SaffronStays Foresta By The Lake, Kamshet

The people and food are the heart of Foresta, even though the property itself is superb. Our Good Friday weekend here was a celebration of love, family, and togetherness, just Happy Thoughts. We came for Nani’s 90th birthday. Some family members had visited in Jan to spend quiet time with their 100+ old grandfather and highly recommended this property for Nani’s celebration. SaffronStays Foresta by the Lake is about 2.5 hours from Wadala and 50 mins from Varsoli/old Lonavala. The meals were SIMPLY INCREDIBLE, 11/10. This is a pure veg villa, and they carefully handled every request, including Jain food, less spicy meals, and diabetic-friendly options. Aamras-puri appeared out of pure affection, and they also made off-menu puran poli and khandvi for Nani’s birthday lunch, her absolute favourites. They even prepared khichdi for a mom-to-be while the rest of us had Asian cuisine. Every meal felt personal. Breakfast and dinner were such large spreads, with desserts both times, that we never needed extra snacks. The smiling staff kept checking in and were ready to help with anything else. We enjoyed hi-tea by the private lake, with breathtaking views. You can walk there in about 10 minutes along a slightly uneven path, or drive close. The pool was clean and inviting. There may have been a jacuzzi in that area, but we didn’t check if it worked. Everyone was having such a good time, listening to music on portable speakers and sipping a drink in the pool. For me, it was time to unwind. The six-acre property has a charming old-heritage feel, with 6 villas for about 12-15 people. Three villas are near a glasshouse-style living room with a bar and dining area. The other three rooms are in a larger unit close to the games room, which has board games, carrom, and card tables, as well as the tennis court and a beautiful gazebo overlooking the lake. A note for anyone with mobility needs: the property had a wheelchair, which helped me after I injured my knee and ankle in a recent fall. Of the three villas near the main living area, two are wheelchair accessible and connected, while one has about 4 steps. The villas near the games room have around 10-12 wider steps, so may not suit wheelchair users. There are also about 3 slightly higher steps at the dining area, something to keep in mind for elderly guests. There’s a temple on the property, where we did Ganesh aarti every evening at 7:30 pm. It brings a sense of calm and positivity that’s hard to describe. No wonder many of the staff have been here for over 20 years. Booking through SaffronStays was seamless. Thank you to Devendra Parulekar for personally stepping in, and to Hemal and Pratik for helping us finalize everything smoothly. My heartfelt gratitude to the team who made this milestone birthday unforgettable: Manisha (head chef), Kedar (asst. chef), Deepak (site manager), Bharat, Deepak, Balu, Seema, Chhaya, Sapna, and Santosh. We’d definitely return for the people and food as much as the property. The nights were cool, down to 19°C, and the surroundings were soulful. We’ll cherish the memories. This was more than a stay, it was an experience.