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A new high-end resort
and spa in Alibaug could well change the dynamics of this coastal
town
Shalini Rai-Narayan
'ALIBAUG SE
aaya hai kya?' goes a typical Bollywood dialogue. The
hero foams at the mouth
as he delivers it,
taunting the village bumpkin who's yet to be 'Mumbai-ed'. Well,
this might soon change.
With the Radisson Resort
and Spa all set to open
its doors to the well-heeled leisure tourist, 'Alibaug se aaya
hai kya?'
could well acquire a novel connotation.
Set on 16 acres of land
bordering the Veshwi Lake, the Radisson Resort and Spa has been
developed by city-based Sahil Group. "Alibaug is fast becoming the
new Goa. It has pristine beaches and serene, unexplored
environs and is surrounded by the Sahyadri Mountains. When we
started this project two-and-a-half year ago, detractors were many
and not everyone believed that it a |
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With over 15 acres of
landscaped greens and garden
area and a 13,000 sq ft reflection pool, the leisure property
boasts of a couple of high-end restaurants. Aparantik' - the 24-hour
restaurant serves traditional Indian and Continental cuisine and
'Kokam and Spice' - a specialty restaurant dishes out Konkanese
fare. For the young at heart, there's also an array of resto-bars,
with lie-down areas and exciting sitting to choose from. The piano lounge, with
its cozy, comfy seating
and great use of unusual design effects, is the icing on the cake.
But what is definitely the
pick of the luxury experience is the under-construction Mandara Spa,
spread over 20,000 sq ft and
offering 16 private spa pavilions. Managed by the MSpa
International Thailand, it will have an all-Thai staff and offer
total wellness programs, including yoga, meditation and beauty
treatment.
A
two-and-a-half hour drive from Pune, it takes the same amount of
travel time to reach the
lavish resort from Mumbai airport. But for those who like to go offbeat, it's a good
idea to try the
45-minute ride by catamaran from the Gateway of
India and have
double the fun.
r_shalinin@dnaindia.net |
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feasible," said
Vinay Phadnis, chairman
and managing director, Sahil Group.
It's an apprehension you
find difficult to relate to, for the resort is a visual treat
and has luxurious rooms set amidst natural greenery. Designing the
resort around existing greenery, architect Akalpita Joshi has
given it a primarily Thai and Balinese design theme. The use of
flowing water elements, muted lighting, bright and bold
colours, |
has
worked well for the 144-room resort (including suites and
villas).
"The resort is a unique
set-up, with widespread greenery, temples and beaches, in a 10 km
radius," said Shalil Suvarna,
general manager.
"In 2005, when the project was in its early stages, Vinay
Phadnis had pre-empted that two/three years hence, Mumbai would be a
very stressed-out city and will
be quite in need of a place like this one," Suvarna
added. |
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