Mayur Sterling

Lonavala is a place where you never really know if it is going to rain or stay sunny for an hour. Our place is tucked away near the Dargah, right opposite the Raheja Hill Resort on Sir M.V. Road. It’s a bit of a climb to get up here, but that is what you expect when you come to the hills. We deal with a lot of mist and wind, especially during the monsoon months. The building stays busy with people coming up from Mumbai or Pune to get some fresh air. We have a lot of maintenance to do because the weather is tough on the paint and the gardens. Our team is mostly local guys who know how to handle the crowds on the weekends. It gets pretty packed on Saturdays, and the road outside can be a bit of a mess with all the cars. We don't spend much time on fancy decorations. We just make sure the rooms are dry and the blankets are thick enough for the cold nights. Sometimes the monkeys come onto the balconies and we have to shoo them away so they don't take anything. It is a practical sort of place for families who want a break. We don't have a big marketing department writing things for us. We just handle the check-ins and make sure the kitchen has enough supplies for everyone. It is just life in Lonavala for us.