Share Our Beautiful Homes
Four old-world cottages with period furniture, modern
conveniences, kitchen, maid, and laundry facilities.
Just four hours of driving from Mumbai, India, will take
you to Panchgani, Land of the Five Tablelands. Nestled
among towering silver oak trees and beautifully landscaped gardens, our
cottages have been our home for three generations. Come, share them with
us!
Our Homes
Dhun-Heta Bungalow, Jena Cottage
and Joy Cottage are all located on the same grounds within a minute’s
walk of one another. Tall silver oak trees provide shade, natural divisions
and privacy.
We have seen over 50 species of birds in the beautifully landscaped garden
and grounds. You can hear bird song right through the day from any part
of the house or the grounds. The Malabar Whistling Thrush, also called the
Whistling Schoolboy wakes you up every morning.
Usha and Rajan Jadhav are our third generation caretakers! Rajan’s
father Narayan used to be our family retainer just as his father before
him. Usha will keep the bungalow and cottages clean, change the sheets weekly
and do any extra chores at your request. A warm sense of hospitality comes
to them naturally.
Dhun-Heta Bungalow
This bungalow was built in 1914 in the typical architectural style of the
British Raj. The bungalow has a sloping roof covered in Galvanized Iron
sheets typical of the local architecture and reflective of the local climate.
A high ceiling keeps the bungalow cool even in the hottest months.
• 4-bedroom bungalow (double bed/twin beds), each with attached bath,
sleeps 9-11 people
• Fully equipped kitchen complete with electrical appliances, refrigerator,
gas stove and hot and cold water
• An old Burma teak dining table seats six
• Ballroom size living room with seating for up to 12 people
• 30-inch television with 25 cable channels
• Washing machine
Jena Cottage
This cozy family getaway was built in 1968 of brick and stone. A low false
ceiling runs along the whole cottage to keep out any noise from the rain
on the roof. The verandah has windows all along one side to allow for a
view of the garden and the towering silver oak trees on the grounds.
• 2-bedroom cottage (double bed/twin beds), each with attached
bath, sleeps 6 people
• Fully
equipped kitchen complete with electrical appliances, refrigerator, gas
stove and hot and cold water
• Dining table for six
•
Living room with seating for
up to 8 people
• 24-inch television
with 25 cable channels
• Screens on all doors and windows protect
you from insects.
• Polished granite kitchen counter and brick-red
ceramic tiled floor.
Joy Cottage
This pretty cottage with its own patio and open garden was originally a
stable for the estate horses. Our parents converted it into gardener’s
quarters and we’ve made it into a single bedroom unit. The kitchen
has modern facilities in it but also retains its original wood-fired stove
and oven, preserved for posterity.
• 1-bedroom cottage (double
bed/twin beds), with attached bath, sleeps 2 people
• Dining table for four
• Living room with
seating for up to 5 people
• Hot and cold water
Joy
Cottage Studio
This studio has a living room with a large picture window with a spectacular
view ofthe garden. An electric kettle can be provided on request.
• 1-bedroom studio (two twin beds), with attached bath, sleeps 2 people
• Hot and cold water
Things to see & do
Bhilar Water fall
Walk from Panchgani towards Mahableshwar and stop to see a spectacular waterfall
named the Bhilar waterfall after the village of Bhilar where it originates.
This wall of water falls from a height of about 4500 feet in the months
of June-September when Panchgani enjoys the misty magic of the Indian monsoon.
Architecture
Panchgani has one of the richest stocks of historic buildings
in India. Most bungalows date from the turn of the 19th century to the
early part of the 20th century. Almost all the houses here have enclosed
verandahs, sloping roofs painted red and are built of local red stone.
Some of these houses are comparable to the 'painted ladies' of San Francisco,
USA on account of their ornamentation and embellishment. The town has
shops on the ground level and housing on the upper level. These upper
levels are most often decorated with fine wood crafted dormer windows
and trimmings. A walk-through the town is a must.
A passion for historic preservation has inspired some members of our
family to help the local governmen
t prepare an exhaustive list of the
historic properties in the area. The three properties are naturally included
in this list. So when you share our home with us you also share our ideals
of preserving Panchgani and its historic authenticity.
