Villas in Igatpuri for Your Next Getaway

Igatpuri is the hill station on the Mumbai–Nashik road that most Mumbai weekenders drive past. It sits at the top of the Thal Ghat about 120 km from Mumbai, two and a half to three hours by road, with Kalsubai, the highest peak in Maharashtra, on one side and the Vaitarna lakes on the other. In the monsoon it is the wettest and greenest place within reach of the city; in winter it is cool, clear and almost empty. That is the case for a villa in Igatpuri: the scenery of Lonavala without the crowds.

Stayscape has one villa here, Smultronstalle, a six-bedroom house with a private pool and lawns for up to twenty guests. This guide covers the villa, the season to come in, and what to do around it. Dates and rates are on our villas in Igatpuri page.

Lonavala is closer to Mumbai and has more to do; Igatpuri has fewer people. On a long weekend when the Expressway is a car park, the Nashik highway is moving and the villa is quiet. The town itself is small, so the attraction is the countryside: paddy terraces, the Bhatsa and Vaitarna valleys, the Sahyadri ridge with its forts, and in the monsoon, waterfalls off every cliff. It is also halfway to Nashik, so the vineyards at Sula and York are a day trip.

For a group, that means a weekend built around the villa: the pool and the lawn by day, a drive to a viewpoint or a lake in the late afternoon, and a long dinner at home.

Smultronstalle, the Swedish word for a favourite quiet place, is a six-bedroom standalone villa a short drive from Igatpuri town. It takes up to twenty guests, which makes it the right size for two or three families or a large group of friends.

• Six bedrooms with attached bathrooms, air-conditioned
• A private pool with the hills behind it, for your group only
• A large lawn for games, a bonfire and an evening on the grass
• Open living and dining rooms with a smart TV and indoor games
• A fully fitted kitchen, with home-cooked meals on request at a per-person charge
• A caretaker on site around the clock, Wi-Fi and parking inside the gate

It works well for a workcation too: the Wi-Fi is reliable, the house is quiet on weekdays, and the pool is there for the end of the day. Ask us about pets when you enquire.

October to February is the most comfortable: cool mornings, clear views of Kalsubai and pool weather by noon. The monsoon, June to September, is why most people come. Igatpuri gets more rain than almost anywhere else on the Deccan, the valleys turn green, the waterfalls run, and the lakes fill; expect cloud, bring rain gear, and plan the pool for the breaks between showers. March to May is hot in the afternoon but the evenings are pleasant and the villa is at its quietest.

• Kalsubai. The highest peak in Maharashtra at 1,646 m, a half-day trek from Bari village with ladders on the steep sections. Start at dawn and be back in the pool by lunch.
• Vaitarna and Arthur Lake. The reservoir lakes west of town, for a boat ride or a quiet afternoon by the water.
• Bhatsa river valley and Camel Valley. Viewpoints over the ghat, at their best in the monsoon when the seasonal waterfalls run.
• Tringalwadi fort. A short trek to a hilltop fort with a Jain cave temple at the base and views across the valley.
• Amruteshwar temple. A 1,200-year-old Shiva temple in Hemadpanthi style near Ratangad, a longer drive for a cultural morning.
• Nashik vineyards. Sula and York are about an hour away for a wine-tasting lunch.

Check-in is from 2 pm and check-out at 11 am. Weekday rates are lower than weekend rates, and a 1+1 night offer runs on selected dates outside peak periods. Long weekends and the monsoon book out early, so give us your dates a few weeks ahead. See the villa, its photos and current rates on the Smultronstalle page, or start from villas in Igatpuri.

How far is Igatpuri from Mumbai and Pune?

About 120 km from Mumbai, two and a half to three hours on the Mumbai–Nashik highway. From Pune it is around 200 km, four to five hours. Igatpuri has a railway station on the Mumbai–Nashik line.

How many guests can Smultronstalle take?

Six bedrooms for up to twenty guests.

Does the villa have a private pool?

Yes, a private pool for your group only, with a lawn alongside.

Is food available?

Yes. Home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals are arranged at the villa at a per-person charge, and the kitchen is yours to use.

When is the best time to visit Igatpuri?

October to February for cool, clear weather; the monsoon, June to September, for the waterfalls and the green.