A log in the woods, for some solitude

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The fascination for a tree house holiday has captivated our minds since our childhood, but you could now spend a lazy weekend in thick foliage, surrounded by pristine beauty. Tree house vacations, however quirky and offbeat, are slowly gaining popularity with the hardcore traveller.

Be it a quiet getaway from the humdrum of life or to cater to your adrenaline rush, a vacation in the midst of trees is just what you need.
Rajasthan, known for its forts, palaces and the hot desert, surprises you with the Tree House Resort, supposed to be one of the largest properties in the world to have tree houses. Famous for having hosted several Bollywood actors, bureaucrats, family members of Prime Ministers and the like, this ranks as one of the best places in the country to go for a natural and eco-friendly holiday. Sudeep Mehta, head of sales and marketing says, “The idea is to put a 5-star room up in the trees. The rooms are modern and state-of-the-art, with LCD television sets, cold and hot showers and even bathtubs and jacuzzis.” Ranging from `10,000 to `20,000 per night, this resort has customers from New Delhi and key cities up north.
Most star hotels in India are slowly embracing eco-friendly tourism, and building a tree house is a step ahead in this direction. Even in Himachal Pradesh, people seek the thrill of staying in a tree house as Tree House Cottages owner Upadhyay claims. “This is the best time of the year to make a trip. In winter, it gets quite cold in the houses but we have heaters and hot water baths for our clients. We build our houses on oak trees which are very strong.”
Apart from Rajasthan, some of the best tree houses in the country can be found in Lonavla, Shimla, Wayanad, Coorg, Masinagudi and Munnar. Though this is a perfect getaway for those who seek adventure, the stereotypical chilled-out traveller too can climb atop a tree and relax in the lap of nature.
Investment banker Kaviraj Thakur and his wife spent their honeymoon in Wayanad, in a tree house and claim it was the most serene vacation they had. “My wife is an outdoorsy person, and we spent our time basking in greenery. Apart from trekking and bird-watching, we just drove around nearby areas. It was a fun and exciting, staying so high up in a tree.”
The novelty apart, some veterans in the hospitality industry feel the concept is yet to catch on commercially in India, and still caters to only the rich and adventurous. Cherian Ramapuram of Orange County says, “It’s a niche travel segment that will take some time to catch up but some hotels are doing a splendid job of making it an exciting prospect. The most important part is, of course, finding strong and solid trees that can endure bad weather and strong winds.”