Nana Nani, Phase 4 where I am staying now is located in Kasturipalayam in Vadavalli. It is about 30 minutes drive from CBE station and 60 minutes from the airport. The complex has six blocks with 250 two BHK apartments in four floors and 51 Villas. The complex accommodates about 450 residents. I stay in G block.
As you enter the
main gate you see a big temple for Mahalaxmi on the left, opposite the security
office. It also has the idols of Vinayaka, Bala Murugan, located inside the temple complex. This temple
is where most of the religious events take place. It is also a place where
spiritual pursuits like Veda classes, bhajans, and special pujas are conducted
every other day.
Next to the temple
is Brindavanam, a small garden featuring marble statues of Krishna,
Radha, and Gopikas. There is one more garden with a fountain in front of the
main clubhouse and a Buddha statue under a Bodhi tree next to my block.
From the Mahalaxmi temple, a long walkway takes you to the Villas located
immediately after the apartment complex. This is the passage, dotted with
trees on the right where I go for a walk. Many residents walk around the
complex using this walkway. It is safe for residents to walk even at night
after dinner.
There are two
Club Houses. The main one is where most of the facilities are located within
the apartment complex. The second, smaller clubhouse is where the residents of
the Villas have their meals. A mini
swimming pool and a badminton court are located next to this club house.
The main Club
House has a dining hall on the ground floor that has a seating capacity
of 120. Residents are expected to leave behind their footwear in the
footwear racks provided outside before entering the Club House to attend any
activity. Meals are provided in two batches. Breakfast at 8.00 am and 8.30 am.
Lunch at 12.30 pm and 1.00 pm. Dinner at 7.30 pm and 8.00 pm. Those who want
their meals to be delivered at their apartments or villas are charged extra for
the service. Electrically operated buggies are available for residents who find
it difficult to walk the distance from their blocks to the dining hall.
A well-appointed
Gym, a hall for indoor games like table tennis and billiards,
including the traditional pallanguzhi, carrom boards, chess boards,
a couple of cards tables, an Ayurvedic clinic and spa, library, a separate
saloon for ladies and gents which operate on fixed days during fixed times-
-All these are located on the first floor.
The second floor is
where the fully air-conditioned Meditation Hall is located with a seating
capacity of 300. It has a big stage where all the programmes are conducted. The
Hall has an audio system, a lighting system, and a built-in Projector for any
a/v presentations. This is the hall where, so far, I have attended
performances like a Women`s Day celebration, an Anthakshri, and a karaoke
session- all staged by the talented residents. This hall also witnessed the big
puja conducted on Sivarathri day and a Music and Dance festival for nine days
during the Ram Navami organized by one
of the senior residents at his cost.
The third floor houses
the state-of-the-art mini air-conditioned cinema hall with a capacity of
90. Every Saturday evening a Hindi, Tamil, or Malayalam film is shown.
The third floor also houses six air-conditioned guest houses with
three-star comforts that can be used by the guests of the residents. Charges at
present are Rs. 4000/- per night including three meals for a couple, with 24
hrs check-in facility. It is a good facility but without room service.
A clinic with a
pharmacy attached is located opposite the G block where I stay. Qualified
nurses are available round the clock. Apart from a senior doctor who visits the
clinic at fixed times every day, there is a resident doctor available
full-time. There is a system of weekly check-ups of all the residents for
general health parameters which is recorded in a book and retained by the
resident. In an emergency, at the press of a specially marked switch
located in the bathroom and bedrooms, a nursing staff rushes to the room
concerned for any help required. There is also a system by which a nurse from
the clinic calls on the intercom every morning residents who are living alone
to check if he or she is ok. The maintenance charges levied by the management
also include daily cleaning of every apartment by maids and deep cleaning every two months.
In addition to all the above facilities which are included in the
maintenance charges levied by the management , there is also a system of
allowing authorised vendors who sell fruits, snacks, and other
items required by the residents in special stalls put up in the basement of one
of the blocks. Identified suppliers of milk, flowers, grocery ,
vegetables, newspapers and laundry service etc. are allowed access to the
apartments. Many residents cook their own meals in their apartments or order
from outside caterers. Swiggy & Zomato and other food service
providers are allowed only up to the gate near the security. Residents have to
pick up their orders from the security area.
Only vegetarian food is served. The menu, which caters to the taste of Tamil/Malayalam
Brahmins who constitute 90% of the residents. Every day the management
circulates the menu for the following day. If a regular diner doesn`t like the
menu he/she cooks at home or orders from outside.
The management
recently launched a special `Ananya App` of the group which helps residents get
a daily update on the various activities being held in the campus besides an
Alert icon which if pressed in an emergency brings the security/medical
staff to your room within minutes. You can also settle all your bills
through the App.
My cost for
renting a two bedroom apartment, leased for 11 months, comes to Rs.40,000 pm
which includes, rent , maintenance and food consisting of three meals, coffee
in the morning and afternoon. Electricity bill is extra at actual depending on
consumption.
On the whole Phase
4 is a well designed property with all the facilities required for senior
citizens to lead a safe life without responsibilities. There are enough activities
to keep the residents busy within the community.
Those interested in
knowing more about the group and the details about the other existing phases and new ventures can visit the website
`Ananaya`s Nana Nani Homes`.
