To celebrate my wife’s 70th birthday, the family wishes to celebrate in a resort located 2-3 hours from South Delhi. We will require six rooms, two with children under 5, for three nights this April. We would like the resort to have space for children to play around and good quality food. Our preferred budget is ₹6,000-7,000 per couple per night including meals. I’d appreciate your suggestions.

Marco Says:

For an intimate family celebration, I’d pick a ‘farm homestay’ called Peepal Kothi. It’s not a resort, but that’s one of the things about it that appeals. Accommodation is spread across a ‘kothi’, with three bedrooms, and three independent cottages, all set on tranquil and green three acres of land. Since it offers only six rooms, booking your family here will mean that you’ll enjoy the glorious luxury of having the entire place to yourselves. The furnishings are tasteful; the food wholesome; the grounds a haven of green. Lots of space for children to run around and enjoy themselves. The rack rate is ₹10,000 doubles, but this includes all meals (and you may be able to negotiate a lower rate since you’ll need to book the entire Kothi). Located just a couple of hours out of Delhi, off the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, I’d say it would be worth it to up your budget somewhat and splurge. See peepalkothi.com.

If, however, your tastes run to more standard-issue resort, consider the Best Western Resort Country Club, also located off the same highway, near Manesar. Rooms here are cheaper (from ₹6,500) but the price does not include meals; again, you’ll have to up your budget. See resortcountryclub.com. Or there’s the new addition to the off-Manesar resorts: the Lemon Tree Hotel, Tarudhan Valley. This is even pricier, with rooms offered in the ₹10,000 range (without meals). Details at lemontreehotels.com.

Another popular option, slightly further afield (150km from Delhi), is the Hill Fort, Kesroli. Located in Rajasthan’s Alwar district, the heritage hotel run by Neemrana Hotels, offers a range of accommodation, with rooms starting from as low as ₹3,570 (again, not inclusive of food). See neemranahotels.com.