Head for a long drive just to tuck into tasty vegetarian dishes or spend a cosy weekend – a new resort by the lake in Malshej Ghat is warm and welcoming.

A room with a view


Post a two-and-a-half hour journey that offered a panoramic view of the Sahyadris, we reached our destination, greeted by manicured lawns, a play area, a swimming pool and 15 rooms (plus a suite) that offer views of the mountains, the lake and a nearby farm too. With an unobstructed view of the lake from the balcony, our spacious, well-furnished room was comfortable, and we took a fancy to an indoor garden in the washroom (of course, separated by glass doors).

In food coma


Having been told that the resort was pure vegetarian, we stepped into Maati Baani restaurant with trepidation, expecting cottage cheese and potato overdose. However, a look at the menu allayed all fears. From a separate section featuring local delicacies like Methi Pithle and Baingan Bharta slow-cooked in earthen pits to a shorba infused with nachani, regional Maharashtrian, Kashmiri and Rajasthani fare along with innovative egg recipes, the menu packs a punch in terms of flavours and pricing too, with all the dishes capped under Rs 300. We particularly loved the tangy-spicy, smoked bharta, the piping-hot Nachani and Kulith soup (perfect for cold evenings), the well-cooked Kala Vatana Ussal along with the melt-in-the-mouth rice bhakris. We wouldn’t even mind driving down on a Sunday to tuck into the hearty, pocket-friendly fare.

The Zorb orb