Luxury meets the wild: A weekend escape with the BMW X7 to Marchula Estate

A getaway that begins with the journey

We left Delhi round midnight, benefiting from clear roads and cooler temperatures. The vacation spot — Marchula — lies roughly 270 kilometres away, tucked deep into the lesser-explored edges of the Jim Corbett area. Unlike fashionable hill stations that crowd up rapidly over weekends, Marchula presents one thing completely different. It is quiet, much less business, and extra rooted in its pure panorama.

Our route took us previous Moradabad and Kashipur earlier than we started climbing onto the hills. The BMW X7 xDrive40d dealt with the change in terrain with none drama. Under the hood, its 3.0-litre inline-six diesel engine delivers 340 hp and 700 Nm of torque. But the facility supply is easy and refined — it by no means feels aggressive. Cruising on the freeway was fast and simple, however what actually stood out was how composed the X7 felt as soon as the street narrowed and the floor started to interrupt up.

Thanks to the adaptive air suspension and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, even the uneven mountain stretches felt manageable. The cabin remained quiet all through, isolating us from street imperfections and holding fatigue at bay — one thing you recognize much more on a protracted, in a single day journey.

Arriving in Marchula

By morning, we had been deep within the forested hills of Uttarakhand. A brief river crossing simply earlier than Marchula gave us a ultimate reminder of the X7’s off-road credibility. Raised suspension, hill descent management, and ample torque helped us via the shallow water crossing with out fuss. It is a reminder that regardless of its luxurious leanings, the X7 is greater than succesful when the terrain modifications.

Marchula itself isn’t a spot you come upon — you come right here intentionally. Set on the banks of the Ramganga River, it’s a peaceable village surrounded by dense jungle, with very restricted improvement. There aren’t any procuring streets, no cafés, and no crowds. What you get as a substitute is uninterrupted greenery, contemporary air, and an actual sense of stillness.

A keep that matches the temper

Our base for the weekend was Marchula Estate, a six-key sustainable retreat that blends seamlessly into the forest. Run by Mansi and Mustafa, the property presents a low-impact, considerate strategy to hospitality. It isn’t about bells and whistles, however about dwelling frivolously and creating an area the place Nature leads the expertise.

There are three stand-alone cottages on the hillside — Amaltas, Gulmohar and Deodar — together with three rooms in the principle home. Each has a singular aesthetic, constructed utilizing upcycled wooden, pure stone, and native supplies. Solar energy runs the necessities, and the water is filtered and served in reusable glass bottles. The property grows its personal herbs, composts waste, and encourages company to undertake a slower tempo.

Conversations with Mansi and Mustafa revealed that this was not only a enterprise concept. It was a life selection. Tired of the town, they determined to construct one thing extra significant — not only for themselves, however for his or her company and the setting they inhabit.

A special sort of weekend

There isn’t a lot to do at Marchula — and that’s precisely the purpose. Mornings begin with mist rising off the river and the occasional name of a barking deer. Afternoons are for lengthy walks alongside the Ramganga, or sitting with a guide whereas the daylight filters via the thick cover. Mobile sign is patchy, and you’ll not discover Wi-Fi.

In a setting like this, the BMW X7 stood out for its versatility. Large and splendid, sure, but in addition quietly succesful. It didn’t look misplaced even on this wild setting. When we did use it to discover close by villages or take a brief drive up into the forest roads, it dealt with all the things with ease — from unfastened gravel to tight turns.

Heading house

As we packed up on Sunday afternoon, there was a way of calm that had changed the noise we had carried from the town. The X7 was loaded with baggage and a weekend’s price of stillness, and the drive again felt shorter someway — smoother and quieter, each on the street and in our heads.

The X7 remained spectacular all through. It delivered what you count on from a flagship luxurious SUV — energy, consolation and superior tech — however what actually stood out was how properly it tailored to each a part of the journey. Whether it was the expressway, mountain climbs, or river crossings, the SUV didn’t miss a beat.

Final ideas

If you might be in search of a weekend getaway that’s offbeat, peaceable and rooted in nature, Marchula needs to be in your radar. It is much sufficient to really feel like an escape, but reachable inside a half-day’s drive from Delhi. And if you’re fortunate sufficient to do it in one thing just like the BMW X7, the journey itself turns into a part of the reward.

Together, Marchula Estate and the X7 delivered a uncommon mixture — consolation and connection. Not simply to a spot, however to the concept of slowing down. Something most of us may use slightly extra of.

Motorscribes, in affiliation with The Hindu, brings you the most recent in automobiles and bikes. Follow them on Instagram on @motorscribes.

Published – June 06, 2025 04:03 pm IST