Some places don’t feel like places. They feel like pauses — in time, in thought, in everything that rushes past us every day. That’s how Le Meridien in Mahabaleshwar felt to me.

Tucked away in the Sahyadri hills, just a 2-3 hour drive from Pune, Mahabaleshwar has long been the weekend refuge for city dwellers escaping the crowd and chaos of Mumbai or Pune. But Le Meridien isn’t just another hillside resort—it’s an invitation to slip quietly into nature’s embrace.

The drive itself sets the tone: winding roads carving through rolling hills, occasional bursts of blossoms, and a crispness in the air that hints at the elevation you’re gaining. The noise softens as the trees grow taller, denser. By the time you enter Mahabaleshwar, it feels like your senses are already tuning into a different frequency. And then comes the arrival.

From the very first step into the property, Le Meridien gently whispers that you’ve left the ordinary behind. There’s something enchanting about being welcomed into a place that seems suspended between an old-world charm and a modern-day forest retreat. The architecture leans into British elegance—colonial arches, high ceilings, and vintage detailing—but it doesn’t fight with the landscape. Instead, it coexists with it, as if the forest allowed it to grow alongside the trees.

What struck me most was how immersive the experience was. You don’t just “check in” here; you transition into a different world. One where the chirping of birds replaces pings of notifications, where paths wind into courtyards and open up into dense canopies. The property is vast—you’re handed a map at check-in, and you’ll actually need it. But getting a little lost here isn’t frustrating—it’s delightful. Each corner you turn feels like discovering a secret.

The rooms carry a quiet regality. They don’t scream luxury; they whisper it. Everything, from the linens to the lighting, feels considered. The detailing is subtle, thoughtful. It’s the kind of space that holds you in a soft stillness, making it hard to step out once you’re in.

And yet, there’s plenty to step out for.

Whether you’re traveling with children, a partner, friends, or even solo, the options to engage—or simply unwind—are plentiful. There’s a rhythm to the place: morning swims in the chilled serenity of the pool, afternoon high tea that feels like a slow, delicious ritual, sauna and steam rooms that cradle you into relaxation, and enough greenery to make you forget the month on the calendar. Even in March—when the plains swelter—the air here stays cool, the wind curling gently through the corridors and balconies.

Food, too, plays a quiet but compelling role. Every meal feels curated without being fussy. Room service arrives like clockwork, but somehow still feels warm and human. High tea in the lounge becomes more than just a snack—it’s an occasion.

But perhaps what I appreciated the most was how Le Meridien allows you to be. You can do everything, or you can do nothing—and both choices feel equally valid. There’s no rush, no itinerary that must be checked off. The forest watches silently as you make your own pace.

Some places change your energy without demanding it. They don’t perform, they don’t overwhelm. They just exist in their own quiet rhythm and, if you’re lucky, they let you sync with it. Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar is one of those places.

I left feeling like I had visited more than a resort. I had visited a version of myself that often gets left behind in the noise of everyday life—calmer, slower, more observant. And isn’t that what travel, even in the form of a staycation, is really about?

-Pritesh Khare