Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has announced the launch of Taj Mount Kusur Resort and Villas in Lonavala, marking the Taj brand’s entry into the luxury branded villa market. The project is being developed in partnership with hospitality-backed real estate company Amavi.
Set across 34 acres in the Western Ghats, the development will feature 32 branded villas alongside a 100-key Taj resort. Positioned amid the region’s natural landscape, the project is planned to offer views of the surrounding lake and valley.
Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, “For over a century, Taj has defined luxury hospitality through its grand palaces, landmark city hotels, safaris and residences. Recognised as the World’s Strongest Luxury Hotel Brand and India’s Strongest Brand, Taj continues to strengthen its position at the forefront of the luxury hospitality sector. The launch of Taj Mount Kusur Resort & Villas marks our entry into the branded villa segment, broadening our portfolio to address evolving consumer preferences while bringing the trust, service excellence and legacy of the brand to a new category of luxury real estate.”
The villas will draw inspiration from contemporary barn-style architecture, incorporating large glass façades and generous verandahs that connect the interiors with the surrounding landscape.
A key feature will be the two-acre Wabi-Sabi Central Park, designed around the Japanese philosophy of simplicity and harmony with nature. Planned facilities include a Miyawaki forest, nature trails, Zen gardens, stargazing decks, golf putting greens, a fitness lawn and multi-purpose sports courts.
The project will also include Club Amavi, with wellness, recreational, dining and banquet facilities.
The villas will be sold to individual owners and incorporated into the resort inventory through a lease-back programme. Owners will receive access to Taj services such as concierge support, housekeeping and maintenance, along with resort amenities.
Apurv Kumar, Managing Director, Clarks Group of Hotels and Founder, Amavi, said, “Second homes are bought to create more time, time with family, time in nature and time for oneself. Yet too often, they become another responsibility. At Amavi, our purpose is to change that. Taj Mount Kusur Resort and Villas brings together the privacy and permanence of a home with the care and service of Taj hospitality. Rooted in the Western Ghats, it also reflects our belief that meaningful development must respect the land and create value for the communities around it. We want Mount Kusur to be not merely a property people own, but a place they return to, belong to and come to.”
Located between Mumbai and Pune, Lonavala remains a popular leisure and second-home destination, known for its hills, lakes, waterfalls and easy connectivity to both cities.
Source: Travel Trade Journal
