Avanti Kalagram is a wonderful, hill top resort that has luxury rooms converted from shipping containers for accommodation, which is its specialty. There are also deluxe rooms in the resort. We had reserved two container rooms and a deluxe room for our group by paying advance (50%) directly to the resort booking office and the whole booking experience was quick and easy. Had made payment to them by cc and received confirmation by email. The marketing person located in the city was always ready to help and guide with directions and other information. This resort is located in the vicinity of Pune, about 35 kms from the university, so it is an easy drive up to the resort for a day picnic or a staycation. The uphill road to the resort, for about a km, is rough and virtually non-existent because of the monsoon but other than that, the village roads are decent and in generally good condition. The resort has sufficient parking space. The container rooms in the resort are done up in modern style one can almost consider them in 4* category. The containers are large enough to accommodate a king size bed and a bathroom. The bathroom is completely equipped with all the modern feature like a WC, basin, exhaust fan, towel rack, electric geyser and a shower. The beds are comfortable and come with soft pillows and a thick mattress. The blankets covered in white sheets are pretty comfy too with a lot of warmth – you would need to turn on the AC or the fan even in a very cool weather. There is also a half cupboard with a shelf to hang in the clothes. The room is also equipped with an electric kettle and the resort provides tea bags and coffee, sugar, milk powder pouches for the guests along with cups and glasses. Even a couple of bottled water are provided in the room. A couple and a child can easily sleep on the large bed. Each container room has its own private sit out with a hanging bamboo chair and a bench provided so that guests can chill out while sitting under a shaded/covered patio amidst the greenery and enjoy the views of the hills. The deluxe rooms are located on the first floor near the restaurant in a building. The entrance to the rooms is from behind the building. I believe there are dorm rooms on the ground floor and common toilets/baths (separate for men and women) are provided behind the building, which are clean and well maintained. The deluxe rooms are large and have a terrace with the river/valley facing view. The rooms are good but lack in modernity similar to the container rooms. Even the bathrooms are old style. The beds are large and the room has a divan for the extra guest or a big child who requires a bed. As the name suggests, the resort is an art themed, eco-friendly and I believe, pet friendly place. It is spread over a vast area and also boasts of a private waterfall. There is no reception area – it is located in the restaurant. The check-in process is simple and relatively fast as the staff knows who are the guests expected that day. It helps that the number of rooms is quite limited. The package in the resort includes all the meals (morning tea/coffee, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea/coffee with biscuits, evening tea with snacks, and dinner) and is served in their restaurant (no room service, I believe). The rustic charm of the staff in the restaurant cannot be escaped easily. The food is quite authentic Maharashtrian but also includes variety of Indian dishes not restricted to the state, for example, the breakfast included bread, butter and jam, poori and aloo-chana bhaaji. The taste was generally delicious and veg and non-veg food is served as buffet. Eat to your heart’s desire but do let them know how many people are non-vegetarians. The restaurant has a large sitting area open from the sides for the unrestricted views. Soft drinks and soda is available for purchase and one could carry their alcoholic beverages and store them in the cooler in the restaurant. There is also a provision for ordering veg/non-veg barbecue at extra cost and its well worth the money as the guests are encouraged to manage the grilling part in the end themselves for a wholesome experience. The facilities include indoor games area as well as lawns for outdoor sports including a swimming near a small waterfall and spring. Indoor games include table tennis, Foosball, carom board, and chess. Swimming pool was not operational because of the restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic. The stay package also includes a few handicraft activities for the guests such as pottery, bamboo wood craft and bottle art. Pottery making is more fun than others and everything is done in specially made art studios that are on the site. Guests can even purchase handicrafts made by the local villagers at a reasonable price. All the activities, including cooking, is done by local villagers and so there is an element of warmth and homeliness in their service as opposed to the professionally trained hotel management staff. We had a good time enjoying the indoor games