Your guide to the perfect Diwali holiday, with SaffronStays
Some of the happiest memories in life are made when you’re on the road or in the air, on mini holidays and long, lazy vacations. Travelling to new places, be it with family, friends or even by yourself, is one of the best ways in which to add a touch of magic to your life. So, this Diwali, instead of the ordinary family get-together in the city, how about escaping with your family to an extraordinary locale, complete with state-of-the-art amenities? After all, the festival of lights is not just about donning ethnic clothes and feasting on homemade goodies. It’s also about the little things - the bonding, the laughter and the overall joy you experience when you’re spending some much-needed quality time with your family. Whether you’d like to soak in the local culture of another city, escape to the mountains or just unwind at a place that’s not too far from home, SaffronStays’ beautifully appointed holiday homes with an onsite cook and housekeeping staff are apt for all of that,and then some.
For the mountain lovers:
Hear the mountains calling? Then pack your bags and get ready for a magical Diwali with your family. SaffronStays offers plenty of well-kitted homestays in North India. Check into SaffronStays Elgin Hall, Dalhousie - a stunning heritage villa with a legacy spanning 100 years. It boasts of seven stone bedrooms, wooden and vintage interiors, an outdoor fireplace with a sitting area and an in-house cook and caretaker to see to cater to your needs. Plan a cosy storytelling session by the bonfire or host barbecue nights with your extended family at this plush villa. Alternately, choose to stay at SaffronStays Chestnut Lodge, Manali. Enjoy lush green garden views and warm Pahadi hospitality coupled with delicious food at this exquisite five-bedroom villa. SaffronStays Villa Asha in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, is a pet-friendly villa that’s ideal for a get-together. From its two well-equipped bedrooms, you can wake up to the most beautiful views of the Himalayan range, alongside your loved ones. There’s no better way to celebrate Diwali!
For the culture vultures:
If you and your family love immersing yourselves in the culture of the place you visit, there’s no better region than the South of India. As you visit its temples and forts, consider putting up at any one of SaffronStays’ many homestays. SaffronStays Nandanvan Estate near Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, is a breathtaking countryside villa that has 35-acre of sprawling organic coffee estate. This 3-bedroom home is surrounded by bountiful jackfruit, orange, avocado and vanilla trees, two gazebos for family get-togethers as well as facilities to enjoy picnics by the stream. Take an assisted tour of the coffee plantation or watch out for bison, elephant and mouse deer with your kids. For intimate family dos with your pets, SaffronStays Maleya Manor in Sakleshpur, Karnataka, a fully-serviced villa, is ideal. This two-bedroom cottage is infused with a charming vintage vibe. Fun fact: The blockbuster Kannada film, Mungaru Male, was also extensively shot here. But, for a relaxed holiday with the elderly, stay at SaffronStays Ocean Pearl, in Hejamady, Karnataka. What makes it so perfect is the fact that each of the three bedrooms at this beachside villa are located on the ground floor. Have your meals by the beautiful backwaters or go for a stroll along the beach.
For the retreaters:
Looking for some peace and quiet with your loved ones this Diwali? SaffronStays has you covered. Head to SaffronStays Raanwara in Kamshet. A pet-friendly home with six cottages, it offers mesmerising views of Thokarwadi lake. Swim laps in the shared infinity pool, relax in the beauty of the gardens and ponds or relax on the hammock bed in the balcony. Right next to it is SaffronStays Aranya Villas, Kamshet, a pet-friendly property, which boasts of outdoor jacuzzis at all four cottages. Surrounded by mango trees with resplendent views of the Thokarwadi lake and Sahyadri range, it’s the perfect setting for an unwinding Diwali holiday. Together, the two villas can accommodate up to 42 guests. If you want to pamper your pets, bring them to SaffronStays Little Paradise - Lotus and Tulip and Orchid. Sit pretty on a private beach, with ocean-facing verandahs, have a bonfire and barbecue time and movie screenings under the stars. Spend some quiet time with your family at SaffronStays Salt Rim, a secluded beachfront villa with sprawling lawns that can accommodate up to ten guests. SaffronStays Avabodha, on the other hand, is ideal for a postcard-perfect holiday with your group. It lies on a hilltop in Panchgani and is an eco-friendly home promising scrumptious, pure vegetarian fare prepared by an onsite cook with exceptional hospitality by the caretakers and housekeeping staff.
