Hey everyone! How have you been enjoying monsoons? I am so caught up in a whirlwind of activities at my end that I feel drained. An escape into the lap of nature is what I needed at the moment. So last weekend, seeking for a desperate break from the routine monotony, we headed for the Raichak on Ganges. There wasn’t a very well-laid plan, rather an end-moment whim on a Friday night that got our bags packed and set off. Availability of rooms was indeed an issue but not impossible with MakeMyTrip, so we braved the night on Diamond Harbor Road and reached Raichak. 🙂

Getting There :

Owing lack of pre-planning, it was difficult to find a mode of transport for Raichak. Thankfully however, on contacting authorities at the Ffort, they arranged a cab for us in an hour. Pretty deft I say!

It was 12:00 at night (yes we did get late, and it took us more than 2 hours to get there in the cab), but we nevertheless got a warm welcome. 🙂  It was surprising and pleasant for us at the same time. The way they diligently bustled about to make us feel at home at that time of the night, was undeniably commendable.

The Ganga Kutir

Soon we checked in to the Ganga Kutir Sundarawasala under the immense care and supervision of the staff. We had booked it only that morning and had pre-ordered our dinner en route, since their kitchen closed by 10:30. They served the same soon after check-in.

Sundarawasala is a cluster of duplex villas enclosing a clear blue swimming pool. However, the villas have no river view. So if you are solely visiting to laze away gazing at the Ganges, maybe you should give Sundarawasala a skip. There are other suite options in Ganga Kutir itself that have a clear view of the mighty Ganges, which you could instead opt for. But I, for one, fell in love with the place that exuded such warmth and coziness. 🙂

Sundarawasala villa is a quaint little cottage that has an earthy feel to it, with wooden floors and a super-cozy verandah nook protruding out from the bedroom. The ground floor has seating arrangement, and a small kitchenette to serve yourself cuppas when you feel like. There’s also a dining space for two, that is designed tastefully. Wooden furniture with floor lamps and wooden floors paired with the earthy ambience calls for pure blissful relaxation. 🙂

My favorite corner was the verandah nook with glass windows overlooking the swimming pool, adorned with cushions, and hidden away behind sheer white curtains. Everything in Sundarawasala is tastefully designed to rejuvenate you after a hectic of urban life. I was so glad to find my favorite Kama Ayurveda toiletries in the bathroom. 😀 I totally loved the de-stressing ambience of Sundarawasala.

The next morning greeted us with a sumptuous breakfast at their in-house restaurant. The buffet breakfast spread was pretty good, and we had a hearty morning meal waking up from a refreshing sleep overnight. Ganga Kutir’s in-house restaurant is located just on the banks of the Ganges giving us ample window to bask in the beauty of nature. 🙂 Strolling in the grass lawn outside, I thoroughly relished the sloth of the mighty river, and the ships that sailed across its chest. The weather was cloudy that further added to the beauty of the place. The moment itself stopped still as winds caressed my face and soothed my aching, overworked brains…

The Library :

Ganga Kutir also has a grand library right next to the lawn. This with its old-world charm laden with books that seem to be from an erstwhile era and comfy couches, is a perfect setting to let your mind wander away in unknown lands. Amazing river view through the large glass windows only further feeds your reading mood. 🙂

The Anaya Kutir

Owing to last moment planning, we could not book Sundarawasala for consecutive nights and had to shift to a comparatively newer property of the Raichak on Ganges – The Anaya Kutir. These are also a cluster of duplex villas enclosing a pool. Additionally these have the river view from the room, and an open-air bubble bath on the terrace! 😀 The pool here is referred to as the Infinity Pool, I am guessing it’s ‘cause of its shape. It’s bigger than the one at Sundarawasala and the main attraction of Anaya Kutir. Overall, the setup looks pretty picturesque.

The ambience here is fresh and contemporary, yet maintains a rustic flavor in its décor. The built-up is similar to Sundarawasala with some additions. Here the kitchenette is more distinct and there is a walk-in balcony with stairs leading up to the terrace. The terrace houses the bubble bath overlooking the Ganges. I was bowled over!

Every element in the resort is meticulously thought of. Nothing seems out of place and the décor is immaculately done to sync with the ambience. Loved the entire set up. 🙂

Food Options :

Anaya has its own in-house restaurant and one can order dinner from here, or walk up to GK. One can also drive over to The Ffort to dine at The Orient or Reflections. If you’re looking for a pure Bong meal, head over to Sonar Tori for their authentic and opulent Bengali thalis. 🙂

The breakfast spread at Anaya was similar to that at GK – ranging from breads, and cakes and South Indian and North Indian breakfast menu, cereals and fresh juice. Breakfast on both days was an extravagant affair. 🙂

Some More Fun :

The Ffort is the main hub of all activities on the itinerary of a stay. We enjoyed a game of table tennis, and took a round of the place. It has a grand chess board with equally big pieces and pawns that you can actually lift and play!

The main building is designed so much like the British colonial times, you can actually smell the old-world charm in it. 🙂 The furnishings and architecture are reminiscent of a bygone era. Wooden floorings, sky-high ceilings, whitewashed walls and plush seating arrangements are the most prominent features. There are alleys and passages, bedecked with ornate figurines and framed pictures, intelligently lighted for a game of light and shadow. Huge mirrors and rusty rifles and armors would occasionally accentuate my walk as I headed on to explore the place. I was spellbound with the beauty of the place and sometimes even forgot I was carrying my DSLR. 🙂 Blimey for the lesser pictures. To speak the truth, I was mesmerized as if under a charm. 🙂

The Spa :

Anaya also boasts of the only L’Occitane spa of Kolkata. Beautifully nestled in the lap of nature, this spa offers steam bath for couples, and relaxing head or foot massages among many others.

We were short of time and could not make up to spending some time in the spa. But very honestly the visit to Raichak on Ganges was therapeutic in itself for me. I was relaxed, rejuvenated and at peace as I headed back to the city later that evening. Ganges herself and everything at Raichak energized me with a new vigor for the coming many days. It was a weekend well-spent! Thanks to MMT for providing access to last-momemt booking, and the staff at Raichak on Ganges for making my stay memorable and worthwhile. 🙂

If you’re in Kolkata and looking for a blissful retreat nearby the city, do give the Raichak On Ganges a try!

Disclaimer – This is is no manner a sponsored post, the review and pictures are at my sole discretion.

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