++Life in full in the lap of nature - Lavasa++. Review on Lavasa

Break the Myth

Finally I am here at Lavasa! And what stopped me from visiting this place for long? The good old quote proved to be right “familiarity breeds contempt”. It is something at your door step. You don’t have to trek. Entry fee is nil! So, visit the same taking your own sweet time! Also, came across many snappy and sassy reviews that do not suffice from a consumer point of view.

Finally, I have decided to keep aside all sorts of diatribe and apprehension. What’s the harm in experiencing? The group of five started from Pune City at 7.30AM, had Bun Maska and Cheese Omelette from Vohuman Cafe and started our mini exodus from the hustle bustle of Punya Nagri.

Route

Reach Chandni Chowk (Delhiites, don’t be panic. We have Connaught Place also in Pune) and take the toll route towards Mulshi. Drive till Pirangut and from there you will get left turn towards Lavasa. This is the same route towards Panshet Dam. Only difference being, the road is well maintained and I was not able to spot any single pothole during the 40 KM trail from here. Wonder, whether we are in Pune!

A word of caution – there are many U-Turns slanting upward and you may find big sized vehicle finding it difficult to maintain the left track while descending. So, it is advisable not to ape Michael Schumacher while driving. Finally, you reach the gateway of Lavasa where in you are required to give basic information and there is no entry fee. Drive in and start exploring the city. A bit of information given below might be helpful.

A bit about Lavasa City

Pune is a city nestled amidst of Sahyadri range. Lavasa is situated in the seven hills – that means, on the lap of Sahyadri. It is 12500 Acres (One fourth of the size of Mumbai) and is the largest conceptualized hill city of the country. Western end of the valley borders the Konkan Coastal end and eastern extend up to Warsgaon Dam Island.

The city’s planning and construction is done by HCC (The very same institution behind Bhilai Steel Plant, Bandra Worli Sea Link etc.). It is INR 1400 billion project which is expected to be completed by 2020. The project also envisage building of road from Lonavla, Somatane and many other entry point that enable anyone to access the city avoiding Pune City traffic.

Up on construction, the entire city can accommodate close to 1.5 Lakhs of residents with inflow of 20 Lakh tourists per annum. In short, it offers an urban life with all luxuries (with close to 15, three star – five star hotels, Management Institutes, IT Companies, Hospitals, Helipad, Theme Park, Film Production) in the lap of nature.

While exploring

Stay You have got all luxury to drive and explore the length and breadth of the city. For those who are planning to stay, there are three facilities as of now. Ekant, Fortune Select (ITC Group) and Water Front Service Apartments. Check with Travelguru website for some good deals.

Lavasa Experience Zone Never miss the audio visual voyage by the well trained guest relation executives. Check in to the information centre where in they will arrange for the same. Afterward, they will invite you for a splendid 3D experience zone. This was the finest 3D experience I ever had in the country so far! Afterward, they will take you around the city in a plush bus and the only complaint I had is that they have not provided any tour guide inside the bus. After 8 PM, they organize movie screening.

Fun at Lakeshore You may go for bungee jumping, pontoons, boating, jet skiing etc.

Eateries You have variety options. The restaurant at Ekant offer excellent delicacies. Also, near the waterfront apartment, you have American Diner, Grandma’s Kitchen (the same outlet in NCR that offers excellent pastries) etc.

Flora – Fauna Lavasa boast to be the abode of Tickell’s flowerpicker (one of the smallest bird in the country), rare breed of butterflies like Oak leaf, blue mormon (that signifies the eco friendly ambiance), Karvi flower that blooms once in seven years etc. Also, around ninety streams come together to form a grand lake in the city.

The five cities The entire project comprises of five cities – Dasve (Which is completed as of now), Mugaon, Dhamanhole, Sakhari and Wadawali.

Concept of Bio Mimicry You should spend your time fruitfully in Lavasa. For that, you should catch hold of a smart guest relation executive or an engineer who will give you interesting dossier about the concept of “Neo Urbanism”. I came across an interesting concept of “Bio Mimicry”.

It is the discipline that studies nature’s best ideas to solve human design challenges. It is all about how nature confronts, overcomes and accommodate adversities of nature.