Mumbai se nikalte hi, kuch dur chalte hi, raste mein hai East India House. Sorry, not sorry for the cheesiest opening! But, that shouldn’t take away from the fact that in Uttan, technically under Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), lies a modern East India House that offers you a staycay flanked by only beauty!
A Modern House Overlooking A Small Hillock
Who wouldn’t want to escape the tuneless caterwauling that the City of Dreams, Mumbai offers? The sounds are like the unwanted gift that keeps on giving, rather it’s best described as a curse that keeps on taking! It is natural to want to escape the city and unwind at a place that offers total silence. Just an hour from Mumbai lies East India House, which offers that and a lot more!
Tucked away in the fishing village of Uttan — which lies in North Mumbai and falls under the administration of Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation — is this retreat that is simply beautiful. Overlooking a small hillock, this boutique-like stay has rooms that are made of natural stones.
Upon entering through the large wooden door, you’ll see a warm and inviting reception area on your left. And right ahead it is their in-house and only restaurant called Sukhala. Dishing out set menus under the modern Indian umbrella, this 50-seater overlooks viridescent vegetation. It has a balcony area with high-seating where you can take your evening tea and catch a glorious sunset.
East India House Boasts Stone Rooms With Balcaos
After your welcome drinks, you are escorted to your rooms which you can reach by treading on a stony pathway. The peachish and white villa-like structure has two decks that each house five rooms. All the rooms come with cosy interiors and balcaos. While the lower deck balcaos (verandas) overlook the lily ponds and the infinity pool, the upper deck room balcaos offer distant views of the lush greenery and the pool.
I stayed at the upper level and while climbing couldn’t help but chuckle at the names of the rooms. Right from Cap Dokri, Pedru Seth to Donna Maria, the quirky touch comes across as very genuine. The rooms are very spacious and the decor is brilliant, with warm and dark hues lending deep character to it. Powder blue doors, coral roof, white and gray walls, yellow furnishings, and soothing art pieces adorn the room.
The room comes with an attached balcony aka balcao. That is, hands down, the cutest and my favourite nook in the whole property. The metal arbour attached to the balcao had vines curling around it giving it a green upgrade. With an open view of the foliage ahead and the pool and restaurant below, the stay experience is aesthetically on point.
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Made of natural stone materials like Tandur, Jaisalmer, Kota, Kadapa and Green Marble, it’s always summer inside it seems. The furnishings are cosy and you will definitely catch up on the required rest and restful zzzz during your time here.
Meals, Music And More
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The in-house restaurant, as I earlier mentioned, serves lip-smacking fare. And, they even invite chefs to take over their kitchen and curate menus, every month. Not just that, they regularly host pop-ups as well and introduce the patrons to a host of flavours.
I was given a truly warm welcome with East Indian food which touched my soul. Simple yet so flavoursome. I was truly in a food coma after all my meals here. They cater to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike and that shows in the curated menus. From kebabs to soups to kormas to continental to koli fare, they keep rotating their menu of the day and have set menus.
Come evening, live music fills the ambiance and you are vibing with the crowd while you enjoy your meal. You may even sing along if you feel like and take to the dance floor to make the most of the evening. The curated experiences, new and upcoming artists performing live, evenings at East India House become truly special.
What More?
You can even opt for a sunset trail that involves a short hike through a private hiking trail to reach a vantage point. I, sadly, couldn’t go for it, but heard from fellow guests that it was surreal. I opted for a sunset experience from their restaurant. Perched on a high chair, overlooking the pink and purple skies, watching flocks of birds go about their business, holding a cup of kadak chai, while munching on cheese chili toast and cheesy poppers — Aahhh! Bliss!
The property is pet-friendly so your babies can also have some vacay time. In addition to the two-level main stay, the resort also has newly constructed villas on the property that are perfect for large groups.
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Only thing to keep in mind is that they don’t have room service and eating in rooms is strictly forbidden.
East India House is another gem added to the perfect getaways from Mumbai city while being so close to the city. It is just an hour’s drive from the central suburbs. But if travelling from the western suburbs or town side, keep an hour-and-a-half or two in hand. Once you reach, you can leave the city stress behind and become one with nature. After all, don’t we crave that quiet, undisturbed downtime filled with local experiences?!
Also Read: 7 Best Properties Within 300 Km From Mumbai For A Quick Getaway
Where: Ahead of La-shimmer resort Dhaugi, Seven Sea Bungalow, Road, Dongri Rd, Bhayandar, Dongri, Uttan, Mira Bhayandar, Maharashtra 401106
Cost: ₹10000 including stay and meals
Contact: +91-9324275382
More details, here.
Image Courtesy: Rachna Srivastava and EIH Instagram
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