KARMA LAKELANDS

RECONNECT WITH NATURE

KL is an approximately 270-acre development comprising a boutique 9-hole golf course with an 18-hole experience, where corporate tournaments are held. Other amenities include 3 stay options: suites, villas, and cottages; Sports Junction, with Pickleball and badminton courts and various other indoor games; On Kourse, an all-day dining multi-cuisine restaurant; AK’s Cocktail Bar-cum-Lounge, featuring a snooker table; and a kitchen garden, where vegetables and edible flowers are grown to provide fresh produce for meals.

In addition, guests can enjoy ‘breakfast with butterflies’, a distinctive concept recently introduced at the butterfly garden. It was conceptualised after observing the increasing number of brightly coloured winged insects across the expansive property. By seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces, the resort offers guests an opportunity to reconnect with nature, with lakes scattered across the landscape, creating a holiday-like ambience.

There are many ways to explore the property, from walking and cycling to using a buggy. Residents often share that living in KL has helped them understand the positive impact the environment can have on their overall well-being.

DISCOVERY CHANNEL!

Aditi, a resident of Delhi, remarked, “I often had friends come over from the hill states, but everyone complained about the lack of tranquil spaces in the city. That was until we recently visited KL and discovered that it was perfect for a weekend getaway. We soaked in so much of the place that I could write a book about my experiences!”

For women who visit a massage parlour to soothe their nerves and feet after a day of binge-shopping, The Spa by Klub Karma offers absolute peace—even space to ponder and reconsider what to wear for the evening party.

In her Facebook post, Nitya, a visitor to KL, stated, “The resort is where nature meets luxury. In fact, the beautiful villas with large open balconies made me want to live there forever! The Jacuzzi was a major stress-buster; it washed away all my city blues. I immensely enjoyed sipping cocktails at the poolside, taking life one sip at a time, and even did some stargazing on the open lawns. Yes, there was a provision of binoculars, which made me marvel at the thoughtfulness of the caretakers. One could sense that the mission was not merely to make the property commercially viable.

“At one point, I simply wanted to cuddle the hens, rabbits, and goats at the animal farm. You can even go old school and try milking the cows! And if you are the super-active kind of holidaymaker, while cycling through the sprawling property, you might get lucky enough to spot an antelope.”

FLORA, FAUNA AND HARMONY

Not only that, while having breakfast at the resort's restaurant, visitors can expect to see foxes and jackals grazing in the wild. There is also a honeybee farm, established to promote pollination. Positioned amidst the growing mustard crops, indigenous methods are used to produce the finest, distinctively flavoured mustard and honey. These are offered to visitors, some of whom leave donations as their contribution towards the day-care centre that operates nearby.

Ask Samvida what she fancied most at KL, and she declares, “Oh, it’s so colourful. I cannot forget the paths lined with pink, orange, red, and white bougainvillaea flowers, and the ‘tree-top’ development. This concept is probably one of its kind, meaning the structures do not exceed the height of an average tree. The height of the buildings is restricted to the equivalent of a 2-storey construction. Spaces are designed so that clusters of chalets are divided by green hedges rather than brick walls.

“A go-to destination for families, friends, children, and pets, it can also function as an art residency with exhibition spaces for artists. In fact, there is so much to explore even if you are there only for a meal. So, ensure you are not constrained by time. Lest you regret it, better still, pack an overnight bag!”

The centre houses the children of workers residing in the surrounding areas, and visitors are even encouraged to spend time with them. KL’s other attractions include a yoga and meditation room named Isha, where a daily ritual of chanting mantras is carried out in the evening. Although not mandatory, these sessions are often well attended.

NEIGHBOURS ENVY!

One would agree that properties such as KL, which demonstrate a high level of commitment to eco-friendly practices, are rare to come across. Travelling along city roads or standing on the balcony of our homes, we often see huge water tankers being driven to water-stressed areas. Yet, only a few realise what must be done. KL arose out of a sense of urgency to act. It harvests rainwater, which is returned to the water table. Throughout the property, one finds large grated areas designed for rainwater flow. Another significant feature is its sewage plant, which makes the golf course sustainable.

Adopting a ‘no waste’ thematic approach, an interesting seating arrangement has been set up at the ‘Village’ (where visitors go to see the farm animals) using eco-bricks—upcycled coloured plastic bottles. From being completely solar-powered to converting dead leaves and plants into manure, all green norms are meticulously followed.

Kavz finds sophistication in every detail at Karma. “From sculptures to accessories, everything is tastefully done,” she remarked. Her to-do list included, “Having a special setup of one’s choice done at the machan (raised platform), as KL offers a real-life machan experience—the kind hunters build to observe large animals in wildlife reserves!”