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Boutique eco cottages set amidst the Phasad Reserve forest makes for a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai City. If you are looking for picnic spots near Mumbai then there can’t be a better place than this!

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Eco Cottages at Aranya Phansad Alibaug

Arany@ Phansad is like an oasis in a desert. Eco family cottages in Alibaug camouflaged by teak trees all around makes for a good nearby weekend getaway from Mumbai
When my friends and I were planning a weekend retreat from Mumbai, we wanted to zero in on a place that didn’t involve much travel time and also offered a peaceful retreat from Mumbai. We luckily stumbled upon these beautiful cottages by Arany@ and decided to book an Alibaug night stay here. This is a great option for Alibaug stay for group and is budget hotel in Alibaug near beach.
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Eco cottages at Aranya Phansad Alibaug


Location

By Car : Alibaug by Road

Time Taken: Approx 3 hours (130 kms)
Cost : Approx 1200 Rs

By Ro Ro Boat

Dont want to travel by local transport? No Problem! Opt for Ro Ro boat that allows you to take your car/ two wheeler
Time Taken : 45 mins
Cost :
Rs 800 for Car
Rs. 250 for passenger
Rs. 200 for Two wheeler

By Ferry

One can opt for a ferry ride that starts from Gateway of India. It is the cheapest and fastest mode of transport to reach Alibaug Mandwa Jetty. You can either opt for a Air conditioned ferry or a non air conditioned one.

Time Taken: 1 hour approx

Cost: Rs. 150 approx

Companies: PNB, Maldar, Ajanta


From Mandwa Jetty to Alibaug

Upon reaching Mandava Jetty post the ferry ride, one will need transportation to reach Aranya if you dont have your own vehicle. In that case, these are the options one can opt for;

By Tuk Tuk

Tuk Tuk is a pool ride that accommodates 7-8 passengers.
Time Taken : 45 mins

Cost per passenger : approx 200 Rs.

Distance : 50 kms

Time Taken : 45 mins

Cost per passenger : approx 200 Rs.

Distance : 50 kms

By Private Taxi

Cost: Rs. 800 approx

History

The owners family have been residents of Alibaug for over 2 decades and would always host their friends and family. That’s when the idea of opening a peaceful retreat from the chaos of Mumbai was generated.

Arany@ is not only their daughters name but also means Forest in Indian language which perfectly suits the place where the property is set.

There are 5 beautiful cottages in all. Each cottage is spacious and built in a unique design.

First Impressions

Set in the lap of nature, one is greeted with the sight of Gulmohar,Jacaranda and Amaltas trees. The aromatic smell of the flowers puts you in a trance and the lush greenery is a treat to sore eyes. Butterflies perched on aromatic frangipani trees make for a lovely sight. I instantly fell in love with the property was very excited to explore it!

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Nature at Aranya Phansad Alibaug

If you are a bird lover then this place is a treat for you. Phasad is home to over 60 species of birds and is spread over 17000 acres of forest land. I was told that a few species such as White eyed buzzard Common Hoopoe, Shikra, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White browed Bulbul, Plum headed parakeet, Crimson backed sunbird, Brown headed barbet, Racket tailed Drongo can be sighted.

We were greeted by a caretaker who gave us a quick tour of the estate.

Also read : Where to stay in Bekal : Taj Bekal Resorts and Spa here


The Rooms

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Cozy rooms in Alibaug cottages at Aranya

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Rooms at Aranya Phansad Alibaug

Each cottage is surrounded by teak trees. Set on stilts one has to climb a few stairs to reach the verandah. Each verandah is set by plush chairs and a table. Infact each cottage is named after one of the above Mentioned trees.

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Patio in the Cottages

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Lush Greenery At Aranya Phansad

One can relax and unwind with a book in hand or just lazy around listening to music.

Each room is air-conditioned and comes with the basic amenities. what surprised me is that the bathroom is almost the same size as the room. The bathroom had a rustic look with small detailing like a ladder placed for décor which can also be used to hang towels, an artistic mirror, paintings on the wall etc.