Farmers market on Wednesday 'Bhudwari'
A farmer's market held every Wednesday in the heart of this hill
town brings agricultural produce from all over the valley. Fresh fruit,
vegetables and hand crafted goods would be any shopper's delight. The
market also offers exotic spices that have been hand picked from the floor
of the forests.
Shopping
Also to be sampled, at any day of the week are Panchgani's home grown
garden specialities. Jams, honey, fruit crushes and tomato ketchup are
some all-time favourites. Exotic toppings for icecream and desserts add
to the repertoire.
Panchgani also boasts of a small-scale hand crafted leather industry.
Indian style shoes made here have traveled with visitors all over the
world.
Visit the Kashmir Emporium in the main town for reasonably priced (Kashmir
emporiums enjoy tax holidays in Panchgani) jewelry, hand crafted wicker
baskets, walnut wood boxes and lacquer work.
Scenic
vistas...
Baby Point, located close to the town near the town library and club house
was so named because this was the spot where nannies would bring the babies
in their charge for a stroll in Panchgani's heyday.
Parsi Point, located at a short distance from the town, was so named
because it was a favorite evening spot for the wealthy members of the
Parsi community. Parsi gentlemen and ladies are known to have arrived
here in their Plymouths, Buicksand Dodges at sundown, draw out their deck
chairs and picnic hampers and enjoy the sunset. It was a social ritual
enjoyed over a sundowner.
Sidney Point, located as you enter Panchgani from Pune, gives you a panoramic
view ofthe Dam, the tabletop mountain and the other mountain peaks in
the distance. It was named after Sidney who is believed to have been a
Surveyor for the then British Government of Bombay and who was responsible
for carrying out the first mapping of the area.
Quaint library and club
The Panchgani Club and library is open to visitors and residents of the
town. You can apply for temporary membership while you visit and avail
of their excellent library facilities, table tennis and tennis club facilities.
Jam Factory
There are two jam factories in Panchgani that are open to visitors all
days of the week. You can also buy freshly made farm products at ex-factory
prices from the stalls set up outside the factories.
Honey production
There is a government controlled honey manufacturing unit or apiary in
nearby Mahableshwar, 18 kilometers from Panchgani. The apiary conducts
tours for visitors and also sells wild honey made from the wildflowers
of the forests.
Sherbag: exotic plant garden
Visit the exotic plant garden at Sherbag, Panchgani during your stay.
Sherbag has a collection of cacti from all over the world among other
plants and trees.
Family-owned bakeries and restaurants
Panchgani has two popular family-owned bakeries, Lucky and Roach,
both over 100 years oldin the business. Sample their curried puff pastry
and freshly baked bread.
Churches
The St. Joesph's Convent, enroute to the table mountain, has
a Catholic church attached to its building that is open to visitors. Service
schedules are painted on the signboard at the church gate. The church
is worth a visit for its antiquity and architecture.
The St. Peter's School for Boys has a Protestant church attached to its
grounds.The church is open to visitors. The church and the cemetery are
worth a visit on account of their historic and architectural value.
State-of-the-art Hospital [Ayurvedic & Allopathy]
Panchgani has one of the finest state-of-the-art hospitals in
the region. You don't have to be ill to go to this hospital! Enjoy a walk
through the hospital grounds to have a look at some fine colonial architecture
or step in for a soothing Kerala-style ayurvedic massage.
Tabletop Amusement
An amusement park on the tabletop today gives the land a fair-like atmosphere.Visitors
may enjoy freshly roasted corn-on-the-cob, warm peanuts in the shell,
fresh strawberry icecream made with locally grown strawberries and go
for horse rides.
Other activities
Panchgani offers excellent opportunities for hiking, parasailing
and biking. Although hiking paths are not marked, you are never too far
from a house, town or a village. People are generally hospitable and friendly
and will guide you back to your destination without a fuss. Harrison's
Folly is a flat outcrop in Panchgani that offers para sailing opportunities.
Bikes can be hired
for the day.
