Did You Know About This Amazing Bed & Breakfast in Lonavala?

Arrival and First Impression

I took a train from Mumbai to Lonavala and kicked off my trip with a traditional Maharashtrian breakfast, Misal Pav with Sol Kadhi and Masala Tak, at an establishment that has been ruling the Misal market since the winters of '87: Buvanchi Misal.

After an extraordinary breakfast, I made my way straight to House of Shrof with the hope that I would be allowed to check in a little early, just two hours before my official check-in time of 2 pm. Yeah okay! My time management sucks! I was politely denied entry, which is completely fair on their part because of two reasons

• I just showed up uninformed

• My room wasn't ready yet, duh!

But hey! That denial proved to be a blessing in disguise for me. I decided to pay a quick visit to the Markaiz Cafe, I saw on the way, to grab a quick coffee while I waited. I ordered a Cold Brew OJ, a blend of Cold Brew and Orange, and the very first sip of that beverage was like a cold breeze hitting my face hard on a warm summer afternoon. It was just pure bliss.

While I was drowning in my coffee, these cute people at House of Shrof got my room ready as soon as they could and called me at around 1:15 pm. Again, me being me, I checked in at around 3 pm. Eefa herself greeted me warmly at the main gate and as soon as I stepped in the gate, I knew this place was special.

Right in front of me was the main house complete with a charming terrace garden where the owner lives. The surroundings got me away from all the modern world noise. The only sounds I could hear were of birds, wind, trees swirling with wind and of course Eefa's as she was walking me through the property. To my left, was a reception desk, proudly displaying Eefa's Le Cordon Bleu certificates (yup, you read that right) and that fueled my curiosity to a huge extent.

Before I could get into that, I was led through a secret passage covered by... Yeah! You guessed that right: Plants & Greenery. I kid you not, that passage was like a portal to an imaginary land. It opened up to an unbelievably stunning common area. The serenity, the old-world charm and the attention to the tiniest detail took over me immediately. Before even reaching my room, I was absolutely in awe of this place. 

Room and The Best Part

Moving a little ahead of the common area, I came across the rooms. House of Shrof has five rooms to offer, divided into two floors. The rooms are strategically designed to face each other and are closely knit to each other (don't worry, your privacy is very well maintained). But before the room, I came across another common balcony garden with Bougainvilleas and Juliet balcony dining tables right in front of the rooms.  And there it was, my room, old-fashioned French windows leading me into a white-bricked wall, a well-lit and airy European escape. I was then left alone to go absolutely nuts. I did exactly what a sane person would do: Took a shower and crashed. Common now! You can't blame me. It was the room that was so cozy and warm that I couldn't resist. 

I woke up and explored the room a bit, properly this time. The thoughtful decor with an open wardrobe, scarlet sofa, and minimalistic design gave the room a truly charming and inviting vibe. Oh and the amazing books! Bro, I was sold there. 

The sun was down and it was time for the highlight of my trip. Eefa joined me for a heartfelt conversation along with her little furry friend, who was not so little but definitely the healthiest, and had the most amazing fur I have ever seen. We shared our lives. She told me how her parents had always been into the food business since the beginning, how she was a yoga practitioner and teacher for the longest time, how she always wanted to go Le Cordon Bleu and even though a little late in her life but she did achieve that dream, how her mother brought her to Lonavala and lockdown made her stay for good, how she started her restaurant but closed it for justifiable reasons, how she transformed her backyard into the amazing House of Shrof as it is today, and how beautifully she and her mother are running it today. 

Her stories were as rich as the ambiance but it was time for me to head out for dinner. I regret that I missed out on the food by Eefa because she doesn't cook for guests anymore but we have discussed it and I will be going back for that hopefully soon. So I went back to Markaiz, acquired food, and came back. I didn't want to be away from my room for long. I ended my day with Friends, Pizza and one of the best Tiramisus of my life. 

Farewell

I don't remember when was the last time I woke up without an alarm. That day was a crazy exception. I woke up to the sound of birds. I swear, I can't even express that feeling to you.  And did I tell you about the bed? Bro! That was one hell of a bed that didn't give me a backache and was so so so so amazing to sleep on. So much so, that I asked Eefa about the mattress she used (I know, petty of me, but it was worth it). Believe it or not, she told me that it was thoughtfully placed for comfort and wasn't just a mere coincidence. 

Well, moving on from the bed, it was time for breakfast. Okay! Listen to me. I don't know about you but I think I am a good writer and I have a way with words (well, I certainly hope you think the same). But believe me when I say, I have no words to describe the Akuri I ate. It was legit out of the world. 

After I finished my breakfast, I just sat on the balcony with a book soaking up the calmness and embracing nature as much as I could. My whole day passed in a blink of an eye and I wasn't ready to leave the place yet. So I extended my stay for 3 more hours (hehe). Everybody at House of Shrof was so welcoming about my decision and did their best to accommodate me well, which made me even happier. Although I did have to pay a little extra, it was all worth it. 

But as everything good comes to an end, so did my stay at the House of Shrof. And I can rightfully say that it was amongst the Top 3 stays, I have ever stayed at. 

Key Points to Note

• The tariffs may vary from when I booked, that's why I have not mentioned any price anywhere

• Be mindful of the flexible check-in and check-out as it is a private property

• Breakfast needs to be pre-booked 

• This is not a sponsored blog, this is genuinely what I feel about the House of Shrof

If you are looking for a peaceful getaway in Lonavala then this is definitely your go-to place and man, you are going to love it for all the right reasons.

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