Athiva Resort & Spa Khandala - Formerly Dukes Retreat – A Favorite for Families in Lonavala

Athiva Resort & Spa Khandala houses 80 rooms across several categories, including Valley View with Sit-out rooms and Cliff View rooms with private balconies. Each room has been renovated with oak and terrazzo materials, and some ground-floor units include a small patio garden. The valley-view suites offer direct sightlines to Kune Waterfall and the surrounding hills.

The Panorama Italian restaurant serves dishes prepared by a chef formerly with Hyatt Regency Pune, including lamb chops and pasta. The A Diner multi-cuisine buffet offers both local Maharashtrian flavors and continental options, with a separate Jain menu available. The bar on site provides live music on select evenings and a selection of Khandala-inspired beverages.

The on-site spa provides personalized treatments, including 60-minute sessions that guests can extend by 30 minutes upon request. A heated outdoor swimming pool with panoramic valley views is open for night swims, with towels provided at entry. Yoga and meditation sessions are held daily on the terrace overlooking the hills.

The resort offers pottery sessions guided by Mr. Balakrishna, where guests learn to make a vase using traditional techniques. Live caricature portraits are created by artist Mr. Keeru, and the games room includes foosball, table tennis, and billiards. Outdoor activities include horse riding on the lawn, cycling, and badminton on the resort's 7.5 acres of landscaped grounds.

The hotel's state-of-the-art conference facilities can accommodate up to 70 people in the ballroom, with full audio-visual support and dedicated banquet staff. The 7.5 acres of landscaped lawns provide space for weddings and corporate retreats, with package options that include full-day exclusivity. Business guests can also use the fitness studio with treadmills and the business center with fax and photocopying services.

Location: Cliffside position 2 min from Express Highway, 1h40min from Mumbai and Pune

Rooms: 80 renovated units with valley-view sit-outs and cliff-view balconies

Dining: Panorama Italian restaurant and A Diner buffet with Jain menu

Wellness: On-site spa, heated pool, yoga and meditation sessions

Activities: Pottery, caricature, horse riding, games room

Ideal for: Couples, families, business retreats