Nestled in the trees, a bit literally is this truly eco friendly getaway. After watching along desert vegetation, water-harvesting channels and startling crops of 

pink, white, yellow blossoms during the 3-hour long drive from Delhi, I was eagerly awaiting to know what the Tree house resort in Jaipur has in store for me! And as I entered, the first thing I experienced was being wrapped in greenery. 

If you feel like transporting yourself from a concrete jungle into nature's lap, this is the place to be. Its like a journey through jungle book winding its way into a resort that gives you more 

than a birds eye view to luxury. Sit at the verandah and listen to the birds or spend a night at a luxury nest or even better, be lost in the woods.

If you are wondering whether you will be comfortable, don't worry, the Oriental Buzzard Nest has five spacious rooms atop a cluster of seven trees. The wood pecker suite, on the other hand, has a large room, along with a thatched sit out area to rejuvenate in fresh air. The Imperial Eagle Suite is perched high on the tree like the nest of the bird it’s christened after. It is also the only nest to house a bathtub on a live tree. But there is more in store than just the tree houses.

Imagine this - a pitch dark night, the still of a jungle, an open gypsy and an urge to encounter the wild, at 8 pm in the night, I headed for a safari in the jungle close by. I was accompanied with nature enthusiast Mukesh and a torchlight but the only creature we could spot was a peacock perched on the top of a tree. Disappointed, we returned to our den.

Away from the city chaos, wake up to a morning by a watchful bird or two, whose territory you may have invaded. There are waterfalls and sit-outs, restaurants here make it a lovely experience...

If you're high 

on sports, there is a badminton court, billiards room, and endless tracks to walk or jog. But I prefer to cycle in the woods and allowed the nature to take over. 

A breath of fresh air explains the critical link this green cover has to the sustenance of life on this planet. I am doing my bit for mother earth by planting a tree this new years!

When a business hotel resolves to go green, a harmonious balance is struck between a sound environment and sublime comfort. Kamiya Jani takes a sneak peak into this business hotel to find out if its worth your visit!

Kamiya Jani takes you 200 kms away from Mumbai for some uninterrupted peace and unadulterated gastronomic experience. To get away from the hustle bustle of the city, this is a perfect spot!

If you want to experience a life stripped down to simplicity, serenity and stillness, the best place to be at, well, is home! But club all this with bright blue skies, glistening blue waters and palms trees swaying away to glory, then a place little away from home may be your calling!

A geological eccentricity nestled in the middle of the Indian ocean, Maldives is nature’s favourite creation. As the plane graciously glides down towards Male International Airport, a fleeting look out the window and your heart skips a beat. Green little patches enclosed by gleaming blue waters makes you wonder if it is real. Well, only nature could have painted a picture so perfect!

Maldives is not an island but a collection of 1,190 islands. And of these, only 201 are inhabited. Almost 99% of the country is the ocean and that’s what makes Maldives, one of the most unique nations in the world. The highest point rises just 8 feet above sea level.

Not so surprisingly, to get to any island, you can opt for any of the three forms: boats, sea planes or private yachts.

As you come closer to the island, those little green patches get transformed into polished palms that kindly swing to the cool breeze, and the island is protected by the beige-coloured sand, so soft that it caresses your feet, waters so clear that you see the fish playing in the depths of the lagoons. We bet, you will experience the irresistible lure to join the fish party!

Maldives is visited by people from all over the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. These visitors often leave a strong influence on the people, their religion and the culture. With ready smiles, and always willing to lend a helping hand, the Maldivians are a friendly race and make visitors feel very welcome.

The beauty of Maldives lies in the resort you choose to stay. Reason being, you are going to be restricted only to that resort for the next few days, unless you decide to hire a yacht for yourself! Restaurants to offer, adventure sports to try out, spas to relax you, activities to keep you busy, corner to keep you calm and a pub to keep your nights lively are few things to must keep an eye out for. Otherwise, no day looks different than the other at the resort. After all, there is no accessible market to spend an evening at.

And worry not, as you begin to research, you will realize each resort is better than the other. What’s better is that in every few months, newly resorts open up offering various new things from top end boutique brands to ecologically sound back-to-nature hotels. You will be spoilt for choice!

There is no bad time to visit Maldives. The temperature remains remarkably consistent at around 30°C. February to April is the hottest period and November to March is quite pleasant! But one doesn’t visit Maldives for its weather, the real purpose is to try out all the water sports there. So make sure that the waves are in your favour to not be disappointed.

From submarine diving to snorkeling, from scuba diving to surfing you can try it all at Maldives. Explore the hidden mysteries and beauty of the underwater creatures having a comfortable life beneath the sea level. Another great adventure sport one can try at Maldives is the wreck diving. That lets you see the submerged wrecks of ships in the ocean. Night fishing is also very popular among the tourists. For full time divers, night diving is an opportunity to see those marine creatures that can't be seen during daytime. 

Maldives is no cheap destination! It’s for those who are in love with luxury and are ready to pay a price for the same. Even if you do get a cheap flight and accommodation deal, unless it’s full board you’ll spend almost as much again on food and drink during your stay. The price on the menu is mentioned in Dollars and not the local currency Rufiya and it varies considerably from resort to resort.

A uniquely indulgent break and Maldives sheer beauty stays with you long fter your tan has faded. The beaches are so superior, the waters so blue and the welcome which is so warm, the island is a paradise for divers, sun-worshippers and honeymooners!

You don’t have a choice but to live a simple, laid back and contented life-style. And your trip is worth it, if you come home with that attitude!