What do you know about Chakan? Outside of Pune, it’s rarely spoken of. Unless you’re an industrialist or in that business. But have you thought of considering Chakan as a weekend getaway? We went to Chakan over a weekend, and found that there’s quite a bit you can do.
The best way to get there is to drive, of course, as it’s barely a one hour drive. On your way, you’ll mostly notice vast fields or barren lands, mighty industrial and commercial buildings and such. But don’t let this kill your holiday mood in anyway.
Drive straight to Courtyard By Marriott, the only international hotel property in the area and book a room here. The hotel has a pool, a spa to relax in and even a fitness centre to squeeze in a workout at. There’s also MoMo Cafe, which offers a wide variety of Indian, Japanese and a few European dishes. We sat down for their breakfast buffet which had everything you can think of - eggs made-to-order, Indian breakfast like idlis, upma, poha among other items; chicken soup, baked beans, an array of in-house breads among a ton of other items.
And, if you thought there’s not much to do, then Marriott will solve that issue too. They are offering several touring packages that you can avail to have a good weekend.
For a family, there’s nothing better than taking the Japalouppe Equestrian Farm package for INR 3,000+taxes per person. The package requires a group of 5 at the minimum. It includes a drive to Japalouppe Farm where you can pet and feed animals at the farm. There’s also horse riding at the farm, as it’s an equestrian farm. And, they have special camps to teach kids how to horse ride during school holidays too.
If horse-riding and petting animals isn’t up your alley, head to a local farm with the ‘agro-tourism’ package. The hotel will take you to a farm they have a tie up with where you can either sow and plough the field or pluck your own vegetables. You can walk around the farm, and know all about where your vegetables come from while the chefs at Marriott whip up a local-style meal for you at the farm. This package is priced at INR 4,500 + taxes per person (minimum 10 people).
Perhaps, take a trip to the chocolate factory. Live your Willy Wonka dream at Zelos Chocolate Factory for INR 1,000 + taxes per person (minimum 10 people). You can know all about how compound chocolate is made and see the process. Trust us, it’s damn cool watching bars of chocolate being frozen right before your eyes. You can also taste samples of flavoured bars, spreads and dips that Zelos makes.
Whatever you do, exploring Chakan isn’t a bad bet and there are more things to do in the tiny town than you can imagine. If all else fails, just grab a cocktail and lounge by the pool at Marriott.