A pet-friendly holiday destination in Lonavala

Located in a less crowded convenient spot in Lonavala House Of Bliss not only welcomes city folks but their pets too Surrounded by lush greenery and openness itrsquos a pet haven mdash especially when you pay just R1000 per pet per day When we dropped by we met with Mumbaibased Lakshmi Varyani Makhija who had brought along her pet dog Whiskey for a short break It was her fifth visit and whiskey accompanies her often as the open spaces are a huge attraction for the spacestarved canine ldquoThe caretakers are warm Whiskey is a little fussy about food so we usually carry his food along but the caretakers help us prepare boiled rice and boiled chicken for his meals This makes it convenient for us and keeps us coming backrdquo reveals Makhija getting back to her lsquometimersquo with her BoxerThe house storyThe bungalowrsquos oldest caretaker Gangoobai fondly called Maushi Chandan also called Babu and his wife Shilpa treated us well What we liked most was the two beautiful green stretches of manicured lawns at the front and the back of the house Itrsquos perfect for kids to play pets to run around and even for you to park yourselves in an armchair with a book just like we did Itrsquos easy to spot birds and squirrels here tooLakshmi Varyani Makhija a guest with her pet WhiskeyEquipped with most modern amenities including a 42inch LED TV itrsquos also possible to convert the space into your private movie hall or a dance floor to cater to larger groups It is equipped with a projector and sound system The villa houses three bedrooms two large and one small The two rooms and the living room have enough space for additional mattresses The rooms open to the lawns In the distance one can spot the lower ranges of the Sahyadris There is also a kitchen with all cooking equipment and crockery in case yoursquore in the mood of cookouts See box for optionsThe green lawn after a passing showerManasi Bungalow was founded nine years back by Kamlesh Bhatia and Minal Bhatia when the concept of a homestay wasnrsquot popular Their daughter Manasvi Bhatia currently handles the bookings and management ldquoThe idea of renting out the property emerged since my father had to move to Kutch Since we couldnrsquot visit the Lonavala outhouse often they decided to let out the bungalow to friends and family for gatherings and partiesChapattis rice salad Mutton Curry and beans cooked with potatoes cooked by inhouse chef Sunita at House Of BlissIn nine years wersquove achieved a vast clientelerdquo shares Manasvi What sets this space apart from typical homestays is that they offer a free platform to budding as well as established women entrepreneurs to sell products without taking a charge or a commission on the goods sold One can choose from labels such as Gia Bath And Body Works Pappco Greenware Accessory Funk and Its Our StudioThe bungalow supports women from rural villages of Kutch by showcasing their handcrafted quilts The caretaker can display the goods to interested folk They also offer their premises to NGOs for complimentary oneday picnics or onenight stays with a basic staff Recently they played host to the National Association For The Blind NAB Senior citizens are offered a tariff with a discount according to their age and a special package where the accompanying members get a 50 off on their stay Soon they will be hosting an event for women photographers from across the country as wellWhat else to doWe relaxed for most of the day as itrsquos ideal to unwind Several of Lonavala attractions are nearby so if yoursquore around for a longer stay driving down to reach them is perfect If you are large group the spacious living room and the lawn make for good options for activities What we didnrsquot like The two spacious suites have bathrooms that need to be reworked with modern fittings while a few plumbing issues need fixing There are a lot of mosquitoes despite the coils so do not forget to carry a repellentHow to ReachFrom Mumbai Take the second exit for Lonavala Once you pass the Khalapur toll on the right you will see Man Shaktirsquos hoarding Drive through the lane next to it and go straight After passing Lodha villas Hotel Aristro take the slope right before New Royal Caterers and the second right after going down the slope yoursquoll spot Manasi BungalowTariffTariff for small group bookingsRs 2000 per head for a suite attached with living room and addition of a veranda and lawn for a 24 hour stayWeekday and Weekend packagesRs 25000 for up to 15 people for a one and a half day stayCheck in 10 amCheck out Following day 6 pm Weekday packages Rs 12 000 for up to 15 people for a one day picnic Check in 10 am Check out Same day 7pmJust like home One of the best things about the stay is the food Orders can be placed with house chef Sunita who works at the nearby TCS guesthouse Her mutton curry stuffed brinjal dal and chapattis are simple and delicious as were her mixed pakodas which we savoured in the evening when it rained She is open to suggestions and requests as well The portions are generous It would cost R400 per person veg meals R500 per person nonveg meals This includes breakfast lunch and dinner You can also order food from hotels dhabas nearby many of who offer a basic discount on being a Manasi Bungalow guest