A new performance space in Khandala breathes life into the hill town's culture

It takes us a couple of hours to conquer the Mumbai traffic and reach Khandala The journey through the winding ghat sections finally halts by a quiet lane beyond which lies the 200yearold abbey now Abbey 301 If its existence surprises the reader they are not alone ldquoIt would not have been in the form it is today but it was always hererdquo assures Kamini Kotak owner Abbey 301 On the afternoon of our visit the quaint space is readying for its grand opening on January 30Dholakia reveals that the next phase of conservation will focus on the water damage if any incurred by the double mortared wallsThe Kotak family acquired the structure after it was decommissioned in 1973 ldquoI remember walking the grounds with my fatherinlaw and just playing Brahms Beethoven and Bach To his end he conceded to listening to my Norah Jones albumrdquo Kamini recalls In the early 2000s the abbey underwent the first phase of its conservation with Vikas Dilawari giving it the visually aesthetic stainedglass windows reveals entrepreneur Krishna Kotak Adil Dholakiarsquos Five Cross Architects took over the challenge of further restoration in the short timeline between September and December of 2025Adil DholakiaThe current vision of the space was a more recent epiphany ldquoKhandala does not boast of any performance venue and we wanted to create one that the community could be a part ofrdquo Kamini sharesKamini and Krishna KotakStep in Pushan Kripalani its creative director lsquowho fell in love with the place at first sightrsquo and Xerxes Unvala culture strategist ldquoWe had to do very little As they say in my world lsquoIf God is your gaffer get out of the wayrsquordquo Kripalani states pointing to the dormer windows streaming natural light As we walk through the tech team is busy at work to ensure the sound system syncs with the natural harmonics of the spaceArunoday Singh and Pushan Kripalani in performance The abbey is fitted with an adaptable deck that can be reworked to suit any performanceNowhere is this more evident than when actor Arunoday Singh and Kripalani break into a duet of Ainrsquot No Sunshine ldquoIt was the same when we held the first trial in February 2025 The artistes could not wait to experience itrdquo shares Kripalani who adds that India has very few examples of such spaces ldquoIt was as much a transformation as it was a conservationrdquo he saysThe stainedglass windows were additions from the first phase of conservation in the early 2000s Inspired by churches in Scotland they were recreated in India right A distinct feature the vestry was restored with a combination of reused and suitable material It will serve as the green room for performers shares KripalaniThe tenet of minimalism and reversible improvements is a common thread Dholakia reveals that the use of old BTC Burma Teak Category and Mangalore tiles were instrumental in the restorationThe nature of monsoons in the region made the roof restoration work in progress right restored roof a primary concern for the architectural team Pic CourtesyFive Cross ArchitectsThe launch is the beginning of a new age for the 2500sqft structure ldquoImagine Raag Bhairavi being played by Rakesh Chaurasia to welcome the dawnrdquo teases Pushan Kripalani The opening day will feature artistes from Chaurasia to poet Kausar Munir the Sanjay Divecha Trio and singersongwriter Nikhil DrsquoSouza For the future the team is already exploring theatrical showcases even outreaches to schools to foster a new community experienceThe technical and lighting has been designed to be nonintrusive and easily reversibleldquoIt is about offering a new cultural experience for the community and for artistesrdquo concludes Kamini As we walk around we can imagine the hills come alive with music ON January 30 to February 1AT Abbey 301 near Athiva Resort and Spa KhandalaLOG ON TO abbey301org