Botanical Masterpieces at Japanese Tea Garden California USA

Anywhere around the world, enter a garden and you will automatically slacken your pace from the frantic one that you maintain during your routine schedule. You slow down to a leisurely stroll, and you feel at one with nature, stopping here and there to appreciate nature's masterpieces. This is prominently so at the mesmerizing Japanese Tea Garden in California, USA.

Visit to Semmozhi Poonga Garden Chennai 2023

Semmozhi Poonga, Chennai is a lovely green landscape where you can spend quite a while just relaxing. There are benches here and there and you can even sit on the soft grass. However, you can't bring along a basket of goodies and have a picnic the good old-fashioned way. Just wander around and breathe in clean air. You can take your kids along to enjoy the playground equipment. 

It is a good idea to check local newspapers for events scheduled here, such as a flower show that we missed out on but were there when a food fest was ongoing.

Trains, Stars and more at Amreena Farmhouse Avalas village Karjat

There are some very unique things to do when staying at Amreena Farmhouse, Karjat. No, there is no farm where you can walk around. And no, there’s no swimming pool to dive into. Yes, those who constantly want something to do may get bored easily. Yet, you don’t need to say, "There’s nothing to do here!" This is the place to be for a number of reasons, other than for enjoying delicious food…

Photo guide road route to go to Amreena Farmhouse Avalas Village Karjat

Amreena Farmhouse is in the village of Avalas and within a reasonable driving distance from the centre of Karjat. Once you book your stay, the owners will provide you with the specific Google Map link (they make it clear that you should use that link only), which has been found to be useful as mentioned in reviews by a couple of guests who headed there via road. However, for people like us who are train travellers and hired an auto to take us there from Karjat railway station, it was, to put it frankly, completely useless. This is primarily for two reasons – one, the connectivity is poor, and second, prominent markers on the map should have been ones that are known to locals. As it is, the village itself is not known to most of the auto drivers and the person who did know of it by name eventually found it difficult to locate the farmhouse. 

Perhaps the directions I am explaining here through photos (a few taken while going, and the others on the return drive) will be a useful guide for the road route from Karjat.

Dining at Amreena Farmhouse Karjat

In the main review of Amreena Farmhouse, Karjat I had mentioned getting piping hot food for all meals. Indeed, the food was literally hot, so much so that we requested the caretaker to open the tiffin for us as the lids were too hot to handle! All the meals were tasty, and you should definitely not miss out on the dal.

The tariff includes breakfast, all meals, and evening tea. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is offered, and you can also bring along your own food for the barbeque (using it comes with a nominal charge).

A home near the hills - Amreena Farmhouse Avalas Karjat review 2023

Amreena Farmhouse

A picture-postcard house in the shadow of Songiri Gad (fort) hills with a garden out front, somebody to cook piping hot food (all meals), somebody to do the house chores of sweeping, swabbing, and washing the dishes, somebody to tend to the sun-dappled garden – sheer bliss! 

Amreena Farmhouse, Karjat is a gem of a place in more ways than one. It is located in the rural area of Avalas in Karjat Taluka, District Raigarh, Maharashtra. Follow this helpful photo guide. It is isolated in the sense that it is some distance from the main town of Karjat, but in no way is it some secluded place, though. There are homes adjoining it and helpful locals to provide directions to wherever you are heading from there. The house itself is not only pretty and charming with its joyous colours that give happy vibes, but is a well-designed one with useful features. Enjoy some unique activities too! This review is after a stay in December 2022.

Zeenath Taj Gardens Yelagiri review 2022

Yelagiri is a scenic hill station in Tamil Nadu and attracts a lot of people who are seeking a short break from routine. Its location within driving distance from the metros of Chennai and Bengaluru is advantageous. Having visited before, a group of my relatives headed there recently and stayed at Zeenath Taj Gardens. Yes, it is a quiet and cool resort located within a short distance of most tourist spots, including the lake, and on the face of it is pretty, but...

Visiting Saramsa Garden Complex Gangtok Sikkim

When visiting Gangtok, Sikkim do make sure that you don't miss spending an hour or so at the Saramsa Garden Complex. This superbly maintained landscaped garden that is open to the public for a nominal entry fee was set up way back in 1922 and continues to be a treat for all senses. 

The Saramsa Garden is not located in the actual city of Gangtok. You have to travel about 14-15kms from Gangtok, on the road leading to Pakyong road.

The entire garden complex has well-paved pathways for comfortable walking, quaint antique lamp posts, and everywhere - absolutely everywhere - there is a riot of colours vying for your attention.

Treasure Hunt photo game at Gulmohar Homestay Nashik

Remember following a series of clues in a game to reach a well-hidden treasure? Gulmohar Homestay, Nashik is a fun place to be, especially if you love treasure hunts! There is a literally a treasure trove of things dotting the home, and outdoors in the midst of nature, as well. So I created my own one from the photos I took and if you are heading there, try to find them as quick as you can once you're done with dining and relaxing...

Nature at its best at Gulmohar Homestay Nashik

At first glance, you may think Gulmohar Homestay, Nashik has the usual bunch of trees, plants and shrubs. In fact, this is the generalized statement in many of the online reviews. The real fact is that it is not just the "usual" greenery of nature out here. While staying here, other than enjoying the delicious food, walk around the premises and take a closer look. 

