Anugraha The Descent of Grace is a farmhouse home we built in a Kerala style with open courtyards and living spaces to let Nature which is all around in. It is 4 kms from the start of the white sands of Kashid beach Whilst it is conveniently located on the Alibag Murud road, Anugraha sits on a rise and is totally private. There are no houses on either side of our estate. It is our home, so we are very careful with it. We would expect the same love and respect from those who stay there. You reach Anugraha, which is on the mainland across the harbour from Mumbai, by speed boat or by ferry and then a car drive of about 1 hour and fifteen minutes. (If you are driving in from Pune, the drive is about 3 hours.) The distance is well worth it. We are just 4 kms from the start of the white sands of Kashid beach (a 5-minute drive) or 1.5 km from the curved bay of Nandgaon beach. We are on the road to the old sea port and fortress of Murud Janjira. You enter the 3 plus acre property straight off the road and the driveway takes you to the top of the hill, where the house comes into view. The architecture of Anugraha is unique: inspired by a south Indian tradition four sided home, it has tiled roofs, and open courtyard, wide running verandahs and tall doors and windows. The belief was that if you want to live with Nature, you have to let her in, so you never feel that spaces are enclosed. The sea breeze or land breeze goes through the house throughout the day and there are very few days or nights when one feels the absence of air conditioning. Because there are no houses either side of us, you are surrounded by nature. When you step through the big wooden doors that were inspired by a granary door in South India and see the long walkway that looks straight through a large open living room to the sea in the far distance, and when you suddenly notice to your left a lily pond and to your right a large open marble courtyard with a big rock in the centre, a champa ( frangipani) tree seeming to grow out of it and a holy basil plant encircled by two arms of the rock, the large dining table in front of you that sits next to a small indoor garden with betel nut trees, the little bridge that goes across the lily pond that lead to the kitchen pantry and utility room, you begin to get an idea of what Grace may feel like. Walk through the the very large open loving room which has no walls on two sides that sits under a 35 feet high tiled roof and you come to the 13 feet wide 80 feet long verandah. Just beyond are mango trees and tall fish tail palm trees that are on either side of an amoeba shaped infinity swimming pool that overlooks more trees and the paddy fields and the sea about 500 meters away. We face west, so the sunsets are gorgeous and the vista is 180 degrees. There are three bedrooms all with attached baths and an outdoor one by the pool side. A first floor study cum library cum extra sleeping room looks both east and west. The eastern view looks at the hills and forests of the Sansad Forest and game reserve. In the monsoons when Nature bursts green, this is a view that you must give thanks for. Every room is unique. Anugraha is great for short getaways from Mumbai or Pune. Or even better for longer retreats for writers, artists, musicians or just nature lovers. P.S. We have attached some photographs on this site. If you want more we can send them.