Temples of Wai
Wai, located at the foot of the hills that bring you up from Pune to Panchgani,
is a temple town. Stop by in Wai on your way up and enjoy the town's temple
architecture in black basalt stone.
Nearby resort town of Mahableshwar
Mahableshwar, located 18 kilometers from Panchgani, used to be
the summer capital of the Bombay Presidency during British Rule over India.
Visit Mahableshwar for boat rides on the Venna Lake, to see the source
of five sacred rivers at Kshetra(old) Mahableshwar, see some of the most
scenic vistas in India, sample fresh strawberry icecream and corn patties,
ride horses or play golf, pool or bridge at any of the clubs in the town.
Street vendors offering delicious street cuisine will invite you to sample
their food around the lake. Restaurants offering vegetarian and/or non-vegetarian
cuisines from various parts of India[From Gujarati thalis, to South Indian
dosas and vadas to local bhakri and amtiare to be found in the main market
street.
Birding sites
Panchgani is a birdwatcher's paradise. All the members of the family,
keen birders themselves have spotted up to 100 species of wood, forest
and urban habitat birds in and around the property grounds. To see spotted
eagles, they recommend you go to Sidney Point. Honey buzzards are regular
visitors to the foot of tableland. Crested serpent eagles are often seen
at Bhilar. Flycatchers, barbets and bulbuls are familiar sights on the
property grounds.
Our History
The town of Panchgani is set against the dramatic backdrop of the second
largest tableland in the world. This tableland was formed by volcanic
action and is found nowhere else in India. Its flat land has a small lake,
two caves and is a wonderland of wildflowers in spring. Curiously, all
the twenty-two residential schools in Panchgani use the flatland of this
tabletop mountain as football (soccer), field hockey and exercise fields.
Panchgani was first ‘discovered’ by John Chesson, a British
civilian on the look out for a village in the hills near Pune that would
be ideally suited for a schooltown. British children were in fear of dying
of the plague in Bombay, the capital of the important Bombay Presidency,
and Chesson was entrusted with the task of finding a suitable village
that could provide a clean, disease-free environment for the young. Panchga
ni’s
crisp mountain air and friendly people were considered ideally suitable
for such a village. Boarding schools were soon set up for these privileged
children of the British in Western India. It was not long before the wealthy
merchant princes of Bombay began seeking admission in these schools for
their own children.
Christian missionaries first ran the early schools and education was imparted
with an emphasis on Christian values and moral codes. Soon, the rich Parsi
merchants of Bombay and Pune began to feel the need to have a school that
would impart education to young Parsis; the Muslim merchant princes to
their own and so on. Panchgani, in the early 20th century had a Parsi
School, a Muslim School, a Hindu School and so on. Today, in secular independent
India, school names and policies have been changed so as to invite students
from every caste and religion and from all walks of life. Panchgani has
touched the lives of not just the children of princes, merchants and British
officers but of children from every station in every corner of the world.
The story of Dhun-Heta bungalow, Jena and Joy Cottages also begins with
one such child's history. It begins with the schooling of a little girl
named Manijeh Patell, the only child of a wealthy merchant stationed in
faraway Aden (nowYemen). Considered too young to be left to fend for herself
in a boardingschool, 7 year old Manijeh was placed in the St. JosephÕs
Convent at the footof tableland in 1929 while her mother Tehmina lived
with a retinue of servantsat Dhun-Heta across the gates. Their home was
then called Abbas Villa, named after the Nabob of Wai who had once owned
it. The high point of their lives then, as Manijeh says,"was Papa
Rustomjee's visit from Aden once every two years".
Manijeh finished her schooling from the Convent and grew into a beautiful
young woman when she met her future husband at a seaside resort near their
ancestral home of Surat in Gujarat, also in western India. Manijeh and
Boman married and their young family (Heta, Dhunrumi Jena and Diana) lived
for the most part in Baroda visiting Panchgani only during the summer.
And while Heta, Dhunrumi and Jena went to day school in Baroda, Diana,
the youngest, was a boarder at the Batha School in Panchgani. Their love
for their beautiful home in the hills never wavered.
