They say the soul of India lives in its villages. Every once in a while one must enjoy the fresh air and simple living that over 60% of the Indian population resides in. Recently 14 of us went on a weekend trip to Mahuli, Shahpur. We wanted to go back to our roots, live in the middle of the jungle, in a nutshell, spend a night in a “Gaon”.
We came across this place called Mahuli Farms Agro and Ecotourism Center. It is just 2.5 hrs from Mumbai and an hour from Thane. A bit about Mahuli Agro Eco culture – the property is spread across 50 acres, has a gorgeous swimming pool surrounded by lush green trees. And guess what else? They also have tents setups near the pool area! They have a dormitory system too and the authentic Maharashtrian village food they serve is to die for – both veg as well as non-veg.
They have board games and outdoor games like carrom, chess, badminton, and cricket. The veranda there is made with cow dung flooring, they have adorable pets like an ostrich, a dog, and cats. A treehouse, man-made pond for sustainable living, no ACs just fresh air, and NO MOBILE NETWORK, the perfect way to enjoy your getaway. Special care is taken by them to ensure the rooms are mosquito and bug-free.
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There are around 5 waterfalls within a radius of 2 km from the property and can be accessed with the help of a guide which they are more than willing to arrange for. The road to this place is underdeveloped. The toilets are below average. It’s a no-frills attached boarding facility. If you are looking for a budget homely place for a weekend or for a day then this 1 is for you.
We spent a night at Mahuli agro eco culture. We arrived at 4 pm on Saturday and immediately took to the pool. They have speakers which you can connect your phone to. We had early dinner at 8.30 pm and spent the night dancing and playing poker. I must tell you they have a strict “No Alcohol Policy”
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The next day the resort helped us with a local guide at an additional charge and he took us waterfall hopping. The trek can be challenging, one of our friends slipped and injured his palm. Although, my Aajji and the 9 yr old cousins totally nailed the walkthrough treacherous trails. The guide took us to 3 waterfalls and they were beautiful, the trails were even prettier. The entire activity took us about 5 hrs (includes the time we spent enjoying the waterfalls).
The trail has river streams, dams, lush green forest and meadows. We came across picturesque locations and magnificent aerial views. Initially we stopped for pictures every 10 minutes but eventually, we just got used to the beauty and gave up on hoarding pictures. The waterfalls are secluded since they can only be reached if you know the jungle trails well. It’s an absolute safe zone to wander around and the forest surrounding Mahuli has been declared as a sanctuary.
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The stay was concluded with ‘Tandlachi Bhakri’, Chicken Sukha, Chicken Tambda Rassa along with piping hot jalebis what an end to a trip! It was by far the cheapest and the most enjoyable trip we have had in our life.
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How To Get To Shahpur?
We went by our car via Eastern Express Hwy/Mumbai – Agra National Hwy and NH160. It takes approximately 1 h 39 min (71.4 km). Alternatively, you can also take a train to Asangaon station (Central railway) and get a local Auto from outside the station. But the best way to reach the place is by a private vehicle. Closer to the resort, the roads are narrow and underdeveloped. Buses, tempo Traveller are a big no.
Deets
Book here: Mahuli Agrofarms & Eco-Tourism
The check-in and checkout time is 4 pm – 4 pm. They also have 1-day boarding dorms.
We paid Rs 1700/ per person which includes tea, dinner, breakfast and lunch (veg and non-veg)
This article was contributed by Mitali Lotlikar to Curly Tales. If you have a story to tell us, do reach out to us on hey@curlytales.com