Home in the hills
Monsoons may not be the best time to drive up the hills but then romancing the Nature in all its beauty and splendour has always beckoned me. Making way through the misty clouds, breathing the freshest of air on the cleanest of roads is what this city-bred has strived for during the growing up years in Delhi-NCR. So when a friend enquired if I was game to accompany him for a two-day “no work and all play” sojourn to Mussoorie, I readily agreed. Who would want to miss out on such an opportunity? And in less than 24 hours, we were off to the Queen of the Hills.
Legend has it that a Britisher, Captain Frederick Young, accompanied by FJ Shore, had climbed up the hill from the Doon Valley in 1827 and chanced upon this ridge with stunning views and a pleasant climate. Over the next few years, the foundation of Mussoorie, at an average altitude of 2,005 m, was laid. Its name is often attributed to Mansur, a shrub found in abundance in the region. However, not many know that Mussoorie was even in contention with Simla to be the summer capital during the British Raj.
Aakash, my friend, had booked us at JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa, nestled among the hill station’s serene valleys, towering oaks and silent walking trails surrounded by lush natural foliage. You can reach here after flying in to the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun (around 60 km) and experience a scenic two-hour drive. Else opt to drive up as we did from the National Capital (around 290 km). The five-star property, situated at the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, is one of the leading luxury resorts in the state of Uttarakhand and comprises 115 state-of-the art accommodations – Deluxe Rooms (68), Valley View Rooms (37), Studio Suites (8) and Executive Suites (2). Spread over eight acres, the property has been strategically created around three walnut trees, designed in a manner that the three form a triangle should you happen to have a bird’s eye view or get a drone to do it for you.
The resort is an epitome of sophistication and a heightened sense of comfort that redefines luxury as one imagines would have been when the hill station developed under royal patronage in the 19th century with the royal families from Baroda, Jind, Rapipla, Nabha, Tekari and Kapurthala turning Mussoorie into a resort of the kings. The experience one gets at JW Marriott Mussoorie is unmatched – 55 inch Smart LED television, four-fixture bathroom, Bluetooth-enabled JBL docking station, high-speed wireless and wired internet, mini bar, tea-coffee making facilities, laptop-compliant safe locker and 24-hour in-room dining availability.
FOOD AND LOADS OF THOUGHT
Almost famished after the seven-hour plus drive, we gorged into fresh thin crust pizzas made in the open kitchen featuring a wood-fired oven and home-style pastas at perhaps what is the highest vegan Mediterranean café in the country, Wisteria Deck. After a hearty meal, we moved to our Valley View Rooms. At around five in the evening, we heard a commotion in the lawns overlooking our rooms. It was time for Kachdi, the traditional Garhwali evening tea ritual, where guests at the property get together under the open skies to enjoy a warm cuppa even as a local singer croons Bollywood songs in a melodious voice.
Guests can also savour a variety of regional and globally inspired dishes in an interactive open kitchen at JW Café, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. If you want to embark on a culinary journey through Asia, then walk in to Teppan, the restaurant boasting skillfully crafted Pan-Asian cuisine with Chinese, Japanese and Thai favourites. However, this is only open for dinner. For the ones like the two of us, Trout House Grill & Bar is the ideal place for having a fill. It is here that one can indulge in a delectable fare that boasts of succulent fresh seafood and locally sourced produce with surrounding Himalayan views.
The cuisine of Uttarakhand is much like its people: simple yet incredible. Perhaps what my friend and I enjoyed the most at the property was the Garhwali Thali. The spread offered delectable dishes, which Master Chef Kulveer Singh informed, were high on nutritional value. “The cuisine of the state is meticulously chosen to not only offer delight the taste buds but make most of the resources available. At JW Marriott Mussoorie, we started a concept to promote local food and through this concept, bring different dishes of different regions of Uttarakhand to one plate for a unique dining experience,” shares Singh.
GREEN COVER
It is here that we have a chance encounter with Sachin Mylavarapu, General Manager of the property. We get talking and he had us know that the property recently launched The Botanical Cafe that has offerings which showcase “Implant Health” – nutrition extracted meaningfully from plants.
