In an attempt to offer authentic village experience, Monteria Village Resort in Khalapur, Raigad District, a short weekend getaway situated just at a two-hour distance from Mumbai and Pune, recently organised a familiarisation trip for media and travel trade. Curated with the idea of sustainable tourism, ‘The Kabila’ is an attempt to recreate the village lifestyle, away from the city rush. The stay experience is an amalgamation of comfort and simplicity which connects you back to your roots.
Discussing the idea of Monteria Village, Rahi Vaghani, Managing Director, Monteria Resort, said, “I always had an inclination towards the hospitality industry, and we were keener in giving something different experience to the industry and the people. Now in this fast-paced life when we have everything, the thing which is missing is a vibe of a village or a town. We wanted to recreate the ecosystem that is in the village and implement a complete village theme.”
He informed that the Kabila further amplifies village experience, giving one a well-deserved break from the daily urban schedule through a banjara living setup. “From lazing around the periphery space around the tent to relaxing at the group hammocks under tree covers, The Kabila is a perfect setting to soak into nature’s beauty and relive the moment of life. Go back to your roots with this refreshing getaway at Monteria Village”, Rahi added.
The village setup is composed of carpenters, furniture makers, tailors, potters, metal and stone artists, bamboo and khaat weavers, blacksmiths, cobblers, and goldsmiths doing their daily work to make the concept of the village a self-sustainable one.
To make the most out of the getaway, one can indulge in a slow walk through the village to explore the colorful Kutch houses & Sarpanch house, take a dip in a lake with safety bars and grips, shop handicrafts from bamboo & furniture weavers, play traditional games, visit the Gaushala (cow shed), witness folk dances & music, enjoy the natural showers, etc.
On asking about the plans for acquiring guests, Rahi mentioned, “We didn’t have to promote the idea of this staycation separately to the people, people are already aware of the value of oxygen, the value of greenery, the value of open surrounding and the value of space. Due to COVID-19, the strive to find such a place to unwind got amplified. Therefore, it was not very tough for us to get into the minds of people who needed this. We made sure that we have all the things here that they can put their hands on and get a spell-binding experience. One can see the hardworking villagers’ way of spending a day, right from growing food, to selling the beautiful hand-crafted items in the shop inside the village.”
About the initiatives in generating employment opportunities, Rahi said that they have about 125 workers who strive to make the model of the village resort a self-sustainable one. “We are putting special emphasis to provide employment opportunities for the village nearby and absorbing anybody who is willing to work. We hire them, train them, and delegate their responsibilities based on their strengths,” he added.
Drawing attention to responsible tourism, he said, “I am glad to say that we have about 70% of the power we need, generated by solar power when the resort runs on full occupancy with all staffs. We have a 220-KW plant installed at the resort. We also recycle all the plastic waste, single-time plastic waste, and everything, that are reduced to the packaging part only of the materials that we purchase for our handicrafts. And that packaging also is recycled, we convert it into powder and send it back to the recycling station. Also, food waste, like the organic waste that is also converted into manure, and we use the same in the resort garden.”
During the fam, a short and informative village tour was organized for the residents after lunch. The tour let the residents take a look at the age-old techniques of open farming and modern adaptations of hydroponic practices. The village walk also led to the Nakshatra (Zodiac) garden – built on the concept of the 12 zodiac signs; a uniquely built cave tunnel; a swing circle and a giant harness swing; a replica of Lakshman Jhula, and much more.
By Kuhelika Roy Choudhury
