Discover India, Experience India

The canvas of travel in India is a multi-hued jewel of possibilities. From quick weekend escapes to leisurely sojourns in some beauteous mountain location – or even a thrilling white water rafting experience that brings out the adrenalin-pumping junkie in you, Discovering India…Experiencing India, is an unforgettable journey delights for all of us to pursue with untrammelled joy.

Our love for travel has never been more challenged than it has been during the pandemic. The adventurers in us, who are addicted to discovering new places and new things in much loved old places, are so happy that the pandemic appears to be on the wane. Who can deny the thrill of making holiday plans, packing our bags and dreaming about all the exciting things we can do that are on our bucket lists.

India offers travellers of all age groups some of the world’s most alluring places to explore, revive flagging spirits and fill our memory bank with many treasured experiences. India’s fantastic history and heritage, its cultural diversity and its amazing natural settings offer vacationers a slew of thrilling narratives to uncover. In some situations the allure may be of the journey being the destination, or it could be a beautiful resort or even some lesser known unpolluted environs where sustainable living is pursued vigorously.

Delving deep into the places that we visit can be pivotal to making the unfamiliar, familiar. Engaging with local communities provide us with more immersive experiences to enjoy, be it while chatting with vendors in the market, learning a craft from a local artisan, taking photos at a beach of fisherman bring in the night’s catch, discovering how to make a new dish at the home of a local family…

Watching the ravishing drama of a sunset from a garden in a mountain resort…soaking up the sublime sustenance of an aarti ceremony at a beloved temple… joining locals sampling tasty kebabs from a smoky grill at a roadside stall…taking part in a community eco-drive—Immersive experiences such as these do truly enrich your travel.

The agents of change can be even the most innocuous things, when you look on travel as a fantastic learning experience. It could be your knowledgeable host at a resort you are staying at, it could be a fisherwoman’s take on life as she’s making a fish curry from the night catch her husband brought in on the boat with others in the community, or it could even be the gardener at a hotel telling you how to start growing your own veggies in a pot on your verandah back home…

Travels around India will transform your outlook even if in some small measure about the most mundane things. And for the traveller, this in itself is pivotal to reimagining one’s world again and again with each new discovery, each new experience. The tedium of everyday life can be a burdensome thing, and so even that weekend holiday that you allow yourself can make life bearable with your new discoveries and new experiences that you bring back from the places that you have visited. Sharing this all with your friends and family on your return is in fact half the fun of travel.

THE RETURN TO INNOCENCE

As the world gradually emerges from the recent pandemic, it has certainly awakened us to new possibilities, a greater sense of awareness and a greater appreciation for the many things we used to take for granted. For the travel industry, it has meant a serious introspection and a time to reinvent itself and come out stronger, more efficient, and more resilient than it was with the leaps forward in technology adoption. As the proverb says, ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ and today, the number of not just start-ups in the travel tech and hospitality tech space but also the acceptability of the same for implementation is grown exponentially. From the way reservations are made, check ins are done, menus are read and even payments made, this has been the fastest transition to technology witnessed in the recent past.

On the other hand, what the pandemic has also done is given us time to reconnect with nature and ourselves and get that much needed break while the Earth healed itself from anthropogenic activities. During the period of the lockdown, carbon monoxide emissions reduced by over 50%, particulate matter reductions in India going down by 60% compared to 2019, airborne particle levels reducing to a twenty year low within a week of the first national lockdown, the list goes on. With a halt in commercial activities on the seas and oceans, aquatic life also saw a calm and resurgence. Beaches were immaculate, the Himalayas could be seen clearly again from places as far as Punjab, animals and birds returned to places from where they had virtually disappeared, and forests thrived. Going forward we must ensure the sustainable balance between commercial growth, industrialization, and planet protection.

For Mayfair Hotels & Resorts, a luxury, boutique hospitality brand that has an adage of ‘stay with us, stay with nature’, the timing couldn’t be better as it embarks on new expansions through India

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For Mayfair Hotels & Resorts, a luxury, boutique hospitality brand that has an adage of ‘stay with us, stay with nature’, the timing couldn’t be better as it embarks on new expansions through India. Already with a dominant presence in Odisha and the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalayas, the birth of the country’s first true luxury tea resort amidst an iconic 1000-acre tea estate – The Mayfair Tea Resort at Siliguri happened during the pandemic. Being at the foothills of the mighty Himalayas, along with the vast expanse of tea bushes, the resort is the perfect blend of leisure with business and events with a wide range of accommodation, dining, venues and settings that compliment every occasion. What’s more is that it is the perfect complement to the three hill resorts of Mayfair at Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Gangtok.

