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| Fortune Select Exotica, Navi Mumbai |
I had been looking forward to a trip to
Mumbai and as luck would have it, we had a company sponsored
trip to Navi Mumbai for a training program. We stayed at the
Fortune Select Exotica Hotel in Navi Mumbai for a week and it was a
comfortable stay. Though we had the rooms on a sharing basis, they
were spacious, so we didn’t feel cramped. The rooms also had Wi-Fi
and a LCD for entertainment as well as a mini bar. We didn’t have
to go out to eat; there was a lounge, coffee shop and fine dining
restaurant at the hotel. The training was held at the hotels’
business center and went without a hitch. Everything we required
including snacks and beverages were taken care of by the hotel staff.
We also got to relax by taking a swim in the pool.
As the meeting was only half a day on
Friday, my colleagues and I decided to make the most of our stay here
and visit nearby places. We were in luck as there are two well-known
hill stations in the vicinity. Lonavala is just an hour away and we
make it in good time as it is a smooth drive. We stop to pick up some
of its famous chikkis. Shutterbugs can have a field day at the
Rajmachi Point en route to Lonavala. From here one can take in the
formidable fort from the time of Shivaji’s rule. Another spot is
the Tiger’s Leap and we get to see the mountain that bears an
uncanny resemblance to the shivlinga. Towards the Khandala side,
Shooting Point and Duke’s Nose are great spots. The verdant rolling
hills, fluffy clouds drifting lazily add a touch of romance.
Lonavala, like many hill stations
around India, boasts of lakes. We stop at the Lonavala Lake and later
the Tungarli Lake, where it is peaceful. It is a pleasant getaway for
people from both Lonavala and Khandala.
We join the people thronging towards
the Shiva Temple, located at Ryewood Park and Shivaji Udyan. You
don’t need to be religious to appreciate the architecture. There
are also the Buddhist shrines at Karla Caves. I feel like I have
stepped into a different world. It is unbelievable to set foot into a
place that has been in existence since the 2nd century.
For fun, we head to the Celebrity Wax
Museum, this region’s very own version of Madame Tussaud’s. We
pose with Shah Rukh Khan and even Sai Baba. Towards the evening, the
weather gets cooler and is the perfect way to let our experiences
sink in and stay warm is with piping hot masala chai and vada pavs.