as there were hardly any other guests to bother us. The resort is surrounded by terraced farms as well rolling hills and has a few trails that one can head out on in search of adventure. One of the main draws in the monsoon season is the waterfall in the resort, which is about 500 mts. and the path to is from behind the building where the deluxe rooms are located. One has to find their way to the waterfall and could get lost easily so better to take help of a staff member to lead the way. We were the only people at the waterfall when we went there the morning after spending the night in the resort. It is truly a mesmerizing sight – huge fall with a lot of water. We had a lot of good time taking bath under the fall but be ware that the last 100 mts. or so approach to the fall requires a steep climb over rocks, which could be a challenge for some young and elderly. Since we went in the middle of monsoon season, the fall was at its best and it is also used for extreme sports such as water rappelling and rock climbing. I had a memorable stay with family and relative and was not once bothered about anything. This is a place to go to relax and unwind from the daily routine. And it is a beautiful place in the rains, which we experienced plenty of but it only added to the charm. I would recommend this property very highly to any visitor whether with friends or with family. You’ll want to go back to it year after year.…
So this is our friends get together place where we love to chill. The ambience is simple amazing. Food is typical desi style prepared with love. Every time we go we enjoy the bonfire and pool sessions… A must visit especially with friends and family
I have been to this place multiple times with my close friends and it's always been a great and greater experience everytime I visit this lovely place... The Property, The Staff, The surroundings, The Art Work, THE FOOD, THE POOL everything is so great that you won't be able to resist to say... "Waaaaoooo kya mast hai 🤗"
Solo trip : Although i have visited Avanti with family and extended family , i always wondered what the place could offer if i went alone for 2-3 days during monsoons and stayed in the containers. In July 2021 , i picked up my laptop and a JIO dongle and ended up staying for a week . The container i had taken provided a broad view of the valley down and enjoying the day and evening there looking at the rains is MAGIC !! And that is not the best part , my family loves the food they serve there . 5 stars. With Friends : If you are going with friends , there is a huge lawn with cricket kits , a covered area next to the lawn for table tennis , foosball , carrom etc . One more point of interest is the infinity pool right at the top ( which was closed due to covid ) , and they times we have gone was either for a party or it was raining heavily. After playing for bit , treat yourself to GARAM GARAM bhajiya and chai in the evening snacks. overall : food 5 stars accessibility 5 stars ( 1 hour from hinjewadi) Service 5 stars Rooms 5 stars ( do not expect 5 star razmatazz , they are perfect for what you are looking for a place like this )…
I stayed at Avanti Kalagram for 3nights and trust me, I did not feel like leaving this place. Everything including Food, place owner's family, location, climate, greenery, scenes, peace etc etc etc long list..is AWESOME. Do visit this place and experience a little patch of heaven, and that too so close to Pune! It has something for everyone. Elderly people, kids, young families, just a group of friends, young and old everyone. A highly recommended place. Avanti Kalagram - 9822063864 - Deepak Bachal (Owner) Location – 14 Km away from Hinjewadi IT Park (Village Katarkhadak)
We 5 and kid visited Avanti Kalagram on 29th August. It’s such a rustic yet with all amenities place . We enjoyed small hike , we even visited water body . Food was delicious with lots of varieties Stayed in container room was totally different experience . Next time will with bigger group Thanks Pranav, Vishal From Arati Dabir
The place is average.. with good view and decent food The place is isolated with no network, we stayed in the delux room and the pathway was poor with no lighting ... Service is poor , as there is no intercom for everything we had to walk to the reception .. The play area/ activity zone has nothing to experience Unfortunately the day we went there was no water as 1 Phase was down. However we enjoyed due to the waterfall and the climate.
Visited Avanti Kalagram five months bck. Was an ordinary experience. Nothing great to boast about. Tried booking for Monday 26th July for two nights. Unfortunately, I had a reservation agent called Saurabh who was attending to my reservation. This fellow didn't have a clue of what I was asking about. When negotiating the rates he agreed on all rates but when it came to booking he back tracked and became rude and abusive. I advise everyone not to visit this place as it is not all that attractive. Better to visit matheran or some other attractive destination.
