Vidhi Gupta
16-Oct-2026
From the banks of the Ganga and Kerala’s coast to the forests of Madhya Pradesh, the salt flats of Kutch and the quiet landscape of Auroville, these seven stays offer different reasons to slow down, explore and settle into a place for a few days.
Amrit Bhawan, Haridwar
Haridwar needn’t always mean a hurried pilgrimage. Amrit Bhawan, an eight-room heritage home by the Ganga, makes a case for experiencing the city at a gentler pace. Mornings can begin at its private ghat, followed by walks through old Haridwar, regional Uttarakhand food, or a sunrise visit to a nearby rose farm. Those with more time can head into Pauri Garhwal for a glimpse of village life in the hills.
Marari Beach Resort, Mararikullam, Kerala
Walk barefoot on the soft sands at dawn, watching the fishermen haul in their morning catch. Spend your days lounging in the shade of palm trees that lay between your cottage and the sea, listening only to the waves—an exercise in simplicity and mindfulness. Or dipping into the gorgeous pool or the vast Arabian Sea. Evenings are ideal for sipping fresh coconut water and reflecting on the sheer beauty around you. The sprawling 55-acre Marari Beach Resort is Malabar’s tropical paradise, offering an authentic Kerala experience—simple, elegant, and deeply rooted in local life – with CGH Earth service, local cuisine, earthy beauty, conscious living, and village insights as highlights.
Outpost 12, Kanha – A Sinali Experience, Madhya Pradesh
When Kanha National Park closes for monsoon, Outpost 12 offers a completely different way to experience the wilderness. Located only 3-4 hours from Jabalpur airport, this naturalist-owned and naturalist-led, forest-first bio-lodge sits along the Banjar River with just nine cottages across 10 lush acres.
Built to be earth-conscious from day zero, Outpost 12 is a living conservation project with ongoing landscape restoration initiatives. During the park closure, the focus shifts to deeper engagement: guided nature walks reveal the ecosystem's inner workings, sound safaris capture the forest's natural symphony, and birdwatching peaks with migratory arrivals. You can forage for ingredients with the chef who crafts seasonal, locally sourced cuisine, learn Baiga tribal arts and crafts, and enjoy spa treatments inspired by local traditions.
This is quiet luxury rooted in sustainability and community integration, proving that meaningful wilderness experiences don't depend on safari season.
Tathastu Satpura Resort, Madhya Pradesh
Tathastu Satpura offers a quieter alternative to the usual holiday rush. Located near Satpura Tiger Reserve, the resort has 34 villas and five pool suites, with private verandas and forest-facing spaces. A three-day break can combine a wildlife safari with birdwatching and time within the resort, where experiences include pottery, boating and fishing, Burma Bridge, box cricket and a temperature-controlled indoor swimming pool. Evenings can be kept leisurely with dinner at Gilhari, the resort’s multi-cuisine restaurant, or karaoke and drinks at the bar. With Satpura known for its relatively raw wilderness and diverse wildlife, including leopards, sloth bears and Indian giant squirrels, it works particularly well for travellers looking to slow down over the long weekend.
Ananta Spa & Resort Jaipur
Set across 40 acres off the Delhi–Jaipur route, Ananta Spa & Resort Jaipur works particularly well for a short, driveable escape where the resort itself is the destination. Its 351 rooms include expansive suites and private-pool options, while Zen-inspired gardens, pools, a spa, vegetarian dining and a two-storey Kids Zone make it easy for families to spend the weekend without packing the itinerary. Jaipur remains close enough for sightseeing, but there is equally good reason to simply check in, slow down and make the most of the improving weather.
Sanctuary Amaidiyana, Auroville, Tamil Nadu
A 23-key CGH Earth property on Auroville's quiet edge, roughly twenty minutes from Puducherry's French Quarter. The architecture is by Mona Doctor-Pingel, an Auroville-based architect, and it does what the township's best buildings tend to do — work with the land. Hand-cut stone, reclaimed wood, locally forged metal, a Japanese-inspired Heiwa room designed by Poppo Pingel around a hand-raked rock garden. There's an outdoor pool, a small gym, Ayurveda suites, and — genuinely rare in India — a purpose-built Watsu pool for warm-water therapy. The kitchen follows CGH Earth's Conscious Cuisine approach, built on produce from the on-site organic garden and Auroville's own bakers, cheesemakers and chocolatiers, with a menu that runs from Tamil classics to coastal seafood. This is very much an Auroville stay rather than a Pondicherry one — expect a less touristy read of the township, with Watsu sessions, pottery and long, unhurried meals filling the hours between
Evoke Dholavira, Kutch, Gujarat
Dholavira was one of the great urban centres of the Harappan civilisation, remarkable for its reservoirs, fortifications, sophisticated water management and carefully organised city plan. The archaeological site alone makes the journey worthwhile, but the surrounding landscape gives the trip its unusual character. Khadir Bet sits amid the vastness of Kutch, where salt flats, open skies and long empty roads make the journey feel almost as significant as the destination.
Evoke Dholavira places travellers close to this landscape rather than treating the ruins as a quick sightseeing stop. Drive the spectacular stretch popularly known as the Road to Heaven, explore the archaeological site slowly and stay long enough to appreciate just how remote this once-thriving city really was.
Cover Credits: Unsplash
