A few months back, my better-half decided to put my love for her to test and asked me to take her on a surprise getaway from Mumbai. She is a reasonable woman and doesn’t believe in mindless lavishness but values the intention over money spent. I was on a slightly tight budget and needed to plan smartly to make this happen.
There were many ways to plan this and I decided to choose an off-beat location and take her to multiple smaller spots around. After some research I chose Nashik. Here is how it went:
I planned this trip for three days on a long weekend – Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off. I wanted to ensure that my plan faces no roadblocks and hence decided to book a dependable Mumbai to Nashik one way taxi instead of driving myself. My wife was surprised at my choice of destination. I guess she expected a more exotic locale (when will a man ever understand his wife!). It was a comfortable and beautiful 3.5-hour drive that cut through the amazing landscape of Maharashtra. On reaching Nashik, we checked in to a cozy resort and freshened up. After an hour, it was time for the experience to begin.
Sula Vineyards
Our first stop was at the Sula Vineyards, one of the most famous vineyards in the country. I had booked a room there to ensure that we experience the vineyard and winery completely. Right from wine tasting to watching the entire process of a grape turning into wine, it was oddly romantic too. Evenings in a vineyard are mesmerizing (something I didn’t know before) and I managed to arrange for a small campfire, a bottle of their best wine, and got my guitar out for the perfect evening.
Someshwar Waterfalls
The next morning we checked out and headed to Someshwar waterfalls – a serene and blissful place in the lap of nature. I had carried a bag with some extra clothes and we bathed in the waterfall which was around 10 meters in height. Have you ever sat quietly in nature and listened to its sounds while in the embrace of your loved one? It definitely beats going to loud discos and pubs!
Pandavleni caves
By afternoon, we were left from Someshwar falls and headed to the Pandavleni caves. The Pandavleni caves date back to the 3rd century and while walking through them we discussed how we would have lived during those times. The caves have some interesting sculptures and rich history.
The next day, we roamed in and around the city visiting local shops looking for memorabilia, a quick trip to Trimbak and ended the day with a candle-lit dinner at the River Dine Restaurant.
The next morning, as we were packing our bags to head home, my wife said that she had a surprise in store for me too. Before I could say anything, she called the concierge to avail a taxi from Nashik to Mumbai airport. Surprised, I didn’t know what she was up to. On reaching Mumbai airport, she told me that she had extended both our leaves and was taking me on a surprise trip. More details on that some other time though…
