Work!
Work! Work! Let's face it, the pressures of everyday life have led humans to
work more and play less. In an economically unstable world, work has been
prioritized leaving personal and family time to play second fiddle. On the
bright side, it has made the idea of Day/Weekend trips a whole lot more
attractive. Earlier, vacations were mostly about going to hill-stations for a
few days or better yet going "abroad", but people are now discovering
small hidden treasures in their own neighborhoods where even a single day is
enough to rejuvenate them for the busy week ahead.
One such place that we discovered, thanks to the parents of my daughter's school, was Laksh Farms. A 20-30 minute drive from central Gurgaon (for my friends living in foreign lands, that's the place where half of your customer service calls originate) on the Gurgaon-Faridabad highway, tucked inside Mangar near Dhauj Hills (famous for rock climbing), is a 6 acre charming abode owned and run by Mr. and Mrs. Lumba. The property is situated next to Dhauj Lake which over the years has dried out due to mining nearby, but with the ban on mining in place there is still hope that someday the water might return.
Laksh
Farms is all about basic living. It is a well maintained property with trees
planted all around providing numerous shaded areas to sit and relax. A small
pond on one side houses a gaggle of geese whereas a hen coop can be found on
the opposite corner next to the goats and cows. A walk around the farm and you
are likely to bump into the smaller beauties of nature like butterflies jumping
from one leaf to another or an ant hill that kept the children fascinated for
hours. Visitors can feed the geese and can even watch the cows being milked, a
site that my daughter saw for the very first time and enjoyed (although she was
disappointed that she was not allowed to partake).
Laksh
Farm prides itself in giving a village experience to its visitors. The food is
homemade with chapatis/roti being cooked fresh on fire ovens (chulas) in front
of the guests. There is a small area where visitors can take a bath in pure
underground water, something that the kids simply adored and thoroughly
enjoyed. Then there was the tractor ride out into the countryside that honestly
speaking all the adults enjoyed more than the children.
What makes Laksh Farms
a memorable experience is the friendliness of everyone there. While exploring
the farm I ran into three bricklaying women who jokingly said that I should
stop taking pictures of inanimate objects and take pictures of them. On seeing
the photos, the amusing smile on their faces was priceless.The
cherry on the cake is the hospitality of Mrs. Lumba who throughout our visit
was running around getting the food and drinks ready, organizing the rides,
showing around the farm, holding informative conversations with the guests, and
at the same time giving our group enough space to mingle and relax at our own
leisure.
The
entire process from contacting Mrs. Lumba to enquire about the farm till the
end of our visit was seamless. The kids enjoyed being free playing in the mud
and simultaneously hopefully learning about nature and how life is without
joyrides in malls and air-conditioners. For the adults, it was a relaxing
afternoon filled with good company, good food, and some wine. So if you are in
Delhi or Gurgaon and have a day free, make sure you head over to Laksh Farms
for an un-forgetful rustic experience.
Facts about Laksh Farms:
Day Charge: Adults Rs. 1000,- Children Above 5years Rs. 500,- Drivers/Maids food charges Rs. 500,-
Inclusions: Non-alcoholic drinks (Lemonade/Chaach) Snack on arrival (Papri Chaat) Lunch (which was very filling and tasty) Tea/Mango Shake etc.
Activities like tractor ride, bullock cart ride,hikes, can be discussed with the proprietor who will make arrangements accordingly.
Timings: 11:00am till 5:00pm
Remember: Make sure you take your camera with you. Take an extra change of clothes in case you plan on taking a shower under the tube-well water.
Alcohol: The property does not hold a liquor license, but you can bring your own alcoholic drinks after talking to the proprietor.
Location: A map is available on the Laksh Farms website,but after crossing the village lookout for a blue gate on your right. Also keep Mrs. Lumba's phone handy in-case you get lost.
Bookings: It's always advisable to call and book in advance,especially if you are planning a visit over the weekend.
Cottages: The farm also houses 7 air-conditioned cottages about which you can ask the proprietor.
Contact: Laksh Farms Website: www.lakshfarms.com Phone: +91 8826402147
For more photos from our visit to Laksh Farms please click here
This is an unsolicited review of Laksh Farms.
