CLUB CLASS

Mahabaleshwar, easily accessible from Mumbai and Pune, actually comprises three words: ‘Maha’ meaning ‘Great’, ‘Bal’ meaning ‘Strength’ and ‘Ishwar’ meaning ‘God’ or ‘God of Great Strength’. Sir John Malcolm established Mahabaleshwar as a hill resort in 1829 and all the gentry of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency made it their summer capital, due to its proximity to Bombay. The climate is wonderfully temperate, since it is located at an altitude of 1,372m and is close to the Arabian Sea, being neither too cold nor too hot. And it has a host of tourists spots, 30 to be exact, form Lake Venna in the heart of the hill station to strawberries and blueberries sold along the waysides. But for me the best part of Mahabaleshwar is a little known secret called The Club Mahabaleshwar. Many visitors may not even be aware of its existence, since it is open to Members Only, with outsiders permitted only at the behest of members! But that does not mean it isn’t worth a dekko. Located right in the heart of town, hidden from prying eyes by huge iron gates, we were in for a surprise when three couples decided to stay there for four days, a quiet getaway from the hustle and bustle of Pune. One couple were members, so we got a select peep into this exclusive enclave and were very excited about it too. Little did we know that we were going to be transported into the British Era, complete with lavish meals all three times a day! Six British Army Officers established the Club Mahabaleshwar in April 1881 and it is one of the 30 oldest surviving clubs of India. It has charming red brick buildings with slanting roofs and an epiphany of colours in the flowerbeds that greeted us as we made our way to our rooms. Each room had a verandah complete with lazy chairs to soak in the sun and natural beauty all around and inside, Victorian furniture gleamed invitingly. And... there were no television sets in any of the rooms!! It was meant to be a “quiet” getaway, right?! Meditation seemed a more appropriate pastime in a place like this and they provided the necessary equipment for it — a hammock — strategically placed in the main garden area! Another favourite old world remnant was the huge dinner bell placed at the entrance of the Dining Room, and is still being used to announce meal times! Speaking of which, the meals are as lavish as the gong’s sound is sonorous! Overeating is the norm rather than the exception.

Breakfast started with cereal and eggs made-to-order, not to mention toast with fresh strawberry jam and orange marmalade and fruit!! Lunch and dinner both started with soup followed by elaborate dishes — 2 non-vegetarian dishes, daal, two veggies, rice, rotis, yogurt, salad and dessert. Their Date Pudding with Whipped Cream is to-die-for! I simply had to wrangle the recipe from the cook but haven’t tried it at home for fear of paling by comparison!
Incidentally, the club is very strict about meal timings – breakfast from 8:30 am to 9:30 am, lunch at 1 pm, dinner at 8 pm. Room service is there but can’t compare with the charm of eating in the Dining Room – a huge hall replete with photos of all the tourist attractions of this hill station. Even the waiters were grand, in their white livery with turbans and excellent tableside manners!
All that heavy eating called for some exercise – and we didn’t have go far to find ways to keep fit. A 30-minute walk brought us to Wilson Point, from where we saw the incredible sunrise every morning. We reached just in time to see the great ball of fire rise out of nowhere over the horizon! There are two viewpoints from where we could enjoy this spectacle of nature, both marvellous. Vendors were there too, serving piping hot tea, which added to the pleasure of sitting there with the nippy early morning air around us.
For the more adventurous there were lots of activities to choose from – boating, trekking, riding and even golf — a nine-hole golf course was located on the edge of a cliff. The Club provided for recreational facilities too like tennis courts, a library and also a Children’s Park inside the Club premises. The Park was a big joy for my three-year old as well as for us as it kept him busy most of the time!
There was so much to see and so that we hardly had time to relax during those four days! We wanted to experience it all, whether it was the sumptuous meals or the well-equipped park or the lazing around in a hammock! We knew we had got an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Mahabaleshwar will remain a very sweet memory, and The Club that made it more so!