Located in the mountainous and scenic district of Raigad, just 2 hours away from Mumbai, Karjat has become a popular tourist destination. Karjat boasts lush green scenic views, gorgeous weather, and trekking spots and the best part is: without the crowds.

The river Ulhas finds its origin in Karjat & the steep Ulhas Valley is lush in the rainy season, with a river flowing in full flow and abundant waterfalls around. This hilly town of Karjat has temples, monuments, lush green blooming valleys and exquisite caves. 

It is just 90 km from Mumbai and has gained importance because it offers an excellent alternative to the crowded Lonavala & is well-connected to Pune and Mumbai.

The best time to visit  Karjat is during the monsoons as the place looks simply heavenly and extremely gorgeous with its lush greenery, misty atmosphere and numerous waterfalls. Winter season would also make for a nice relaxing getaway from the city in this town surrounded by the hills.

Table of Contents

• Saveda Farm & Cottages
  • Rooms
  • River Pej
  • Food at Saveda Farm & Cottages
  • Touring Saveda Farm, Karjat
    • The Cowshed
• What are the other things to do in Karjat?
• How far is Karjat from Mumbai?

Saveda Farm & Cottages

We explored many options for a stay in Karjat, then came across this riverside property where rooms had direct access to the river! That was it!!

Saveda Farm & Cottages is a stunningly beautiful riverside retreat between Pej and the Bhor Ghats. They provide accommodation in traditionally built cottages complete with organic vegetarian cuisine, ayurvedic wellness treatments and an organic farm tour to complete the back-to-nature experience.

This place is perfect if you want to take a break from city life and spend time in the midst of nature unwinding & relaxing.

It nurtures a lifestyle that is traditional with a vision to adapt back to nature & a sustainable way of living. Our patio had a tree trunk in the middle

We sat on the patio of our room facing the river while sipping our filter coffees in peace. The only thing we could hear was the soothing sound of the flowing river with a view of the setting sun. It was a lovely experience.

Saveda’s own organic product range

This place is more than just a resort. They have an ayurvedic spa too and sell their own products like ghee, spices and ayurvedic preparations.

Rooms

We had booked a riverfront cottage that was peaceful and serene. It was perfect with a lovely view of the river which you can hear flowing all day long right from your bed- how soothing!

And let me tell you, these cottages are not just river facing but they also have access to the river itself! Which adds an amazing experience to the whole stay.

Direct access to the river through the property

The cottages are brand new and well-maintained. The staff was helpful and served everything with a smile.  Sitting by the verandah, having tea & pakoras in the evening with the river flowing by….aah…what more can you ask for! Loved it.

The rooms have a rustic feel, with a vintage-looking side bench and other furniture. Very comfortable rooms with minimalistic furniture but aesthetic. t is a fine balance between rustic & luxury.

Their cute eco-friendly welcome kit was a big plus!

Each room has its own patio facing the river. There are blinds to block the neighbouring patio for privacy if required.

The lovely round wooden tables & artistic chairs were such a great addition. Our patio even had a tree in between! The rooms are designed beautifully without disturbing the natural surroundings. You can sit by the riverside with tea and listen to the sound of water and enjoy the sunset.

River Pej

While quite a few resorts are river-facing, this one is right on its banks. Climb a few steps and there you are! We enjoyed dribbling our feet in the water. You could hear the sound of the river from the bed itself.

We were told that during winters & summers, you can see the big rocks & sit on them amidst the river. Would be a lovely spot to meditate. But what I would also recommend is doing some early morning yoga/ pranayama on their beautiful verandah. With the sound of the water and cool weather, it’s simply an experience in itself.

Food at Saveda Farm & Cottages

Breakfast was more than what we expected & extremely tasty! Hot idlis, dosas, puri bhaji with fresh watermelon juice and yes, the filter coffee was to die for!! I am a tea lover, but I had coffee to my heart’s fill over there.

The hot beverages were served in a brass Dabara set as well! Huge plus.

Another thing I really liked was their open kitchen concept and earthy setup. The kitchen was right behind with an open window through which you could see your hot meals being prepared and served.

For lunch, we relished the Kerala-style Sadya served on a banana leaf with all the trappings. That itself was worth a trip to this place.

The restaurant uses all vegetables from their own farm & you realize that through their taste.

Food makes all the difference and the chef, Mr Miraj, went all out to make it a big hit. The staff was very helpful and served everything with a warm smile. Thoroughly enjoyed all our meals!

Touring Saveda Farm, Karjat

We wore gumboots & were ready to roll in the mud…literally.

We took a tour of the entire farm – they have cows, all kinds of vegetables, fruit plantations and spices. We saw big & small plants of brinjals, tomatoes, cabbage and many other veggies. Many trees of papaya, banana, mango etc.

The tour was led by Mr Kiran who very enthusiastically showed us around talking about the various kinds of vegetation they have and how they take care of it. It was quite insightful and amusing, especially given the sudden downpour which made it that much more fun.

The Cowshed

We toured their organic farm and visited the cowshed where we met their cute Gir cows….Indian cows whose milk & milk products are supposed to be excellent!! Every evening they are taken out to wander around in the natural surroundings & eat fresh grass growing around ….& there’s lots of it, believe me.  

My daughter is an animal lover & she was looking forward to meeting them.

We spent some time with the cows, and calves mostly. Something I think kids would love! And an experience they’ll remember for a long long time.

All in all, we spent a lovely time here just listening to the sounds around us & connecting with the elements of nature.

We made our booking by speaking to Ms Arya on their corporate no: +91 9324908189, who was very friendly, enthusiastic & hands-on. It can also be done
through the website: https://savedafarms.com/

What are the other things to do in Karjat?

After checking out from Saveda Farms, we also visited Saltt, Oleander Farms, and Karjat. We spent the evening around the lovely restaurant & the lawns. They also have a brewery & Coco cart that’s worth a visit.

How far is Karjat from Mumbai?

The road distance between Karjat and Mumbai is approx 60 kilometres. It takes 1.5-2 hours to reach Karjat from Mumbai if you are travelling via NH-48. By train, Karjat is the nearest station, which is on the Central line.

There’s a lot to do here! Do visit & enjoy this newfound hotspot as a weekend getaway with your children, a fun trip with your friends or a romantic drive with your loved one- it caters to everyone.

 

Other things to do in Karjat:

1. Explore the fascinating Kondana Caves
2. Ulhas Valley
3. Kondeshwar Temple
4. Hiking trip to Sondai Fort
5. Trek to Peth Fort
6. Rappelling at Bhivpuri Waterfall