 

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Meals

When you check in by 12 pm, after resting you can directly go for lunch, Meals are set by the poolside dining area overlooking the greens. Arany@ offers local and Indian cuisine cooked with love.

Being set in a local area, the food is fresh using seasonal produce. If local food suits your taste buds then this ones for you!
The package includes lunch + high tea + Dinner + Breakfast. It doesnt get better than this!

Activities

Pool

Tall palm trees surround the pool. Take a dip in the swimming pool to shrug off the weariness of the travel. The pool is large for a quick swim or enjoy a quick game of throwball in the pool with your friends and family.

Reservoir lake

Set a short walking distance away is a reservoir where one can sit around and watch the fishes swim. If you enjoy fishing then the property also provides you with a fishing rod.

Games Court

Enjoy a game of throwball or badminton with your friends and family at the games court.

Farm Visit

Why not opt for an interesting tour of plantations and teach a bit of farming to your kids. The property has papaya, banana chikoo, mango, brinjal onions and other plantations.

Cycling

Enjoy a quite ride admits nature by cycling in and around the property. This comes as no additional cost to you. All you have to do is simply ask in advance and the cycles will be provided to you.

Indoor Games

If you are not too outdoorsy then you can opt for indoor games such as carrom.

Bon fire

A bonfire + Soulful Music = Romantic evening with a loved one.

Surprise your partner by asking the team to set you a bonfire for you both. Enjoy a cozy chilled evening with your partner or enjoy a fun filled evening with friends and family by the bonfire.

Phansad Bird Sanctuary

All you nature lovers can opt for a tour of the phasad bird sanctuary. Unlike the name suggests, its not just a bird sanctuary but is also home to many species of mammals and snakes. The hotel also arranges for a car should you wish to opt for this.

My Experience

It was nice to get out of Mumbai and experience life like the locals. Breathe in some fresh air and wake up to the sound of birds greeting you. This was a perfect weekend getaway from Mumbai.

Pros

1. Its away from Mumbai without involving a lot of travel time. Gives you the peace and quite that you are looking for. This makes it a perfect weekend getaways from Mumbai for couples and family.

2. The cottages are built in a modern rustic style with amenities such as air conditioner making up for a comfortable stay. They even have a “Jacuzzi” and a “piano” in one of the cottages. Beat that!

3. The cost includes the meals + high tea which in my opinion is a steal deal.

4. Nature lovers who wish to spend some time at the Phansad Wildlife sanctuary but do not wish to stay the accommodation provided by the authorities can consider this property.
5. Get your furry friends along with you. Aranya is a pet friendly place.

6. Explore the surrounding area, kashid beach, Revdanda Fort, Revdanda beach , murud Jhanjira Fort are a few kilometers away from the property. This is a cheap cottage in Alibaug near Nagaon beach.


Cons

1. If you do not bring your own car and wish to do some sightseeing around or hit the beach then the cab fare can be a bit expensive. Uber and Ola do not run in this area.
2. Being set among a lot of trees and greenery naturally leads to insects and mosquitos. This cannot be avoided hence one has to carry a mosquito repellent to protect oneself.

3. Though the rooms are fully equipped they do not have a tea coffee maker. However, one can always enjoy a cup of hot tea/ coffee during high tea served by Aranya.

Property details and booking

Arany@ Phansad – Private Cottages & Villas
Roha, Revdanda – Murud Rd, Kharkhardi, Maharashtra 402109
Phone no : 079776 40918

Website : aranyaphansad.com

Hi Guys, I am Jes. A finance professional living in India but always dreaming of being someplace else at the moment. I was hit by the travel bug about 3 years back and since then my 2 happy feet haven't stopped exploring what the world has to offer. So why did I decide to start a travel blog when obviously there are so many out there already! The idea was to give you a peep into my actual travel steps. How I decided on a location, how I got about going there, how I decided to stay at a certain place, how I managed the expenses and so on. Most travel pages will give you super edited pics to woo you but I would like to display the actual facts for you to understand things better. I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoyed jotting down the pointers for you.

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