SARAI AT TORIA, NR. KHAJURAHO

Accommodation: Accommodation comprises of a total of 14 garden and poolside cottages spread around the expansive gardens and premises.
Garden Cottages: There are 8-twin/double garden cottages. The garden cottages are excellent with fixed bases, multi-layered canvas tops and superb bathrooms, which are partially open to the skies. Each garden cottage has its own veranda and is well spread out to ensure privacy.
Pool Cottages: The pool cottages are located next to each other near the swimming pool and main living area. There is also a 3-bedroom cottage in the gardens. Each has an attached state of the art bathroom. All the rooms and tents are done up in soothing, earthy colors, keeping the furnishings and fixtures to a minimum.
All the pool cottages are ‘non-smoking’ and are on ground level so there is easy access for wheelchairs. Each is air-conditioned, has an overhead fan, tea and coffee making machines. The rooms do not have Televisions or CD players. There are showers rather than bathtubs in each room. Hair dryers and heaters are available on request. Water at Shreyas is purified on site and is provided in all bedrooms and is safe to drink. Bottled water is also provided and charged extra.
Dining: There is one dining room where guests are encouraged to dine together. Dinner is often served out in the garden or the poolside under starry skies amidst softly lit candles. Guests can choose to dine alone or join a larger group. Lunch and dinner tends to be table d’hôtel, although occasionally buffets are organized. Should a guest have any particular likes or dislikes, the chefs will be more than happy to try to accommodate these wishes. The food is exceptionally good and comprises Indian, Continental and limited Oriental. As much as possible, everything is grown or produced on the premises. Their special organic, vegetarian menu which is a mix of north and south Indian , sri Lankan and oriental cuisines is compiled in a book called Soul Food which is one of the no alcohol is served or allowed on the premises and all meals are vegetarian. The menus are carefully planned to fit in with the overall wellness programs.
Room service is available but with a limited choice and is chargeable. All meals are included in the nightly room rate (excluding room services meals).

MECH Review : Dedicated to the philosophy of Yoga, Shreyas probably is the only boutique retreat of its kind in India. Combining the best of traditional and contemporary architecture with the most modern of facilities, Shreyas veers away from the conventional trappings of a resort or a retreat and offers guests a serene hideaway to commune with nature and self. Among the cool and restful sitting areas, pool side, library or the yoga and meditation room, Shreyas allows you the luxury of spending time with yourself.
Aptly described as a luxury retreat with a soul, superbly comfortable and stylish and comparable to the more exclusive and private hotels of the world, Shreyas which means "Total Excellence” strives to achieve perfection in every aspect of your stay here.
Concept : Spread over 25-acre, Shreyas is set amidst stunning gardens and an enormous herb and vegetable farm, where guests are encouraged to till and sow. Quiet sitting areas are scattered around the gardens are ideal to relax and meditate.
The essence of Shreyas is the concept of wellness of body, mind and soul, for the purpose of self-mastery that manifests as excellence in all that they do. The principal medium through which guests are exposed to this is Yoga, which is non-denominational and open to people of all faiths. They demonstrate through various customized programs that, contrary to popular belief, Yoga can be practiced by everyone – fit or unfit, old or young, supple or stiff. Yoga has an amazing effect on the body and mind energies allowing one to deal with life’s ups and downs with sense of equanimity.
Shreyas will appeal to those who wish to understand or familiarize themselves with the philosophical tradition of India, without necessarily delving into its organized religious aspects.
Guests are also encouraged to get away from an over-worked and hectic lifestyle or the rigors of the office, to come and de-stress by working in the vegetable and herb garden, planting paddy and getting their feet dirty! A true retreat geared to self-discovery, where the intention is to bring a little of the best of Indian spiritual wisdom (namely, Yoga) into the lives of its guests.
Their intense and interactive CSR programs involve working on the farm, cooking and feeding the inmates of an old age home that Shreyas has adopted.