Weather
Panchgani enjoys a cool and crisp climate right through the year except
the monsoon. The westerly winds usually start in the beginning of June
when it starts to rain. While Mahableshwar gets lashed with upto 300 inches
of rain, Panchgani does not get more than 80 inches. It does get cold when
it rains, however, with temperatures dipping to 18 degrees Celsius.
It stops raining around the middle of August with a few passing showers
that run right through September. Make sure you carry rainwear if you
are visiting this resort between June and September, a light sweater between
October and February. A hat to protect you from the sun during the day
is always a good choice.
Cellphones work right through the year, at our resort even during the
monsoons.
Our Guests Say...
“Jena Cottage is surrounded by lush, green, dense forest. The
cuckoo’s malhar, whispers of the trees and creepers, chirping noise
of the sparrow and the sorrowful song of the dove gives immense pleasure
and peace of mind as well as complete fulfillment to the tourists staying
in the lovely Jena Cottage.”
Mohammed Zaki
Flat No 9, MSEB Colony, Padgha, Bhiwandi, Thane, India
“The Jena Cottage is having good atmosphere and pleasant surroundings.
We feel relaxed and pleasant. The nature of Rajan Uncle and Aunty is good
and co-operative. Nowadays such type of care is not available. They are
keeping Jena Cottage very clean and well furnished.”
Girish Gandhy and family
Ankleshwar, India
“We had a pleasant stay at this bungalow. The peace
and tranquility of the surrounds is amazing. The rooms are spacious and
clean. We were craving for this feel-at-home environment.
Saifuddin E Kapati
142, Modi Street, Fort, Mumbai, India
Contact Us
For reservations contact Heta Pandit at:
stayindia@gmail.com
Or call Lona Rodrigues in India at +91-832-2409131 between 10am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday.
Reservations & Policies:
• All payments to be made in advance
• Any loss/damage will be charged at the discretion of the hosts
or their managers/agents
• Prices subject to change
How to get to the Panchgani homes:
• Panchgani can be reached from
Bombay via Pune by air,train and
by road.
• Nearest airport: Pune (2 hours from there by taxi, shared services
available)
• Nearest Railway Station: Pune (2 hours from there by taxi, shared
services available)
• By road: Take the expressway to Pune (2.5 hours) and then from
Pune to Panchgani (2 hours)
Directions to the house:
Come to Panchgani town. Take the slope up to the Tableland past the Shivaji
Maharaj statue. Take a left at the toll booth. Drive up to the large hoarding
on the left and then look for the gate. The gate has the name of the properties
on it. Enter the gate and bear right up the drive to the house.
If you have a special travel need, Heta will be happy to help you make
your travel plans at no extra charge. Just e-mail her at stayindia@gmail.com.
Our House in Goa: Maia
Come, stay at our restored property in Goa.
MAIA, Saligao Village, Bardez Taluk, North Goa.
1. 19th century heritage home completely restored with modern amenities
2. Ten minutes drive from the beach
es of Calangute, Candolim, Baga
3. Ten minutes drive from the Saturday Night Markets, Mapusa market, Panaji
city
4. Three bedrooms with antique furniture, two modern bathrooms, large
hall and dining room with dining table, coffee tables and chairs to accommodate
up to twenty people, family room with channel T.V., fully equipped kitchen
(washing machine, mixie, toaster, kettle, utensils and crockery), private
sit-out amongst two rare trees and a freshwater well
5. Breakfast on request will include Goan breadbasket, jam/marmalade,
fruit juice, tea/coffee and eggs to order to be served between 8.30 a.m.
and 10 a.m.
6. Pick up perfectly restored pieces of furniture at the house at reasonable
prices
7. Maia is also the perfect location for film and commercial shoots and
photo/art exhibitions
8. Expertly guided conducted tours to historic properties (stately homes)
and sites in Goa on request
For details and bookings mail Heta Pandit on stayindia@gmail.com
or call her at +919822128022/ +918323252097.
The mailing address for Maia is "Maia", 1/98, Grande Morod,
Saligao, Bardez, Goa
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