What makes this an actual farm stay
A lot of properties in this part of Maharashtra describe themselves as a farmhouse because they have open land around them. Ours is on a farm. There are more than fifty animals on the property - ducks, hens, cocks, rabbits, cats and goats - and they are part of the daily rhythm of the place, fed and looked after whether or not anyone is staying.
For guests travelling with children this tends to be the whole trip. Kids who have only seen these animals in books spend the morning following ducks around, and there is a dedicated play area beside the lawn for when they have had enough of that.
If you are looking for a farmhouse in Wai with a swimming pool and a manicured resort feel, we are honestly not that. What we are is quiet, green, private, and genuinely rural, twenty minutes from the hill stations everyone else is queuing for.
The setting
Wai sits on the Krishna river in Satara district, ringed by the Sahyadri hills. It is the town people drive through on the way to Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar, and almost nobody stops - which is exactly why it stays quiet. The farm looks out over the valley, and the light in the early morning and the hour before sunset is the reason most people end up staying outdoors.
Dhom Dam is about six kilometres away. Wai town, with its riverside ghats and temples, is about three. Panchgani is roughly twenty kilometres and Mahabaleshwar about thirty-five, so you can do either as a day trip and come back to somewhere calm.
Food from the kitchen
A cook is available on request and makes home-style Maharashtrian food - the kind of cooking that is hard to find in a hotel restaurant. Breakfast and lunch can be arranged as per our menu card. Tell us your preferences when you book, because ingredients are bought in Wai ahead of your arrival rather than kept in cold storage.
In the evening most groups use the outdoor BBQ and end up around the bonfire. There is a music setup if you want it.
Best time to come
October to February is the most reliable stretch - clear skies, cool mornings and comfortable evenings outdoors. This is peak season and weekends book out well in advance.
June to September brings the monsoon, and the valley turns properly green. If you like rain, this is the best the landscape looks all year, and it is when the glass room earns its keep. The Kaas Plateau flowering season falls in August and September and is about two hours away.
March to May is warmer during the day but still cools off at night, and it is the quietest and easiest time to get the dates you want.