It’s nice to get away sometimes and break away from the chaos linked with city life. On a business travel to the Indian-capital, I planned a visit to a nearby village called Mangar in Faridabad district. This gem, tucked into the Aravalli mountain range, is just an hour’s drive from Indira Gandhi International Airport. The agenda was simple; to indulge in unconsumed nature and its chaste tranquillity. It was the height of winter when I had visited, but there was still a warmth in the air in this rustic little village that seemed untouched by modern-day chaos. The drive to Mangar was flanked by modest houses where villagers lived in simplicity away from the luxuries of the nearby concrete jungles — Delhi and Gurugram.
We soon arrived at The LaLit Mangar — my haven for the weekend and the latest feather in The LaLit Suri Hospitality Group’s hat. Situated in the heart of this commune and nature’s ecosystem, this resort features 35 plush suites that overlook stunning views of Mangar Bani, the last surviving forest of the region. It’s an ideal pit stop for nature lovers looking to experience countryside Faridabad, amidst the brush strokes of luxury and premium hospitality.
Entering The LaLit Mangar, I immediately felt cut off from the humble village in this retreat of opulence. Though the sound of birds and the laughter of children playing at the government school opposite the hotel reminded me of where I was, this hotel, designed as a cascading village, captivated me effortlessly. It is constructed using rammed earth architecture by Canadian firm Terra Firma Builders, on a relatively uneven land. The property is built using elements excavated from the soil on which it stands. All three acres of the property — from its foundation to its walls and even its floors — are constructed using this eco-friendly technique, which The LaLit Suri Hospitality Group says it has pioneered in India. This method is not just good for the earth, but also helps keep away pests and other nuisances.
The hotel exudes an extremely natural feel, almost like a contemporary extension of the earth. It is in the heart of nature’s unabashed sprawl, maintaining the sanctity of its environment with lush flora and illuminated ponds spread across its expanse.
A refreshing welcome drink followed a quick check-in, after which we sat down for a lazy lunch at Dining Room, the hotel’s all-day restaurant. On a quest to eat healthy, I scanned through the menu that prides itself on organic dishes prepared using locally produced vegetables and fruits. The LaLit Mangar aims to create farm-to-table experiences for its guests, along with healthy meals curated by Dr Mosaraf Ali, who is the manager of the hotel’s Time Reversal Spa.
I picked the chicken avocado salad that came with organic arugula and succulent blackberry dressing, alongside miso soup with tofu, shiitake mushroom, carrots, scallion and wakame.
Other options at Dining Room include organic Mangar original pizza with homemade dough and organic tomato sauce, and jalapeños corn-fed burger that has organic avocado and poached egg. The menu is definitely infused with wholesome options prepared with naturally harvested vegetables and fresh produce — a treat for health and fitness enthusiasts.
After an extended lunch was a quick snooze at my Luxury suite (this is the only category of accommodation here). Upon waking up, I basked in the natural light that seeped through the large balcony window, where I enjoyed a cup of green tea and browsed through a few pages of my book before stepping out. The plan was to visit the Mangar Village Jewel museum and lodge, which is curated by Kalakar Trust to encourage the art and craft of not just the locality, but all of India.
The beauty of India lies in its diversity and the museum brought out the country’s array of cultures and traditions in an unconventional yet endearing fashion. A series of chests and drawers towards the distant wall of the museum displays local and tribal ornaments from across the country. Upon opening each drawer, a bulb automatically turns on, throwing light on the intricate pieces. From embellishments worn at weddings to elaborate necklaces worn by women across various socio-economic backgrounds, the museum is a wonderful reflection of the beautiful melange that is India. Hours passed by playing hide and seek with the chests to explore details of the curios installed here.
The museum also conducts puppet and drumming workshops, however the staff couldn’t facilitate my request due to the short notice. Upon departing the museum, its facade caught my eye, as I bid goodbye to the humble locals and museum curators. It bears vibrant frescos of Hindu gods and goddesses painted by a village local. The splash of colours amidst the bare, dilapidated walls of the museum seemed to add a flagrant charm to the space.
The drive back to the hotel allowed me to peek into the village, and observe this simple life where cattle roam freely and huts are made of cow dung. Villagers carried baskets of hay on their heads and looked in awe as our car drove past them. After returning to the hotel, I quickly rushed to make it for my appointment at Time Reversal Spa. Having heard about Dr Mosharaf Ali’s alternative healing techniques that have worked wonders for celebrities including Sachin Tendulkar, Shah Rukh Khan and Morgan Freeman, I was excited to experience a treatment myself. His techniques are based on Kayakalpa, an age-old Indian method that falls under Ayurveda. It targets specific points in the body to aid the healing of chronic pains and ailments such as stress, backache and arthritis.
Having suffered from a lower back issue for a few years, I consulted the resident doctors and therapists who devised a treatment for me. An hour-long dry massage followed to target my pain, and I was advised to repeat the treatment for a week to feel prolonged relief. Due to constraints of time, I couldn’t continue the treatment the next day, but won’t deny the momentary tranquillity I had felt after the massage.
This peaceful moment only continued as I stepped outside into a slow moving dusk that altered between colours and eventually transcended into a starry night. Candles had diligently been lit across the property alongside incense sticks that helped keep away insects. A traditional tea stall or tapri was set-up with vibrant kettles that brewed India’s famous masala chai. Tea was served in thick and stout glass tumblers often used by street vendors. I dipped a cinnamon stick into my steaming beverage and enjoyed it with deep-fried Indian snacks. A flutist kept us company with his melodious tunes as the last streaks of the day whisked by and a radiant, full-moon brightened up the night.
Though the hotel wasn’t entirely operational when I had visited, there were a few in-house activities that I had the chance to experience. It has its own little observatory that allows guests to spend quality time stargazing, spotting various planets, moons and galaxies.
We viewed the craters, land and expanse of the glorious moon that night at length through a powerful telescope that was manned by a well-versed astronomer. Unfortunately we couldn’t find too many celestial bodies due to the high amount of smog that had surfaced from Gurugram. Apart from stargazing, the hotel now organises various other activities such as a rustic experience at the neighbouring village, cycling through the majestic Aravallis, puppet shows, pottery classes and curated local meals cooked on a chula or the traditional stove.
Next morning, I woke up early to the sound of chirping birds and went for a run. Sprinting past colourful flowers that spanned a spectrum of lilacs, magentas and ochres, a swarm of bees buzzed by as I walked back down the cascading property. Being in the heart of the Aravallis, the wind added a crispy nip to the air and I finished the rest of my workout in the hotel’s enclosed gym. The LaLit Mangar also organises yoga classes overlooking the beautiful mountains each morning.
Since my flight back to Mumbai was later that evening, I insisted on a visit to the Gundariya temple, which is a highly revered sacred spot for the people of Mangar. We walked up to the temple situated atop a hill in Mangar village, through a narrow, underdeveloped road, as grazing peacocks and skittish squirrels kept us company. On reaching the summit of the temple locale, a foggy vista of the mighty Aravallis welcomed us, as did a recitation of folklore of the region by a local. He told us about their protector and saint who had simply disappeared into thin air one day, after heavy meditation at that very spot.
This was, indeed, a memorable tryst with the untouched wilderness and mystique of the valley.