“The menu offers select food and beverages made with ingredients sourced from plants. We take pride in growing unique herbs and botanicals in our own greenhouse to support this menu as well as at The Wisteria Deck. We have also curated a unique environmental experience as part of the Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy offering called as Implant Nature for guests,” he shares. Mylavarapu adds the uniqueness of this programme is its multi-generational approach and upholding of the true Family by JW principles of having the family experience this as one while discovering “The Whole You”.
“It is in direct conjunction with the environmental measures and giving back to the local Himalayan community while we promote the concept of creating the JW Garden brand activation through Family by JW. We look at conserving Nature and this green belt for the generations to come and experience the greenery of the Himalayan belt. By doing so, we support and balance the biological ecosystem, preserve the soil and vegetation and instill the sense of accountability and ownership in the guest by letting them own the sapling they plant and celebrate yearly anniversaries reminding them of their contribution is conserving environment,” he says.
The hotel supports small-scale farming businesses that grow seasonal crops protecting the biodiversity. The focus is on procuring ingredients that are best suited to growing locally by the season so that farming stays beneficial to the plants, animals and environment. “The packaging provided by our vendors aids a healthy environment. We promote sustainable farming within 200 km of the resort by supporting, empowering and facilitating the local community in promoting self-employment for farmers in 26 local villages,” says Mylavarapu.
LOCAL ADVANTAGE
During our stay, we notice that JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa has used the serene surroundings to its advantage. “With keen focus on sustainability and commitment towards the community owing to our serene locale, we have always been able to innovate beyond imagination. We have developed and supported local vendors to grow and supply us all our requirement of oilseeds, hemp seeds, millets and millet flours and turmeric. Basmati Rice from Selaqui is procured to support the local farmers and also reduce the travel time of sourcing rice from other states. Low transportation usage helps reduce carbon footprint. We have also helped another local vendor to grow microgreens and supply to the hotel. Our aim is to reduce travel of ingredients, seek seasonal produce, packaged in eco-friendly ways and support the local businesses in and around,” explains Mylavarapu.
POST-COVID PERIOD VIS-À-VIS PRE-COVID ERA
Mylavarapu says that the property has always been on the forefront of innovation by anticipating current trends in advance and creating promotional campaigns strategically and effectively for an increase in sales. “At present, there has been at least a 30 per cent surge in the bookings owing to the location of the resort and being at a comfortable driving distance from major north Indian cities. The lead time of bookings have drastically reduced from an earlier 15 days to an average of four now,” he says.
The GM adds that this trend has proved their study right of a significant increase in the minimum length of stay that has increased from two to four days as people want to stay in a safe environment for a longer time. “Another aspect definitely is a surge in wedding events that are coming in for the current month itself as against the earlier trend of future demand. Having launched Petite Weddings with an offer of various genres of wedding styles ranging from Himalayan wedding to adventure wedding, this new trend is here to stay,” says Mylavarapu, a seasoned hotelier with over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry.
We also took a quick tour of the Cedar Spa by L’Occitane which, we were informed, features five treatment rooms including two couple therapy suites. “Mediterranean wellness blends in perfectly here with the indigenous Himalayan flora to inspire signature ingredients and therapies,” he puts in.
MISSED IT. PERHAPS NEXT TIME
The property also offers guests to enjoy their Breakfast by the Stream where, nestled in the forest near the place Kempty Falls originate, flows a stream. It is here that the breakfast table is set in the middle of the gushing water and you enjoy between a traditional Indian breakfast and a selection of fine Continental preparations even as you dip your toes in the chilly water and listen to the jungle waking up all around you.
The property also boasts of a 12,000 sq ft of entertainment space, The Den, for kids and adults. The facility comprises a two-lane bowling alley, table tennis and pool table, gaming consoles, creative activities including arts and crafts, a well-stocked library and board games along with The Raj Room where guests can have a round or two of billiards over drinks.
We may have missed out on a lot including the treks and visit to the local communities and villages but while driving out of the hotel, we promised each other to be back soon, only this time with our families. For here is a place which offers something for every member of the family. Perhaps there is more than we two friends could discover. And of course, we missed meeting the legendary author, the world famous Bond, Ruskin Bond who stays further up, in Landour.
