Manesar -SurJiwan Resort

We hired a family cottage and were quite happy with the hygiene and amenities and the spaciousness.

It had all modern amenities and comforts .

The cottages have mud walls that have traditional motifs drawn with natural organic colors on the walls such that it brings peace and harmony while the thatched roofs and the 'Jarokhas' provide natural cooling although all rooms are fitted with ACs.After checking in ,we were served a welcome drink of hot tea and pakoras and the kids finished off the hot and crisp pakoras in a jiffy.

We then settled in our room and rested .After a few hours, refreshed , we went out and were delighted that they had lots of indoor and outdoor games including the traditional games like Gilli-Dandaa, Pitthoo, Lattoo, Kanchhe, Teer-andaazi, Rassa-kashi, Jhula, Peepaphor, Hop scotch, Snake and Ladder ,Badminton etc and modern Games like Cricket, Football, Volleyball, Badminton, Croquet, Indian Bowling, etc.

Indoor Games like Tambola, Carrom, Chess, Playing Cards, Board games, etc.were also available .You had to deposit some token money before renting the equipment and the money was refunded when you returned the things back to the play store .We chose snakes and ladders and Badminton till we were tired to bits .

They also have arrangements for In-house music or you can bring your own music in a pen drive and the DJ will play it for you .Some couples were dancing and having a good time to the dance numbers while we just tapped our feet and cheered tem on .

After all the dance and play , we were famished and reached the Dining Hall which again had community dining .We had a fulfilling North Indian dinner of Dal,Rice , paneer and chapatis and then went for a stroll .The night air smelt of grass and you could hear crickets and owls .After a leisurely walk we retired back to our cottage and the manager told us to be ready by 7 a.m. for outdoor games and activities .

They have a live model of a traditional Indian rural kitchen with Sil batta,Chakki ,Okhli ,chakla belan, chulha etc and they even hold cooking activities

The next day,we woke up at 6 a.m. to the sounds of birds chirping and though people were enjoying a dip in the swimming pool we opted for a warm bath and were soon ready for breakfast in the dining hall .We were served Poori- Chana , aloo sabzi ,Halwa ,Parathas, Toast and tea for breakfast but we did not tuck in too much as the manager Mr. Anil Verma (who had been very attentive to our needs ) had asked us to eat lightly keeping in mind the activities that would follow .

We were then queued up by the trainer /coach who gave us instructions and encouraged us to try out the adventure activities like rope ladder ,Commando net, Burma Bridge,Double Rope Bridge,Monkey Crawl,Mowgli Walk,Cat walk in the Air,Rope descent and Tyre Jump etc. We finished the activities in 40 mins but what thrilling and hectic minutes they were !

It was next time for the Herbarium and Farm Tour .My kids have been born and brought up in a city and for them seeing cattle grazing among green meadows,cows being milked were a different experience altogether .

A guide gave us a guided tour of the Herbal garden and singled out Medicinal, Aromatic and rare mythological plants like Kalp-Vriksh, Gingko biloba, Rudraksh, Rakt Chandan .We also had a short trip of the Fruit Orchard, the Solar-Energy Unit, Organic Farming Tour .My son squealed when he saw earthworms crawling in the Vermicompost !

They have some special packages too like Adventure package, Team building activities,Birthday celebrations,School outings etc.To know more and book activities for your kids or group,you can visit here .FINAL VERDICT - I rate it a 3.5/5 .It is full value for money in terms of comfort,cleanliness and specially great for kids though I wish they could offer better food .