wild fruits, berries, flowers, and leaves. According to IUCN, they are vulnerable to extinction.

Nilgiri Pipit: The habitat of this little bird, which is the grassland, is gradually being converted to plantations of tea, eucalyptus, and silver wattle. It’s common to find the Nilgiri Pipit at heights of 2,000 metres but it sometimes descends as low as 1,000 meters. Its typical diet includes creeping grass in the valley. It builds a nest in marshy grasslands with slightly taller grasses and sedges, particularly near streams. It has also been declared vulnerable to extinction by IUCN.

Kondana Soft Furred Rat: This furry rat is only found in Sinhgarh, a small plateau of about one square km at altitude of 1,270 meters in south-western India. It’s a tad bit larger than common rats. It lives in tropical and subtropical dry deciduous forests, and scrubs. It’s losing its habitat to overgrazing and increased disturbance due to unfretted tourism. It also falls under the category of critically endangered species.

Red Sand Boa: It’s a non-venomous snake found in India, Pakistan, and Iran. It’s also identified as the two-headed snake for its round tail that looks like a head. Its reddish-brown thick body with small keeled scales looks glossy. It can grow up to 2-3 feet on average. It feeds on rodents and other little snakes. Its IUCN status stands at Near Threatened.

At the Machan, we believe in the principles of preservation, conservation, and community. Hence, we heavily patrol the 25 acres at The Machan and 50 acres around us to prevent deforestation, hunting, and over-grazing. We are devoted to doing our part, it’s time you join us too.

Activities at the Machan

Has your life been a little monotonous lately?

The award-winning luxury retreat is here to your rescue! The Machan provides an array of soothing activities that will help you unwind and elevate your spirits.

Bid adieu to the stressful city life and indulge yourself in The Machan experience. All this while protecting the wild treasures of nature.

At the Machan, you can find privacy and freedom in the lap of nature. We believe in the concept of preservation and conservation, while enhancing the community. A place to calm your soul amidst the forest; to recharge and rejuvenate.

A set of activities at the Machan for you to connect with nature:

Trekking

At the Machan, you can enjoy a 2.54 km long trek, with panoramic 360 views of the Western Ghats, on our private protected path. Where you can be intimate with nature and challenge yourself to higher peaks.

In this resort in Lonavala, guests are delighted by the serenity, an experience they cannot get enough of. The morning zephyr whispers the song of energy and adventure and is worth getting up in the morning to watch the sunrise.

Yoga

Yoga can recharge and revive your mind, body, and soul. Our trained yoga instructors know how to calm your senses through various asanas and transcend you to the river of reality.

Yoga at the Machan helps you appreciate in little things in life.

Spa

The sybaritic Aranya Spa is a hymn to nature, intriguing to the senses yet calming to the mind. The slow sound of the falling water, the fine incense of ouzo and anise, and a variety of treatments offering different experiences designed to awaken your senses.

The Aaranya Spa at the Machan is crafted specially for full body massages by expert therapists specialized in Ayurvedic therapies.

Shinrin-Yoku

Experience the ancient Japanese art of Shinrin-Yoku at the Machan. The Japanese embraced this art and used it as an Eco–therapy. The purpose of Shinrin-Yoku was twofold. Firstly, they to offer an eco-antidote to the everyday technological fatigue, and also to inspire residents to reconnect and protect the forests. The sound of leaves and the scent of wood provides us a sense of comfort. In our protected forests, amid the chirping of birds, you’ll connect with the forest. You will be at one with nature, and nature will be at one with you.

Star Gazing

Gaze into the open cluster of the celestial hunter, Orion in our private stargazing session. The clear sky above our luminous forests is home to millions of stars that puts city lights to shame. You can rejoice under the twinkling stars or gape deeper into the universe through our high-end telescopes. After that, you’ll have the best good night’s sleep ever.

Private Bonfire

Watch the embers reflect upon your loved one’s eyes at our private bonfire. Wander and decorate your memories with love and epic adventures. Collect stories people won’t believe and memories that’ll keep you warm in your twilight years. These are just a few things that you can do at the Machan. Nature has a lot more, waiting for you. All you need to do it find it.

Road trips: Socially distant by design

With aviation services not being considered as a safe mode of travel due to the pandemic, it gave a push to road travel as travelling in personal vehicles and rented cars emerged as a much safer option. Lately, we have found that most of our guests are locals, who live close to our luxurious treehouses in Lonavala.

This trend is most likely to continue in 2021, as a traveller will continue to choose road trips rather than flights. It is excellent for couples, families, and is socially distant by design. At The Machan, most of our guests plan a road trip to Lonavala from Mumbai or Pune. Most resorts near Mumbai are currently not operational due to Covid-19.

In this issue of the travel bug, we would like to help plan your perfect road trip, with our ultimate tips and trends, it would certainly be a one-of-a-kind experience. Here are our promising tips to plan your perfect road trip.

Budget: The initial thing to define is the budget for the road trip. This analysis affects the choice you make, and it has to be revised once you’ve chosen your destination, and have started to make your bookings. Hence, planning out your overall budget, and your daily expenses can help you make better options.

Choose a destination: Every road trip should have an objective. It shouldn’t be wherever the road takes you! That’s just wandering around. Have a place in mind that you want your road trip to end in. We urge you to choose the machan!

