The sound of brass band in the distance fills the silence of the mountains. Melodious woodwinds join in. The faint music carries far across the Satpura hills. The soundtrack played is the perfect accompaniment to my mid-morning tea on the sun-dappled lawn of my hill-view cottage at Greendale Resort in Pachmarhi. The Raj-era cantonment town is home to the Military Music Wing of the Army Education Corps Training College and the resort is perfectly located to catch the strains of the academy’s daily practice. Set amidst hilltop meadows and
surrounded by a golf course, Greendale offers 22 independent rooms and suites across two units. The rooms are modern yet have the charm of a colonial-era cottage with warm lamp-lit interiors, wooden floors, sloping roofs, sit-outs, and white picket fencing. From the private garden of my hill- and garden-facing room, I savour the view of flower-lined pathways and the green Pachmarhi hill. As night descends, the property acquires a magical appearance illuminated by lanterns and the garden is once again where I spend my time in, sitting by a cosy bonfire, sipping soup.
this resort
Meals are served at the art-filled Iyora restaurant and it is hot, homely, and exactly what you would desire in a hill station. After a long trek, I am grateful to tuck in some home-style butter rotis, steaming vegetable curries, tadka dal, and crisp papads. The menu also features Chinese options, and the helpful staff is happy to customise snacks and meals according to the guests’ requests. A holiday at Greendale can be as active or as relaxed as you want it to be. For a ‘do nothing’ sort of a break, there is no dearth of spots to lounge with a book and
a cuppa, enjoying the mountain sunshine. When you want to explore the town, the Bison Lodge Museum, Protestant Church, and several other popular spots can be reached on foot. Even if you don’t have a destination in mind, Greendale’s location lends itself well to long walks along the forest and meadow- lined paths. For an action-packed adventure, Greendale’s staff can happily organise safaris in the Satpura Reserve and glorious offbeat treks. As for me, I was happiest to take in the changing avatars of a day in the mountains: waking
up with the sun on a misty morning, strolling by the dew-covered golf greens, and then letting the mountain sun warm me up as I lounged in the resort’s gardens.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Getting there: Greendale in Pachmarhi is located 207km/6 hours from Raja Bhoj
Airport in Bhopal and 53km/90 minutes from Pipariya Railway Station
Greendale Resort
Address: Jaistambh, Rajbhawan Road, Pachmarhi Cantt, Madhya Pradesh
Website: http://www.greendale.in/
Tel: 9584551234
Tariff: Double room starts from INR5,000/- inclusive of breakfast