It is nature at it's unique best, with beautiful and well-maintained plants, whether flowering or plain. The entire place has its own pretty charm and is a photographer's delight!

Dining at Gulmohar Homestay Nashik

Dining room

It is always gives a warm feeling when hosts not just make their guests comfortable in terms of the room amenities, but also go out of their way to ensure the food is as per the guests' expectations. 

At Gulmohar Homestay, Nashik, as mentioned in the main overall review, we were happy to have food cooked as per our wish. So if you require customized food, please inform Kamala Parekh in advance via email. When we did so, we were promptly sent the outline of the menu drawn up for the day of our arrival, to confirm if that was Ok with us. That was some prompt service!

Accommodation at Gulmohar Homestay Nashik

Accommodation at Gulmohar Homestay Nashik is really very comfortable. All the knick-knacks and furniture are placed in a way that does not scream of clutter or over the top kitsch. It is, to put it simply, tasteful décor and charming. 

An amazing thing is that, despite the hot month of April, within the house, we never felt the heat at all. No, there is no air-conditioning. The outer room beyond the bedroom has some type of matting on the underside of the roof (see the image below) which is what retains the coolness and the roof of the bedroom is very high as well. There is an air-cooler in the room, though, if you do require it.

Gulmohar Homestay - overeview with accommodation rates and contact info

A charming home, unpolluted air in the midst of greenery, good food - what more do you

need on a vacation at a homestay?! The figurine in the first image below aptly sums up our stay at Gulmohar Homestay, Nashik. It fulfilled our expectations of having a relaxed weekend, doing absolutely nothing and thoroughly enjoying it!  

A plus point was having homemade food cooked exactly to the T as per our request. The place was homely, with lovely decor and furnishings in the main house and in our rooms as well, located in the midst of nature. All in all, we had a nice time with caring, friendly hosts Kamala and Vinod Parekh.

A charming walk through Dr Zakir Hussain Rose Garden Chandigarh

Love open air and plenty of greenery filled with the fragrant scents of flora? The place to be is the Dr Zakir Hussain Rose Garden in the city of Chandigarh, Punjab. Mind you, you need to set aside a lot of hours to spend here, another option being to split the visit on two days. Most important is not to visit at that time of the year when you are unlikely to see the flowering blooms! 

Kisaan Maitreya Organic Farm Products

Looking for organic rice, wheat and other staple foods online? Maitreya Agro, under the aegis of Mai Mati Foundation, based in Yerawada, Pune, Maharashtra, helps farmers directly by selling foods from small farmers of different parts of India. 

You can savour fresh apples of northern Kashmir, slurp on juicy Alphonso mangoes of central India, enhance the flavour of a dish with spices from Eastern India and cook dal, rice and rotis with organic grains sold under the brand name of Kisaan Maitreya. 

The 100% chemical-free brand of agricultural produce which is grown with natural fertilisers and an intelligent use of irrigation techniques that incorporate water conservation, is growing in popularity. 

Beauty of nature at Dhathri resort Kerala

There is plenty of jaw-dropping beauty to see at Dhathri Ayurkendra & Panchakarma Centre's resort, Kayamkulam, Kerala. Views from the cottage room as well as outside are simply breathtaking.

Flowers of varied hues, orchard trees, the sun & the lake's waters playing hide and seek and even dried leaves of amazing colours! 


Have a look at the photos below and see nature at its finest.

Dhathri resort Kerala accommodation review

The accommodation at the Dhathri Ayurkendra & Panchakarma Centre's resort located at Kayamkulam Kerala is extremely spacious and comfortable. More than that, the views are so stunning that you would hate to stay in your room in the first place!

Dhathri Ayurkendra & Panchakarma Centre Kayamkulam Kerala review

Dhathri Ayurkendra & Panchakarma Centre, located at Kayamkulam, Kerala, is a great place for those looking for not just a quiet vacation, but also to get expert treatment for the everyday ills that plague our contemporary lives. 

At their resort, just let go - simply relax and do nothing other than feast on the yummiest food you've ever had, get pummeled (gently of course!) with expert massages and give yourself up totally to the Ayurved treatment customized for you as per your ailments. 

This is a first-hand review based on the details given by my cousin and her husband who stayed for 10 days at their resort. 

Tariff and contact information of Annapoorna Farm Karjat

For those looking for a budget stay in the real sense of the term, Annapoorna Farm at Karjat is the best option. It is just Rs.1,600/- for a 24hrs stay. Since we were aware about the long weekend holiday in March from 24^th to 27^th, we had decided to book in January itself since from our previous experiences of booking at farm stays, had anticipated lot of people booking too for that time period. We arrived on 25^th morning at 11.30a.m. and left on 27^th afternoon after lunch at 1p.m. Loved every minute of our stay, especially the food!

Accommodation at Annapoorna Farm

In all there are 3 cottages at Annapoorna Farm, named after flowers: Jai, Jui, Mogra, Gulab and Madhumalati. All are simply furnished with curtained windows and a large washroom area. We were delighted to see clothes-hanging rack in the porch area outside the door. This is one essential item since laundry service is not provided and you need to wash and hang out your clothes yourself. It is a pity that such a provision was not available at other farm stays where we went, namely Saguna Baug, Neral and Save Farm, Gholvad.