Build your itinerary: This means picking out interests that you want to see during your road trip. You must spend time looking at the maps, reading, and trying to understand what is possible and what is not. Download offline maps, or have paper maps with you. At the machan, we will provide you with a map of the entire property.

Stock up on water and fuel: Driving in remote locations can have its cons, hence carrying sufficient water and fuel is always important. Don’t rely on buying water bottles. 5-6 plastic water bottles a day don’t help the environment.

First aid kit: Never leave for a long road trip without a first aid kit. Some of the key things to pack include compression bandages, Band-Aids, antibiotics, eye drops, moisturizing cream, hand sanitiser, sunglasses/safety glasses, and mosquito repellent.

Take a break: Driving tired is one of the most dangerous things anybody can do. It is highly advised to stay well-rested, hence taking a break from driving is important.

Interview: Sustainable travel

We anonymously asked around travellers and influencers what they think about sustainability through two simple questions.

Q: What changes will you make to your travel plans for 2021?

A: Travelling always makes me delighted, hence I have started planning more solo trips, or only a few friends. We usually go trekking, and camping in remote areas, which keeps us socially distant from the rest.

A: Travelling has always been a hobby of mine, it soothes me, and calms me down. The 2020 restraints have now made me more conscious, and I take many socially distant measures while travelling.

A: We would love to visit The Machan again, especially during these times. It is the only resort near Mumbai, that is socially distant by design.

Q: As a traveller how do you show your responsibility towards the environment?

A: We carry our water bottles and refill them whenever we can, using mineral water bottles is something we should stop completely. They are single-use and are often littered all over the mountains.

A: The pandemic should be taken as a lesson by everyone to be more apprehensive and concerned about the environment.

A: As a traveller after the Covid-19 situation, I travel with all the safety precautions, and try not to cause any harm to the destination.

A: Travelling reignites the fire in a drowsy soul, and every traveller should fulfil their obligation and support eco-friendly resorts. The hospitality industry takes up a lot of resources and rarely gives anything back to the environment. It is time for a change in this industry. Eco-resorts are the future of travel!

The treehouse dream of an artist

Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected. We live in a society based on production, where we are indeed very productive, but we often forget to be creative. The people who are building the future, they need poets and artist to make sense of what the future actually is. And somewhere between the traffic, and fast-moving city life, many talented artists often fail to find the time to create something magical and everlasting.

One of the main reasons why we believe in offering a disconnect is that so that many artists can find the peace and quiet to reconnect with their inner self and let their imagination paint the canvas, with colors and poetry. The results of our efforts have truly been fascinating and extraordinary. We are extremely flattered to have been a small part of the creative journey of these wonderful artists.

We would like to share some of these beautiful creations that make us think of a simpler, quieter time. Here is a poem about being in the state of true presence, where all your senses are elevated by the sound of birds and fresh air, a moment where we don’t think about the past, or worry about the future, a moment where we are truly present.

“Sunlight filters through the canopy of leaves,
Leaves crunch beneath soft feet,
Birds sing and gentle winds whistle,
And the trees sway in unison, as one,
And as they sway, the forest dances,
Pulsating with life
So I let nature speak
I close my eyes…
I breathe
I listen
I feel
Till I can hum with the birds,
And dance with the trees,
And hear my heartbeat fall into sync with the movement of the winds through the branches

And I feel calm
I feel at home
I feel alive”
picturing_poetry

Here is a painting of the reception area at the machan, painted by our talented guest Darshana Thatte

Flip through this wonderful machan sketchbook created by our guest @siddhisurte about her machan experience.

Sharing beautiful moments when art and beauty are born is always inspirational. We hope this short compilation inspires the artist within you to create.

10 perfect tree house moments: The Machan Gallery

“With a treehouse and a little imagination, you can go almost anywhere. “
Anonymous

Keeping this in mind, we launched the machan gallery to celebrate the best photographs clicked by our guests at the machan.

The Machan Gallery Vol 2

We defy impermanence with our films, poems, and photographs. Each photograph has a hidden subtext that says ‘I will not let go!.’ Every month we get to see so many amazing pictures clicked at the machan. And a few of these amazing pictures are truly extraordinary.

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”
Jonathan Swift

Hence, we decided to support their creative vision by nominating them for an award. We believe even a small event like this could lead to greater things for our talented guests.

We have managed to conduct two contests so far, and the response has been beyond our wildest imaginations. We are glad that a small tree house resort in Lonavala can inspire people to be creative, and they help us see the world through their colorful lens, changing the way we perceive things. The winners of the contest receive vouchers and goodies for their next machan visit.

Let us hear what a few of our winners have to say about their victory.

Thank you so much for nominating me. This made my day.’ –
Priyanka Deshmukh

Thank you
Kreetika Sharma

‘Thank you so much for the appreciation, when I was clicking this picture, I didn’t realize it will reward me back in such a pleasurable manner. As they say, you do good and good things comes back to you. My stay at machan was one hell of a great experience and now this is like a cherry on top.’
Mukul Vaswani

A creative moment occurs when something bigger than ourselves finds its way through us. Creativity is the interconnection between disparate concepts or ideas to reveal something new.

We hope that the machan continues to inspire people to be more creative, which will further spread our message of conservation, preservation and community.

Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take a moment and make it perfect. Check out the other nominees in the gallery below.