Review: JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa

JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa is Marriott's only resort in India and the five star property is a top-most draw for tourists looking for an experiential stay in the Himalayas. I was invited recently by Marriott to visit the resort for a review. Here is the story of my stay.

Lunch at the farm at JW Marriott, Mussoorie

Entrance to JW Marriott

Lounging area, I spent my afternoons with coffee here :)

It was already dark when I reached and after the day long flight cancellations due to the legendary North India fog, I was ready to hit the bed early. However, there was a something way more exciting than sleep was waiting for me - dinner with chef at Teppanyaki Grill, the Asian fine dining restaurant, at the grill table and I had the pleasure to eat food made specially to my taste. In fact I got this feeling of being special not just on this one occasion, but through my stay; and this is something each guest can expect from this luxurious resort in the lap of Himalayas.



My first meal pleasantly surprised me, and over the next few days getting these little delightful experiences almost became a habit for me. And I enjoyed each one of these to the fullest, and waited for the next one in anticipation. Maybe I can recount some of these curated experiences which are available to all the guests, and go far beyond what a typical report offers. In fact most of these experiences actually take you out of the property itself and let you come close to the local way of living.

My experiential stay:

Hike to Dalai Lama's first home in India - Happy Valley
When Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet, he made Happy Valley near Mussoorie his first home and stayed here for an year. The place is still alive with Tibetean culture with almost 5000 Tibeteans living here. I was there on a rather special day and got to witness a cultural show at the Buddhist school by the school children.

Hike to the Happy Valley in the morning

Happy Valley is a lovely hike away from Marriott and this can be done with a hotel guide any morning. I would recommend starting at the break of dawn and witnessing the sunrise during the trek. The experience is surreal :)

Getting intimate with the local culture - food and visit to a Garwali village
To me this is the most essential part of a trip - getting close to the locals and their way of life. I got a great introduction to it through the local food which I relished to the core. Made by Garwali women from a nearby village in Marriott's kitchen, the food is certainly authentic and tastes better than anything else you would eat here.

Garwali thali at the hotel

Visit to the local village Bhatoli

We followed up this trip with a visit to a small village called Bhatoli, to meet a family as well. The man of the house was out, but the lady made some really good tea and chatted about her life's dreams. I was both surprised as well as impressed by her ambitions, and we both also bonded about our pahadi blood :)

Winterline at Jabarkhet
What's a winterline now? This was the same question that I had when I heard about this natural phenomenon. Well its actually a clean line see in the sky when the sun rises or sets during the winter months of Mussoorie. The colors are vivid and it has to be seen to be believed.

Winter line at Jabarkhet

Though it can be seen from most of Mussoorie, the best place to get an unforgettable experience is actually from a forest and the one I recommend is called Jabarkhet. Just let the hotel know you want to do this, and they will organise it all for you. A drive for about 45 minutes followed by a short hike will take you to the best spot to see this!

Lunch with a view in a farm
Fancy eating lunch in a farm overlooking the mighty Himalayas? Well, you can do this at a small lovely farm that Marriott manages for an old woman in a nearby village.

Nursery on the way to the farm

Sip a glass of wine and enjoy the chilly breeze as you gaze at the mountains ahead. It's amazing how much of a difference a simple change of location makes to the food you eat. Carry some warm clothes as the sun can be deceptive and it can get cold rather quickly right in the middle of the meal :)

Spa with a local touch
And finally, there is no better way to end a day but with a relaxing and luxurious massage. I chose to try out the massage inspired by the local heating techniques at the Cedar Spa by L'Occitane, and it was just perfect! This is especially needed if you take up all the activities I have mentioned above :)

Spa

Facilities at the hotel

Food:

JW Marriott Mussoorie is the only Marriott resort in India and every effort has been made to make it special. There are a bunch of eating options and I tried them all.

JW Cafe: Showcasing a vibrant open kitchen and outstanding all-day restaurant dining, JW Cafe is a great place to begin or end your day here in Mussoorie. Our menu offers a selection of local and global dishes.

Wisteria Deck: An exquisite Italian meal awaits you here in Mussoorie. Wisteria Deck provides quintessential Italian cuisine like wood-fired pizza, as well as casual outdoor seating and an extensive wine list.

Trout House Grill & Bar: Trout House Grill & Bar offers a European twist on traditional Indian fare. Our on-site restaurant boasts fresh seafood, locally sourced produce and a full bar.

Teppan: Take a culinary journey through Asia at Teppan. Savor skillfully crafted Chinese, Japanese and Thai favorites at our signature restaurant. You'll be enthralled by our knife-wielding chefs' authentic Teppanyaki-style cooking methods.

Rooms:

My room at the resort was exactly as I expected - prefect! There are two types of rooms and they are both special - rooms overlooking the valley and the rooms overlooking the walnut forest. You can let the hotel know what you prefer and they will surely be able to accommodate your needs.

My room

View from my room

Other facilities:

There is a lovely heated indoor pool along with a fitness section. I know I should have spent sometime here, but I spent burning calories climbing the hills outside. There is also a kids' play area with some games which can tempt an adult as well :)

Yoga classes also happen in the morning. Check for schedule when you check-in.

Lounging area at the terrace...

How to reach?

Mussoorie is easily accessible by a short road-trip from Dehradun which has an airport connected well with Delhi. If you do not want to fly, it's also a great drive to come here. Be prepared for some traffic jams on the highway though, especially on the weekends.

Just an area to walk...

Dehradun is also well connected by overnight trains from Delhi and they are an affordable way of travel.

My visit to Mussoorie ended much before I was ready to go back home. I know will miss the cool air, the pristine blue and clear skies and hikes in the Himalayas, and all the luxuries I enjoyed at the resort. Oh, but I am already making plans to revisit Mussoorie soon again :)

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Disclaimer: I was invited by JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa for the experiential stay. Needless to mention, all the views expressed are my own and based on my personal experiences.