Inside Oleander Farms, Karjat’s Homestead Retreat For Urban Explorers

The cascading waterfalls, cavernous Buddhist temples and vertiginous mountain treks in the valley-cradled city of Karjat always held an irresistible allure for the urban explorer.. With her insuperable business acumen, youthful optimism and a keen insight into the pulse of staycations, Aaliya Ahuja envisaged a fabled hideaway within the environs of her family estate Oleander Farms. 

Roughly equidistant from both Mumbai and Pune, a mere two hours by road, the odyssey began with ‘Saltt,’ in 2021 — a restaurant serving harvest-to-plate culinary experiences and genre-defying cocktails. Since then, Ahuja realised that her guests wanted to stay longer, unwilling to return to the daily grind immediately.

What started with a motley crew of lawn-facing rooms designed by Aaliya’s mother Vina Ahuja — appended by an artisanal café, a microbrewery for late-night libations and a three-bedroom Grove Villa for bigger groups — slowly began to radiate outwards like a mythological scroll across the sprawling 180 acres. “This expansion wasn’t planned,” quips Aaliya. “What Oleander Farms has become today is the pure result of listening to what our guests want and delivering exactly that and more.”

How To Get There

Ensconced snugly amidst the Sahyadri hills, the staycation town of Karjat has emerged as a verdant epicentre for trekkers, staycationers and WFH nomads because of how well-connected it is by road or railways. From Mumbai, take the Eastern Express Highway or the Pune-Mumbai Expressway if you are embarking from Pune. The farmstead is also accessible from Khopoli, Nashik and other major cities in Maharashtra by train. Options include local and interstate trains like Pragati Express, Deccan Queen or Koyna Express from Pune. Once you are in Karjat, the team at Oleander Farms can arrange a pick-up or it wouldn’t be unwise to hire an auto rickshaw for a more authentic experience of the idyllic countryside.

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Letting Nature Take The Upper Hand

Driving past Saltt and Common House — a hipster brewery offering handcrafted concoctions, the hoppier the better — you would arrive at a minimalist reception enclosed with pristine glass walls that overlook the infinity edge pool. Envisaging the new phase of Oleander with all the trimmings of a luxury resort and not a business hotel, the principal architect Amey Dahanukar decided that he needed to eloquently dissolve the inner outdoors divide. To start, he corralled a menagerie of lily ponds, cloistered walkways and cottages close-knit together so guests could walk under cover from the inclement weather at all times, while also being comfortable rambling outdoors. 

“When it rains, the water level in the pool goes up and the runoff effortlessly distils into the lake,” remarks Amey. “We wanted to make sure that our guests would feel the rhythms of nature running through their bodies.”

Within a year and a half, Amey’s design team at ARA Designs had unfolded a modern fairytale of 60 lake-view rooms and cottages, all the more picturesque with outdoor decks, viridescent courtyards and a sunk pool bar. “This site was the ultimate test for my skills,” the young designer flashes a toothy smile. “We were working through crazy timelines, torrential rains and the COVID lockdown but the result looks stunning so that’s what matters.” Noticing an abundance of natural stone and basalt in the surrounding landscape, Amey was inspired by Geoffrey Bawa’s legacy of Tropical Modernism — and so it comes as no surprise that all of the decor, furniture and wall cladding have been engineered in situ at the farm’s workshops. 

A Sneak Peek Into The Lake-View Rooms 

If you would rather marinate in a world of stillness, broken only by birdsong and the relentless chirruping of cicadas, then you must opt for the lakeside rooms that are a 10-15 minute buggy ride away from Saltt. Storybook four poster beds, Balinese-style ceiling fans, suspended statement lighting, diaphanous linen and wooden furnishings imbue a sense of colonial-style biophilia to the rooms. A diwan reclines languidly by the French windows that fan out to a capacious balcony, beckoning you to watch the rains pierce the lake in a million little arrows while you pour yourself a hot cuppa. 

“We wanted to create something peaceful with broad strokes of masculinity and varied texture,” Amey reveals. “Hence the palette was infused with muted colours and basalt for the walls to blend in with the local terrain.” Nostalgic episodes of rattan and jute trickle into the visual language, alighting upon a bedside table or the back of chairs, enhancing the hygge cosiness that makes these Lake-View Rooms more than just a place to retire for the night; they offer a rare opportunity to travel back in time. 

“Everything is very local,” Amey asserts. “All the carpenters and artisans we collaborated with, the building materials we sourced are from here so just like their organic kitchens, even the architecture of Oleander Farms was a homegrown set-up.” 

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Dining, Leisure & Beyond

From the gazebo-inspired Saltt that peers into a koi pond to the charmingly rustic nook of Waves Pool Bar, the resort has curated an array of immersive gastronomical experiences. There’s Common House, Karjat’s first craft brewery where the lip-smacking cigar rolls and woodfire pizza are perfect accompaniments to their smoky lagers — however if you are more of a stout enthusiast, their English brown ale deftly counterpoises a dark chocolate richness with complex notes of caramel. Then, of course, is the Saltt Coffee House where sample specialities range from Bolivian Avocado on Toast, Burrata Salad, and freshly squeezed juices that make for a multicultural brunch packed with flavours and textures. 

Greeted by the vapours of herbal tea and traditional Ayurvedic oils at The Soham Spa designed by Urban Circle, guests are in for a holistic journey of rejuvenation. An in-house wellness expert is at hand for a personalised consultation, keen to grasp your unique physiology to tailor-make more individualised treatments. One would be spoiled for choice with a kaleidoscope of amenities — indulge in Skin Refinement and Body Envelopment Rituals, or choose from a selection of facial therapies customised for all skin types. The Himalayan Salt Room offers a serene meditation zone crafted entirely from natural salts, cleansing the aura and releasing positive vibrations. 

Ideally, you can begin your day with a visit to the Kensho nursery, where a state of pure Zen awaits. Guests are invited to submerge themselves in a soothing horticultural experience, potting their plants with a gentle nudge from the gardeners. Next, get busy celebrating the finer things in life with a wine-tasting session at the in-house sommelier station or experience an authentic Tea Tasting Ceremony. As the evening approaches, the children could turn restless and to keep them engaged, the estate features a bowling alley and vintage, coin-op games set in a chic, vibrant space called the Let’s Play Arcade. Afterwards, a stroll through the Vintage Car Showcase would be an intriguing way to wind down — you can expect to find the Chevrolet Deluxe, a Volkswagen Beetle Type 1, and a Morris 8 once owned by M.F. Husain!

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Final Thoughts

The charm of Oleander Farms extends to its sprawling grounds, where guests can stroll vast lawns, take a refreshing dip in the pool with a mini cocktail tiki bar, and enjoy the picturesque setting. For the discerning shopaholics, the family-owned clothing label Akashi stands at a unique intersection of heritage and innovation. Fitness freaks can break a sweat at the state-of-the-art gym or the in-house padel court. The resort also boasts a helipad for uber-stylish arrivals. Finally, with offbeat trekking options available for those seeking communion with Karjat’s green hills, Oleander Farms harmonises finery with nature — ensuring a stay that is sumptuous and rejuvenating.