If you take a drive from the city towards IIM Joka, and then just slightly ahead onto Pailan, a tiny dirt road will take you towards an eco-friendly creek-based resort known as The Creek Club. Situated on an area that spans over 20 acres and encompassing a massive eight-acre creek, this resort is designed to keep alive traditional Bengali living as well as culinary patterns.
Started in 2018, the property has 20 lake-view deluxe rooms overlooking the creek, along with seven cottages that have a garden as well as a patio where you can sit and soak in the view of the lake, or indulge in some fishing.
The property is available for not just staycations, but can also be rented out for weddings, functions as well as corporate events.
The idea behind the space is to recreate the feel of a mini-Santiniketan so that one does not have to make the long journey all the way and can just drive off an hour and into this natural landscape.
The club is a self-sustaining eco-friendly arrangement that produces its own fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs, chicken as well as uses fresh fish from the creek to serve guests.
While mornings are bright and sunny, evenings are cool with the entire property lit up in tiny lights that make the lake glimmer with their reflection. The Telegraph spent a night at the property and here’s taking you through our experience.
The view of the creek from a room
What: The Creek Club
Where: Daulatpur, Pailan
No. of keys: 27
Contact: 090510 97755
Things to do: Fishing, swimming, paddle boating, indoor and outdoor games
ACCOMMODATION
There are over 20 super deluxe rooms on the first floor overlooking the creek. All rooms are air-conditioned and have thatched roof structure to create a rural look and feel. Prices for these start at Rs 3,920 including breakfast.
The seven cottages encase a well-groomed garden and can easily sleep two to three guests. They come with en-suite bathrooms, a patio, a living room and a double bedroom. Done in shades of brown with a thatched roof and wooden interiors, they are designed to bear with the changing seasons. All cottages are air-conditioned as well and are priced at Rs 5,040 including breakfast.
On the menu
The restaurant at the resort offers multi-cuisine fare and guests can even pre-order meals to their preference. However, we would suggest going for a typical Bengali meal comprising Dal, Bhaat, Fish Fry, Begun Bhaja, Chingri Malai Curry, Kosha Murgi, Chutney, Papad and Rosogolla. The food was fresh as all ingredients were sourced from the gardens and the creek, and post-lunch all we needed was a long bhaat ghum.
THINGS TO DO
Keeping in mind the entertainment needs of its patrons, there is a newly launched theatre to stream movies, or even have private screenings at parties. That apart, there is a fully equipped games room with facilities for carrom, table tennis, foosball among others.
The creek is loaded with sweetwater fish such as Rui and Katla and is open to guests to try their hand at fishing. The staff is well-equipped to help you out with fishing gear as well as some tips and tricks on how to get the best catch. The best time to fish is between 8am to 4pm. Apart from fishing, guests can also make use of the water by taking a paddle boat ride around the creek.
For those that want to beat the heat, the pool is open for play. Sip on mocktails of your choice as you laze in the blue water. Guests can also experience some rain dance fun in the summers, while the property also arranges for bonfire and BBQ in winter evenings.
As we took a walk outside our cottage, it was a delight to watch the greens grow right in front of our eyes. There were rows of fresh seasonal veggies such as cabbage, broccoli, French beans, beetroot, spinach, carrots, tomatoes and chilli. The Creek Club has its own shed where they raise cows for milk, and also a poultry farm that supplies meat and eggs to the restaurant.
Pictures: By the author and the club