Head to this luxurious resort near Mumbai to pamper yourself inside out

No matter how calm you manage to keep yourself, there's no escaping Mumbai's crazy lifestyle! The tough commutes, long working hours and to top it all, a mad nightlife, will get always manage to catch up with you at some point or the other.

The best way to tackle this? I say, just go with the flow but every once in a while, escape the city's madness and go all out with pampering yourself. And what better way than to drive down to the middle of nowhere to experience luxury, delectable food and some of the most exotic spa treatments!

Ideal for

One of the best resorts near Mumbai, the property is ideal for travellers looking for the ultimate relaxing vacation while enjoying the best luxuries possible. Spa aficionados will particularly fall in love with the resort's serene setting and the treatments on offer at the Shillim Spa.

About the property

Merely a three-hour drive from Mumbai, the Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat and Spa is a gorgeous award-winning spa retreat located in Shilimb village in the heart of Maharashtra. The picturesque resort near Mumbai is nestled amongst Sahyadri mountain range's rice fields, bamboo plantations and virgin forests. Everything, right from the simplistic architecture to the luxury-laden accommodations, to the carefully curated wellness treatments, is designed to pamper the guests and give them a relaxing experience unlike any other.

The expansive resort boasts of a plethora of spa villas, all of which come with private spa treatment areas, outdoor seating areas and king size beds apart from all basic amenities. If you plan to go all out, book one of the high-end rooms and spoil yourself with facilities such as indoor pools, outdoor nature showers and 24/7 dedicated butlers, amongst others.

Food

Food lovers are in for an absolute treat at the Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat and Spa owing to the property’s plethora of dining options. While the multi-cuisine restaurant Terrazzo serves cuisines from around the world, The Green Table offers organic food made using ingredients homegrown in the resort's garden.

The guests can also learn about teas from all over the world and sip on their favourite variety at The Tea Room. The resort, one of the finest resorts near Mumbai also happens to house one of the biggest wine cellars in the country, The Cellar, where guests can indulge in wine tastings and pick up a bottle from a range of handpicked wines. In addition, guests can also enjoy their drinks with a view of the majestic Western Ghats at the Valley Bar.

Cost

The Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat and Spa has a wide range of accommodation options to suit travellers on varied budgets. Here’s a quick lowdown of how much a night’s stay at the resort will cost you:

King Valley Villa - ₹12,000 (approx.)

King Deluxe Valley Villa - ₹13,500 (approx.)

King Spa Villa - ₹15,000 (approx.)

Twin Spa Villa - ₹15,500 (approx.)

King Forest Villa - ₹20,000 (approx.)

King Spa Pool Villa - ₹27,000 (approx.)

Presidential Villa - ₹1,47,000 (approx.)

All the prices include accommodation, complimentary services and a buffet breakfast for the guests.

Best time to go

Shilimb experiences a hot and humid summer and monsoon. The best time to visit the town is between the months of November to February when the weather is comparatively cooler, making it apt for exploring the region.

What to do in and around the property

1. Heal yourself inside out at the Shillim Spa

The resort’s pride, The Shillim Spa is one of the largest and most comprehensive spa facilities in Asia with 17 treatment rooms, a meditation cave and a relaxation centre, as well as a salon and yoga pavilion. The Shillim Spa offers rejuvenating experiences that will heal your body, mind and soul. Each treatment integrates the ancient philosophic, spiritual and artistic wisdom of South Asia, with modern international techniques. To make the experience all the more personalised, the trained staff curates wellness sessions that are customised to individual needs.

2. Hone your cooking skills

If you happen to be someone who’s always been a disaster in the kitchen, the Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat and Spa offers you a great chance to sharpen your skills. The team of chefs at the resort holds special cooking classes wherein you can either brush up the primary skills, hone your expertise by mastering a specific type of cuisine, or simply learn few tricks of the culinary trade.

3. Become a master of all trades

The resort, keeping in mind the need and interest of their guests, organises a whole lot of leisure activities that will keep you busy while you're there. Amongst the several experiences on offer, guests can take a forest walk, go bird watching, take a pottery demo, rent a bike to explore the area or take a tour of an organic farm.

4. Trek to hilltop forts

Located in close proximity to the luxurious resort are two of Maharashtra’s best trekking points, the Tikona Fort and the Tung Fort. The mighty hilltop forts are surrounded by lush forests while the exciting terrain and a challenging climb makes them local favourites amongst trekkers. Head to either of the two forts and push your limit with these treks!

5. Invoke the explorer within you at Karla Caves

At a distance of 40 km from the resort lie the magnificent Buddhist rock-cut caves of Karla. Now a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, the caves are a complex of shrines developed over the period from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD with the oldest of the cave shrine believed to date back to 160 BC.

Getting there

Here’s how you can get to the spa resort from New Delhi:

By Air: Catch a direct flight from New Delhi to Pune that will cost you approximately ₹2,500. Once you get down at the airport, hire a cab that will get you to the resort in another two and a half hours (62 km).

By Train: There are several trains that connect New Delhi to Pune. It takes around 20-25 hours to cover the distance, depending on your choice of train. The resort is at a distance of 55 km from the railway station and it takes a couple of hours to cover the distance in a cab.

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