Villas in Igatpuri (1)

Igatpuri is the hill station on the Mumbai–Nashik highway, about 130 km from Mumbai (around three hours by road) and 45 km short of Nashik. It sits at the foot of Kalsubai, the highest peak in Maharashtra, in a landscape of reservoirs, rice terraces and forested ridges that is greener and wilder than Lonavala, and far less crowded. The Vipassana centre at Dhamma Giri, Bhatsa river valley and the Arthur Lake backwaters are the landmarks most visitors know.

Stayscape villas in Igatpuri

Smultronstalle is our villa in Igatpuri, a 6 BHK home for twelve to twenty guests with a private pool, a wide lawn and views over the hills. The name is Swedish for "the wild strawberry place", a private spot you return to, and the villa is built around that idea: big shared living spaces, a long dining table, and bedrooms that give every family its own corner. It suits two or three families travelling together, a friends' reunion, or a small company retreat that wants quiet rather than entertainment.

When to visit Igatpuri

The monsoon, June to September, is when Igatpuri is at its best known: the reservoirs fill, the hillsides run with waterfalls and the valley turns a deep green. October to February is cool and clear, with the best conditions for the Kalsubai trek and for sitting by the pool in the afternoon. Summer is warm but the evenings on the lawn are still pleasant.

Things to do near the villa

Trek Kalsubai (1,646 m) for the sunrise; the trail starts at Bari village, about an hour from the villa, and takes three to four hours up. Visit the Tringalwadi fort and its Jain cave temple, drive to Bhandardara and Arthur Lake for a day on the water with Randha Falls on the way, or take the Nashik road for a vineyard tour and lunch at Sula or York. Camel Valley and the Vihigaon (Ashoka) waterfall are monsoon favourites within an hour, and the Vipassana pagoda at Dhamma Giri is worth a quiet visit even if you are not meditating. In winter the paddy terraces around Ghoti and the backwaters of the Bhatsa are the drives to take in the late afternoon.

Who the Igatpuri villa suits

Two or three families who want to share a house without being on top of each other, a friends' group of a dozen, a milestone birthday, or a small team offsite. The villa is a forty-minute drive from Nashik airport and about three hours from Mumbai by road or train, which makes it an easy long weekend from either city. It is not the place for a loud party; Igatpuri is quieter than Lonavala, and that is the point.

Good to know

The villa has a private pool and a caretaker on site, with home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals on request at a per-person charge, and a kitchen your group can use. Check-in is from 2 pm and check-out at 11 am. Weekday rates are lower than weekend rates, and the 1+1 night offer runs on selected dates outside peak periods. Bring warm layers in winter: evenings on the hill drop several degrees below Mumbai.