The pandemic also saw the Mayfair brand launch its new management vertical where it is already set for establishing its presence in more destinations including Guwahati, Kurseong, Purnia, North Goa, Jharsuguda and Alibag. The brand has a penchant for creating iconic landmarks in every city present. It has its roots in the humble steel city of Rourkela in Odisha and over the years have become synonymous with opulent luxury amidst nature.

Red Hill Nature Resort offers an exceptional staycation for
visitors looking for an eco-friendly holiday. Whatever you
experience here is driven by the key themes of ‘organic’ and
‘sustainability’, which are rooted in the ethos of the functioning of the estate and the values of the family, who own the property.

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While Mayfair has also been able to take the guest experience to the next level in terms of contactless technology available at one’s fingertip and further their commitment to responsible luxury, the mark of a good trip is the people one comes across. Travel connects you with nature, connects you with culture and the people at Mayfair are evangelical about the brand, the city and culture where it is present. And that’s possibly why once one stays at a Mayfair, they keep coming back. So don’t plan your next trip to a destination, plan it to a Mayfair.

RED HILL NATURE RESORT

Located on the outskirts of Ooty hill station in the western Nilgiri Hills, Red Hill Nature Resort offers an exceptional staycation for visitors looking for an eco-friendly holiday. The Red Hills have been so named after a memorable piece of England by the British on arriving here in these pristine environs.

Your stay on the colonial-days tea estate hold the promise of many memorable moments spent in the heart of nature for the entire family. Whatever you experience here is driven by the key themes of ‘organic’ and ‘sustainability’, which are rooted in the ethos of the functioning of the estate and the values of the family, who own the property.

The personalised treatment of guests and the host of beautifully curated nature-centric activities making the Red Hills experience an alluring one. From hikes and nature walks to tea tasting and organic farming, visitors can fill their days with great learning experiences while having loads of fun. Its proximity to many lakes, forested hill trails and tribal communities in the area, all add to that extra mileage the hosts capitalise on to make their guests happy.

You will love the spacious independent cottage accommodations on the estate, serving up views of the gorgeous environs. Meals at Red Hill celebrate the bounty of Nature. Heirloom recipes, an accomplished, organic-oriented chef and the produce from the kitchen garden are every reason for guests to linger in the dining area in the main house.

Itmenaan Estate near Binsar wildlife sanctuary is set in a peaceful rural setting in the Kumaon Himalayas, surrounded by a 10-acre estate that includes virgin pine, oak, and rhododendron trees; terraced fields laden with seasonal fruits, and vegetables; and to top it all, a small private perennial natural spring.

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ITMENAAN ESTATE

In the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, lies the pristine, almost unexplored region of Kumaon. Kumaon offers some of the most stunning scenery of the entire Himalayas including the loftiest Himalayan peaks, oak and rhododendron jungles, terraced fields, and fastmoving rapids and rivers.

Most importantly, the Kumaon region is inhabited by simple and pious people, who have been able to preserve their unique culture and traditions in spite of the onslaught of the modern. Kumaon is also famous for its old temples, Jageshwar and Chitai, wildlife sanctuaries, Binsar and Corbett and hill stations, Almora, Bhimtal, and Nainital.

Fortune Resort Sullivan Court in Ooty is a perfect destination to unwind and relax. This beautiful family resort offers a choice of 67 rooms with most of them providing scenic view of the slopes and is an ideal getaway for a fun-filled vacation with family and friends.

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Our award-winning stay – Itmenaan Estate near Binsar wildlife sanctuary is set in a peaceful rural setting in the Kumaon Himalayas, surrounded by a 10-acre estate that includes virgin pine, oak, and rhododendron trees; terraced fields laden with seasonal fruits, and vegetables; and to top it all, a small private perennial natural spring. The estate offers panoramic views of the Himalayas including the majestic Nanda Devi.

