Villas and suites away from home

Manesar is the new Gurgaon, but two resorts there provide a reason for refugees from the capital to seek sanctuary.

The golf course is like a meandering stream, a narrow length that curves and cavorts mischievously across Manesar’s scrub countryside, its algae-green lushness dappled with shadows as hillocks and ponds rise and dip. This is the countryside as Graham Cooke sees it, ordered and lush and not anywhere remotely Indian. But then, this is the newest of the gated communities that has been developed on the outskirts of Delhi, ahead even of Gurgaon, with 300 “villas” that fringe the course, though in truth they seem less like villas and more like row houses. Not one of them is more than double-storey and they range from studios to two- and three-bedroom homes, with a basement thrown in for good measure. Frangipani trees, four or five years old, dot the courtyards. The slanting light of the winter sun warms walls that are in neutral shades of earth colours. In the distance, the Aravalli hills break the horizon into a jagged line.

 

Manesar was another milestone on National Highway 8 that became an address when industries, a management school, a highway McDonald’s and, later, residential apartments began to indicate a future. Developers saw an opportunity in the vast swathe of fields. ITC was an early mover with its Classic Golf Course, which soon became a favourite with corporate houses and chiefly expatriate players. Close by, and next to McDonald’s, Karma Lakelands, conceived as a retreat for the retired who wanted to live around, naturally, yet another golf course, ended up as a villa community for the well-heeled. And surrounded by real-estate developers rapidly scheming up highrise condominium complexes, Tarudhan Valley is part of what on the map appears almost a contiguous development of second or third homes for the city’s rich and powerful.

Tarudhan Valley has been developed by Sanjay Khullar, better known as the managing director of the capital’s leading catering service, Seasons Group, the company not only responsible for banqueting services but also for a host of speciality restaurants. At the heart of the gated community is a facility that anyone can avail — a 56-room Seasons Hotel, designed by Manish Kumar Baheyti. The resort, like the row-villas, is low-structured, with white interior walls and dark wood finishes, all rooms overlooking either the golf course or a swimming pool. A fountain-punctuated lagoon winds between the rooms; the minimal interiors do not lack in comfort but the effort appears to be to get guests to spend the maximum time outside rather than in the rooms; the deliberate lack of context means the resort could be anywhere in Spain, the US or South Africa.

Tarudhan Valley is located 10 km down a rutted country road, but pretty much on the highway, at Select Heritage Village, the context is much more in evidence. Built around courtyards, with jharokhas and archways and jaalis, is architecture that evokes the tradition of north Indian havelis. The resort, recently renovated, had last year added two new blocks of rooms and suites planned around the same central theme of village-street architecture and local architectural traditions, the use of red sandstone on the fascia and more contemporary rooms (and baths) being the major change over its earlier avatar.

Also built around courtyards, the suites have private sit-outs, the street furniture consists of hammocks or charpais or day beds, or antique-style sofas, and within the sense of community, the spaces have been designed to offer privacy.

But last week, the resort added another facility to its organically growing building architecture. Right next to the conference centre (also new), its Aruna’s Svaasa spa has created a destination getaway for the resort that not only adds to its facilities but has introduced an element of high-end luxury to it. The spa building echoes the new elements in the architecture — there’s use of red sandstone on the outside, water pools with fountains evocative of the Seasons Hotel, and within, a sense of space and comfort within its meandering massage rooms, the hamam and lounging central bay, all of it dimly lit, the darkness relieved only by hundreds of twinkling tea-lights.

Manesar’s unique location makes it ideal for Dilliwallahs looking for a break. For most, it is an hour’s drive from the city in non-peak hours, which makes it eminently accessible for those wishing to get away for a night or a weekend, whether for relaxing in a spa, or playing a round of golf, or simply relaxing. It is sufficiently far to make it impractical to own a first home, but Tarudhan’s row-villas are ideal second homes, especially since its developer, the Seasons Group, is able to manage not only the maintenance but also catering services, so you don’t have to use the kitchen. A Club House has a restaurant and a separate pool, while the resort caters to those who have not opted for a villa but would still like to escape from the highrise of Gurgaon or the congestion of Delhi. BothHeritage Village as well as Seasons also have separate conference and banqueting venues.

Amidst ficus and frangipani and surrounded by bright bougainvillea bushes lit by the winter sun, Manesar is accessible luxury for Dilliwallahs. That it comes with strong, if contrary, elements of design is simply a bonus.