The Spa Pool Villas are complete with private pool and garden.
Three hours by road away from the chaos of Mumbai and a little beyond the bustle of Lonavala, lies a small and rustic mountain village – Shillim. Nestled in this quiet village is India’s first leisure property by Hilton Hotels & Resorts – the Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa.
Disconnected from noise, pollution and crowd, Hilton Shillim is a perfect weekend getaway spot for nature lovers, honeymooners or the luxury-loving elite. Surrounded by the unspoiled Sahyadri mountain range, it’s amazing how much this 350-acre retreat has to offer.
Being the foodies that we are, we started our day with the first taste of food at the all-day dining restaurant, Terrazo. Situated in the open, Terrazo gives you a good view of the serene landscape. On offer are French, Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. The food is nothing to rave about but the refreshing health drinks are a must-try. Speaking of heath, if you’re into clean eating, the retreat offers estate-grown or locally sourced food which is available at their organic restaurant – Green Table.
But, if you’re looking for something really special then you should opt for the customised dining option which allows you to experience a memorable meal either at your villa or at *any* location of your choice on the grounds of the property!
After lunch we checked into our Spa Pool Villa which is located in the Spa Zone and is complete with a private garden and a private swimming pool. While the living room is spacious and chic, the bedroom can feel a bit claustrophobic. The state-of-the art bathrooms include a hot tub and al fresco showers. The bathrooms have no doors, which make it perfect for couples *ahem*. We faced a little problem with our remote-operated blinds but we’ll excuse the glitch as it was fixed immediately.
The villas a spacious and surrounded by greenery.
If lounging in your villa isn’t relaxing enough for you, heading to the Shillim Spa is good idea. The spa has around 17 treatments such as acupressure, chakra cleansing, music therapy, hydro therapy, meditation and more. Over a cup of refreshing herbal tea, we lost ourselves to a customised full-body massage.
On returning back to our rooms, we couldn’t wait to dive into our private heated pools. Despite the temperature being 16 degrees outside, the pool felt warm and wonderful. Surrounded by wilderness and covered with the blanket of stars, the dip in the pool had to be the most exquisite experience of our stay. We ordered our dinner in the villa which was set-up to perfection. Our meal included grilled basa, Caesar salad, steak and lots of wine! While the fish and steak were ho-hum, the Caesar salad was fresh and one of the best we’ve had. We ended our meal with delicious Blueberry Cheesecake before we retired to bed.
The next morning we were set up for a private session of Watsu in our villa. For those wondering, Watsu is an aquatic bodywork which is a combination of massage, stretching and breathing exercises – all under water. Not being a swimmer I was bit nervous and got out of the water quick. But, my companion completed the session and enjoyed his unique and de-stressing treatment thoroughly.
The Meditation Cave is extremely calming.
If you’re looking for a sanctuary for your mind and spirit, a visit to the Meditation Cave is a must. The concrete ‘cave’ has comfortable mattresses for guests to meditate and relax. The ceiling of the cave is covered with LED lights, which are made to look like stars. If there’s one word that can describe the Meditation Cave, it is calming.
A bit steeply priced, Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa does have a few teething problems, which we are hoping will be ironed out soon. However, there is much to love about the place. From soothing surroundings to untouched nature, charming villas, impeccable service and extremely warm staff. Whether you want to celebrate a special occasion, are looking for a romantic rendezvous or need a quick getaway, Hilton Shillim Retreat serves as a good option.