Avanti Kalagram is a boutique homestay featuring container homes & a few basic but comfortable deluxe rooms. It’s drivability from Pune makes it a decent & cheap weekend getaway for locals. My old friend & I visited this place from Mumbai during the Covid-19 Pandemic to head off the grid for a few days. There is no mobile network here & Wifi access (upon request) is available only in the dining area. The highlight of this property featuring the container homes is that despite their slightly cramped size, they have a cozy vibe to them & they overlook a gorgeous valley from the front deck each of them has. Each deck also features a swing. You’ll notice the incorporation of bamboos & bottles in the lamp shades & other misc. artifacts that give the place its eclectic & slightly bohemian vibe for all sustainability & minimalism buffs. It would seem that this is the dream project of an architect named Deepak Bachal. The property also features a cutesy art village that incorporates pottery, paper mache, bamboo art, bottle art etc. The setup seems lovely if a little decrepit & unkept. With a few nudges & upgrades, this place would shine truly well. A few hammocks, beanbags & few painted walls with a little bit of landscaping with greens would have taken this place to the next level. It’s a real pity that a lot of the art village demos were shut (understandably due to a lack of demand)... We bought some simple bamboo souvenirs from their in house shop which has a guy named Mohammad from Assam who assists you with the same (he is also the resident bamboo artisan). The two dogs (Jeff & Gomes) on the property are friendly & may follow you around at times. There’s also a cat that waits around on you for tablescraps in the dining area. The mini trekking trail that takes you to a seasonal waterfall & sunset point is lovely to walk on & not to be missed. The property has a trampoline, table tennis table, foozeball table & carrom for those interested in the games room area. Cricket too can be played in a small open field. A Karaoke machine is available upon request in the dining area too during the evenings. A BBQ can be arranged upon request too. The empty swimming pool with stagnant water that’s turned muddy is a reminder of the ominous pandemic that’s hit us bad this year. PROS Pretty good service (Chotu - the bellboy & Hari - the cook & Vishal - the caretaker are happy to customize food to your tastes & requirements). They also live near to the premises. Great offbeat & artsy vibe The food is homely & customizable if you have a chat with the front desk guy Vishal & the cook - Hari Unique container homes & valley view feature Deluxe Rooms have an extremely comfortable double bed that rivals the best ones I have slept on at even a 5 star property Lovely cool weather (We’ve visited in December) CONS Water falls out from bathroom area in the container rooms Hot water isn’t hot enough in container rooms. Shower pressure is plain bad. The deluxe room where we spent one night is more spacious & has a mini fridge as well. The room had a bit of an ant problem & some bugs but the rest was fine. No porter service / facility to shift bags to the room. You have to carry your own bags to & fro from the car (so better pack light).. This seems odd to me as they aren’t shortstaffed. If some women & seniors require help with heavy bags, who’s gonna help them? Container homes have extremely thin walls which makes having a private conversation a public affair & can ruin the experience for those looking for a slightly quieter & peaceful time with silence in the hills. Front desk isn’t active at nights in case of any medical or other emergencies. The road leading up to the property will test the resolve of a small car with poor suspension. Despite the lake being visible, there are no boating facilities or activities available or arrangeable on request. Parking seems a bit cramped if you’re coming in a big group or big car. There is no concept of private security here & it’s easy for imposters to enter or for theft to occur though that may not be the expectation. Power cuts in the afternoon Staff doesn’t wear face-masks (at all) though Hand Sanitizer is available in the dining sitout area. Container homes lack mini fridge which Deluxe rooms have. No network coverage & lack of wifi (for those who need to be connected constantly with the outside world for work etc.) A few mood lights & fairy lights later & this place would be even better than it is. Hammocks would be great too. This is a nice place to take a book with to. Don’t expect 5 star luxury & opulence. It’s basic, it’s quaint & it’s cost effective if you want to travel on a budget or spend some time away from the city’s chaos, crowds, Covid & traffic - pls come here …
All the pathways are dark around the actual rooms. There are facilities like TV,A/C, Refrigerator, heater which are not working. Smelly bed covers Below avarage food that also very late. No network,no room service,no intercom. For every problem go through muddy and dark pahway and slippery stone steps.Staff may come or may not. After coming also they may solve ur problem. Way to activity area is also slippery and away from actual place. For little kids and sr citizens definitely should avoid.
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