Naugaon village near Itmenaan Estate is a 300 meters ascent from the stream, one gets a sense of having traveled back in time. The villagers are untouched by city life and still lead a contented sustenance lifestyle. All houses are constructed in traditional Kumaoni architecture with locally available materials.

India’s fantastic history and heritage, its cultural diversity and its amazing natural settings offer vacationers a slew of thrilling narratives to uncover.

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On the other side of the Kumaon Himalayas lies Fredy’s Bungalow near Bhimtal Lake – yet another nature nestled unexplored piece. Bhimtal lake is one of the largest lakes in Nainital – the Lake district of India. This part of the Kumaon region, home to a large variety of flora, fauna, and aquatic life, has always attracted bird-watchers, butterfly collectors, and nature lovers as well as writers in search of solitude. Fredy’s Bungalow located in the midst of acres of dense oak forest is a peaceful haven where only the sounds of nature break the silence: the wake-up song of the resident Whistling Thrush, the sharp call of a Barking Deer in the distance; the hoot of a Spotted Owl signaling dusk.

FORTUNE RESORT SULLIVAN COURT

Set on the gentle slopes of Ooty, amidst lush green lawns and a colorful patterned garden, Fortune Resort Sullivan Court is a modern-day tribute to John Sullivan, who founded the scenic town in 1821.

Situated in the very heart of the Nilgiri Hills in the Western Ghats, Ooty is popularly known as the ‘Queen of the Hills’ and is one of the most visited hill stations in India. Gardens, meadows, viewpoints, wildlife reserves, temples, churches, colonial style buildings, ethnic centers, and several boutique eateries, this town has everything for everyone. The town enjoys pleasant weather all-year round.

Fortune Resort Sullivan Court in Ooty is a perfect destination to unwind and relax. This beautiful family resort offers a choice of 67 rooms with most of them providing scenic view of the slopes and is an ideal getaway for a fun-filled vacation with family and friends.

The comprehensive banquet facilities at the hotel meet all requirements for destination weddings, offsite meetings and conferences for up to 2000 guests.

Fortune Resort Sullivan Court, Ooty enjoys a convenient location as it is just 1 km from the city centre and 2 km from the railway station. 100 km (3 hour drive) from Coimbatore Airport and 2 km (10 min drive) from Ooty Railway Station, 2 km from Ooty Bus Terminal, Walkable distance from Rose Garden, 1 km from City Centre/ Commercial Street – the main shopping area of the city, 2 km from Botanical Garden 4 km from Ooty Lake, 6 km from tea factories.

At Aquaterra Adventures, be prepared for the Real Camping experience. A great way to spend a weekend with friends and family amidst the Lush Green Himalayan Mountains, at Camp Aquaterra.

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AQUATERRA ADVENTURES

Aquaterra Adventures was founded in 1995, with one of the widest range of adventure travel, human powered journeys in the mountains, river running, touring and lots more. They also have hospitality units that operate on the same DNA!

At Rishikesh, be prepared for the Real Camping experience with tents and cot beds, and a lovely forested neighbourhood. We call it forest living! Charming and totally addictive. A great way to spend a weekend with friends and family amidst the Lush Green Himalayan Mountains, at Camp Aquaterra. Besides this, the company operates one of India’s stand alone activity lodges, Atali, built like a modern ashram, with a 12 hr active travel schedule each day!

Move westwards to the Tons, you can be assured for a real camping experience living in tents on a lovely beach front amidst lush green Himalayan forests. Our whitewater river rafting summer camp runs from mid April till late June each year in the western part of Uttarakhand, JaunsarBawar region on the banks of the Tons river. Only 410 kms from Delhi, it offers an escape from 4 days to a week or two, combined with river rafting, hikes & overnight treks in the hills make it a memorable family getaway from the summer heat. Located 3500 ft above sea level, this area is rich in every type of western Himalayan flora and fauna, densely forested with deodar, pine, alpine oak, birch, chestnut, rhododendron and jamun. The Tons river (the biggest tributary of the Yamuna with its source in the snowfields of the 20,720 ft high mountain, Bandarpunch) is a small volume, Class 4 river which offers an excellent adrenaline rush and adds to the excitement of being in the outdoors.

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