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Almost an hour and a half had passed by when we finally rolled into the wellness retreat. As I stepped out of the car amid warm smiles, I was greeted with a cold towel and Storii in a bottle which features a Gondhoraj ghol – a respite (albeit much needed) from the humid weather outside. As I sat and took a moment to unwind, the sound of dhaak wafted through the air, setting the mood and reminding me of what was coming. Pujo is only a few days away. The first thing that I noticed about the property was the immense lush foliage. The sight is plain soothing, and without further ado, I checked into my Suite which opens up into a master bedroom, a patio to relax, and a plush bathtub to soak away your worries. Rest assured, I did spend a few minutes admiring the open patio, which is where one can relax after a long day or catch up over a drink. A true winner in my book.
Around 2 in the noon, I freshened up and headed out to Baarique, their all day dining for lunch but what awaited me there, was simply sublime. As if on cue, it started pouring down and I couldn’t help but wonder if this vacay was meant to be.
Lunch was a solid affair as I unboxed their Storii in a Box, a concept where one is served meal in a layered lunch box aka dabba; an instant whiff of nostalgia. Chef Arijit Sengupta had very kindly set up an arrangement for me. The food is wholesome and comforting; I tried my hands at fish fry with kashundi (blame the weather) and then moved onto classics like luchi and chholar daal, a Sunday favourite at every Bengali household, followed by Gobindhobhog rice, Chorchori, and Prawn Malai curry, a total icon. The roshogolla rounded up the meal. I was also treated to mishti doi and I couldn’t be any more sated. Chef Sengupta had warmly commented, “We at Storii try to give our guests a home away from home experience amidst the natural landscape. You can relax and unwind here, away from the maddening crowd. Our food is simple and rustic, thus reminding you of home.” As I pondered over the intricacies of life serenaded by the weather, I found myself enjoying the slow pace of life on a glorious Thursday afternoon.
Promptly at 5, Ketli & Kahani which is their high tea concept was served. Consisting of tea in a ‘bhnaar‘, a classic earthen pot, jhalmuri, potato and cheese finger sandwiches, kheer kadam (a local sweet) and a studded fruit cake which is seared into my mind. I soon went for a quick show around through the property, in an adorable buggy since it was still pouring. Here’s what I learnt since – the property is ideally a wellness retreat with 12 spa rooms offering various treatments, and there’s yoga in the mornings if you’d like to join. It is sprawled across 5 acres, and it boasts three categories of accommodation – deluxe, suite and villas. I was kindly offered the suite, which truth be told was lovely to bask in.
Once back, I was ushered into K by Kaya Kalp, their indulgent spa for their signature therapeutic spa treatment which lasted for 60 minutes with an essential oil of choice. Mine was Lemon and Ginger, while the other options on offer are Eucalyptus and Black Pepper, and Mysore Sandalwood. As the therapeutic massage began, I could feel the stress and melt away and the ambience lulled me into a mild stupor. Time flew on rosy wings and after an hour, I returned back to my suite to unwind for the day.
Soon, dinner was served – I had requested for in-room dining as my mind gave away. Chef Sengupta had kindly sent across a continental fare. A piping hot Minestrone with a side comfort salad, dinner rolls and bread sticks to accompany; a promising start I thought. It was soon followed by a portion of Grilled Chicken with a side of chargrilled vegetables and mashed potato. I was looking forward to the dessert and it did not disappoint. A Banana Split Sundae came laden with ice cream, a gorgeous sticky caramel, chocolate sauce and brownie bits. It was polished off in 5, and in 30 it was time to head to bed.
It was now time to pack up and head back to the city, as I found myself pondering about how tranquil this place is. With nature offering its bountiful reserve, it is the ideal weekend getaway, for whenever you want to catch a break – be it maddening aftermath of durga pujo or just a lazy weekend away from the monotones of city life, Storii by ITC Hotels, Devasom Resort and Spa is your next go-to. We love.
