Ditch the screens and unwind at this farmstay near Pune

Fields of green for as far as your eyes can see The smells of soil fresh grass and manure fill the air And as you turn into the gates of the farm you can hear birds chirp as they flutter tree to tree nibbling on fruitAn hourrsquos drive from Pune in Sanghvi village Cherish Farms sits on the banks of the Bhima RiverA cool ambience for a relaxing mealThis fouracre riverside farmstay is where screen fatigue meets its match Cherish Farms is equal parts farm experience and weekend detox Itrsquos the kind of place where breakfasts by the river are the norm and your day is dictated by your mood rather than Google CalendarUntil 2013 Punersquos oldest panAsian restaurant Malaka Spice would grow their produce on a friendrsquos farm or forage the jungle Eventually they bought this piece of land and began growing organic produce to be carried into their kitchens in Pune ldquoWe always wanted a farm of our own for the restaurantrdquo says Ilvika Chandawarkar head of research amp development at Malaka Spice ldquoThe whole aspect of developing the farm took some time because itrsquos in a sugarcane belt The soil was really injured after years and years of sugarcane farming So it took us about four years to recuperate the soil and help it get back to a state where there was enough organic matter in it to start growing things Now we have put up a little house where people can experience naturerdquo she saysBlack Pepper TofuOn one end of the farm lettuce basil chillies and a host of other aromatics herbs and greens grow on their respective beds On the other end the fruit trees lend mulberries pomelo chikoo mangoes and more bloom to eventually make their way into cocktails and desserts at Malaka Spice At the heart of the farm is the modern twobedroom bungalow that immediately feels like home Wearing comfort and no frills the farmhouse is designed for groups of up to 15 Complete with a cosy living room a terrace and a homely feelThe two bedrooms are simple Clean linens curated paintings and comfortable beds make this a restful stay In the evening you can walk down the path flanked by fruit trees and arrive at the river where a paddle boat awaits equipped with life jackets for safety Go on a lazy boat ride as the waterrsquos current is gentle Therersquos even a table and chairs laid out if you would prefer to sip on chai while watching the sunsetHarvesting onersquos food is part of the fulfilling experienceA complete farm experience is incomplete without digging your hands into the soil Let the caretakers tell you about the farmrsquos produce and how itrsquos grown using drip irrigation mulching and composting ldquoA lot of kids growing up nowadays have never maybe seen what a cauliflower plant looks like or cabbage or how a chiku tree looks So the idea was to give that experiencerdquo says ChandawarkarYou can of course sample the fresh produce during your stay at the farm Every meal is farmtotable but itrsquos rooted Bhakris or rotis are served hot off the chulha along with two sabzis dal a chicken curry aachar and papad Itrsquos a homestyle hearty meal prepared fresh by the staff at the farm Evening chai comes along with Maharashtrian snacks while poha is reserved for breakfastYou can stay a night or simply go for a day visit For larger groups the farm can curate a special menu with classics from Malaka SpiceAlternatively you can handpick and buy vegetables from the farm to take back homeWHERE PerneKoregaon Bhivar Rd SanghaviPRICE Rs 1399 taxes per guest for a day visit 4 guests minimum Rs 9999 tax for four guests or less from Monday to Thursday Rs 11999 tax for four guests or less on weekendsNasi Kandar ThaalFarmtorestaurant experienceOn your way back check out Malaka Spicersquos seasonal menu It is shaped by what is grown at Cherish Farms and changes every three months Think a Nasi Kandar thaal a vegan spread of wild veggies or even an ldquoignorerdquo menu featuring rare meats like emu and rabbit The cocktails have Asian flavours like lemongrass and techniques like fermentation