One sunny April afternoon we decided to head to a property that we soon realised pays a fitting tribute to the mighty Maratha kingdoms. Located on a steep hillside, at the foothills of Lohagad and Visapur forts, Shivshahi Chavni Museum is  housed within a resort that is inspired by the transit camps dating back to the 16th century. The museum was set up along with the rest of the property in December 2022. The four and a half-acre property overlooks the Sahyadris as well as the Visawa dam.

During our stay, a highlight of our trip was the visit to the museum which displays priceless treasures from the eras of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Peshwa rulers, and later, the British Raj. “We wanted Chavni to be a living heritage hub that evokes poignant memories of the past. It was apt to set up a museum for history-lovers that offers glimpses of our glorious past,” says Tushar Shetye, an architect, and one of the four founders of the resort, who designed the property.