Destination for all reasons

Tucked amidst the picturesque Sahyadri hills and forest range, the Adlabs Imagica is a perfect family getaway

As weekend arrives in the city that never sleeps, the Mumbai-Pune highway quickly gets busy as people head out of the city that has kept them busy through the week. Getaway they do; but what about families with kids. While the parents need to find the much needed peace of mind; the boisterous kids have to be kept busy.

It was indeed the creative genius of one of the topmost entrepreneurs related to Hindi film industry – the Adlabs founder, Manmohan Shetty, who dreamt of an entertainment park for people of all ages, employing some of the best facilities and technologies from across the world.

And, he did create one such grandiose space, for the first time in India; ‘Imagica’ spread over a mindboggling 300 acre – which includes a theme park, water park, snow park and India’s first theme park resort, ‘Novotel Imagica Khopoli’ – making it an all inclusive leisure getaway designed for fun, adventure, and entertainment for the entire family, just two hours away for the bustle of the city.

While theme parks are dime a dozen; Imagica uses the advantage of space and location – nestled amidst the picturesque Sahyadri hills and forest range that becomes even more beautiful during monsoons – and employs landscaping that is uncluttered, and tastefully spread out including elements like characters out of fairytales, a huge candy store that will immediately appeal to kids, food outlets and music parties during weekends, and 25 rides that range from mildly educative, absolute fun to wildly adventurous.

‘I for India’ for example, is a spectacle of some of the most stunning sights from across India screened on a 90mm screen with an enthralling experience of flying over the view; Rajasaurus River Adventure takes you on a fun and educative cruise through the extinct world of dinosaurs. For the adventure freaks there is ‘Nitro’ – the rollercoaster; for Bollywood buffs, ‘Mr India’ and several other rides for kids and family.

The water park, Aquaimagica’ can be reached via the fun-way – a ropeway. It has 14 rides (designed for the adrenaline rush or simple undiluted fun), and pools where the young and the old can splash around and dance in the water to your heart’s fill. And then there is the Snow Park – a little less than an hour of experience of snow-filled scapes, rides and games.

Add to this the luxury of a stay at the resort property of Accor Group. ‘Novotel Imagica Khopoli’ is an interesting confluence of leisure getaway and activity-filled fun family space. The busy lobby has on one side ‘The Bar’ tucked away in a corner, where towards the evenings, a small band or a piano player keeps you entertained with Bollywood melodies – and one can sit and rewind over the familiar music.

On the other end, however, is a group of kids playing table tennis, a couple of the younger ones playing ‘catch-catch’, and one other going around the lobby in a segway with a helmet secured for safety with one of the hotel staff in attendance, even as a young mother strolls around with a toddler in her arms.

With impromptu energy sessions, fitness classes for the couples, pajama parties for the young ones, tambola sessions that have enthusiastic senior members participating with all gusto – here’s one hotel where it is a never-ending party. The “hungama” starts at around 10 am with a character parade that takes along the kids on a short dance party starting from the lobby to the ‘Square’ restaurant, where breakfast is in full swing, and ends with a DJ session over dinner.

On a busy day, the breakfast shifts to the pool side too. The signature 24-hour coffee shop of the Novotel hotels, ‘Square’ at this resort property, keeps constant tab on the profile of the guests and ensures that they get their preferred cuisine for the meals. Executive Chef Gaurav with his proactive team is on his toes, especially while catering to their younger guests. “We have to keep the kids happy and well fed to make it a better holiday for the mothers,” shares Gaurav.

During the evenings, pool side cabanas get busy with couples and groups of friends, who spend hours over their drink, enjoying the serenity that greenery around and the blue of the pool seem to incessantly emanate; before retiring to the soothingly decorated rooms well stocked with amenities needed for a comfortable stay.

“While it is the weekends that are busy, the rest of the days too are quite hectic here,” shares, General Manager Srinivas Srirangam, who has opened the property almost toward the fag end of 2015. “During the weekdays we have corporates pouring in; the hotel is also increasingly getting popular as destination for weddings.”

It is indeed the feel of the home away from home - the perfect getaway for people of all profiles and ages – that the hotel has been able to create, which is keeping it in good stead and making it truly a destionation for all seasons and reasons.