“Reconnect with your soul”

Reviewe 15 April 2013

We were among the first few visitors to stay at ‘Soulitude by the Riverside’, and it has been one of the most enjoyable holidays I’ve ever had. I’ve never come back from any holiday so relaxed and recharged, as after the days I spent there.

The place is a revelation – after a brief enjoyable trek hopping through the river and the lush greenery, you are taken aback by the beautiful place that suddenly appears in front of your eyes. Nestled between the hills, hugging the riverside is this wonderful, little paradise that has clearly been created with a lot of love and passion. Everything has been detailed to perfection – minute aspects of design of the entire place, placement of each window in every room, beautiful skylights, concentric octagonal cottages, wonderful little things in all the indoor areas, beautiful viewing gallery of the flowing river and the waterfalls – I can go on and on. I stayed there for 4-5 days, and by the time I was leaving, I was still discovering, with amazement, the amount of thought that has gone behind every little thing.

Oh did I mention the waterfall? ‘Soulitude by the Riverside’ is right along a pretty stream that hops on and off rocks of different sizes. The water was crystal clear – which I suspect many city dwellers would never have seen. There are numerous beautiful waterfalls on the stream, with pools of water for the more adventurous souls to dive into. There are many viewing spots that have thoughtfully been made along the river – each more beautiful than the other. My favorite activity was to sit by the river for hours at end, catch up on my reading and connecting with nature. The most amazing part is that this is all exclusive! i.e. besides the residents of Soulitude, you can be rest assured that there is no one else who would / can see or disturb you! The nights are very peaceful, and the background music of the river flowing right besides where you are provides a sense of peace and tranquility that I am struggling to put in words. During the day, you’d also see a host of beautiful birds at the river – I am no ornithologist but I believe there are some pretty rare species in this little ecosystem.

If you’re not into lying back and reading a book by the beautiful riverside, there are other things to do too – trek up and down the river to discover waterfalls and small ponds / lakes. There are many treks on the mountains around the area as well that one could go to.

Staff and service – ‘Brilliant’ is the word that describes it. Food is very tasty and 5 star quality, and the variety is amazing. The cook conjures up a variety of cuisines, and make each meal an interesting experience. If the evening is cool, they automatically fire up a bonfire by the river, which really is a joy that not many of us would otherwise experience. Each member of the staff is extremely courteous and thoughtful – jumping at every opportunity of making your stay as comfortable as possible while showing exemplary levels of respect for privacy – something I really value. I could find them at a moment’s notice when I wanted a cuppa tea, while wouldn’t ‘see’ anyone for hours at end while reading my book.

Don’t be mistaken by the simplistic, ‘natural’ look of the place – there is a fair amount of innovation behind making the entire setup very eco-friendly, and retaining as much of the natural ecosystem as possible – be it solar and multi-level heating, water conservation, low consumption electricals, usage of home grown veggies for cooking and much more. For the curious minds – understanding the innovation beyond just aspects of external design is a journey of discovery and wonderment that I would seriously recommend. Ask simple questions to the staff – on how they got the huge stone in the bathroom at the cottage, or how they angled the viewing area to perfection, to where do the thatched huts go during rains – and you would automatically be taken through this amazing journey yourself. You would be lucky if you can find Manish while you are there, spending time with him understanding all that went behind this is an experience in itself. Another interesting fact– almost everything from large furniture to small stools to the bedside lamps – have been made right at the site!

I would recommend a stay of at least 3-4 days at this beautiful place to really seep in all it has to offer, experience the tranquility and find a new state of equilibrium. Of course, one can never have enough of something as brilliant as this – and I found myself wishing I had more days to spend there. A must-visit for every city dweller to reconnect with your soul!
Stayed March 2013,travelled with friends.