Istana, a real estate company in India’s premium second-home space, has unveiled its debut project — Istana Santai, an exclusive villa community set in the serene surroundings of Nashik. Developed under Waterstone LLP, Istana makes its foray with a philosophy of creating homes that embody quiet luxury — residences designed with care, curated for rare experiences, and shaped by personal sensibility.

Spread across 16 acres, Istana Santai offers a private collection of Balinese-style villas, from intimate 2-bedroom retreats to expansive 6-bedroom signature residences. Each villa comes fully furnished, complete with private pools, handpicked Balinese artifacts, panoramic dam views, and lush tropical landscaping — all seamlessly blending elegance with tranquility.

The estate is further elevated by a selection of modern lifestyle spaces: a serene wine deck, a multi-cuisine restaurant, wellness zones, curated nature trails, and more – all crafted to create not just a home, but a way of life. The fully managed and lease-back model ensures that homeowners enjoy both personal convenience and long-term value with effortless ownership.

Located just over three hours from Mumbai and Pune, Nashik has quietly emerged as one of Maharashtra’s most compelling lifestyle destinations. Its evolving connectivity, natural topography, and cultural richness provide the ideal canvas for Istana’s first expression that complements the ethos of conscious luxury and modern stillness. Secluded yet accessible, Istana Santai offers a rarefied retreat for connoisseurs who value time, privacy, and provenance.

Speaking on the launch, Karan Daryani, Partner at Istana, said: “Istana Santai was imagined as more than a real estate offering; it’s a curated space, layered with calm, depth, and emotion. In a world where time and space have become the ultimate luxuries, Istana Santai offers the freedom to disconnect without compromise. Nashik felt instinctively right for this. It’s quiet, scenic, and future-ready infrastructure makes it an exquisite destination for crafting modern-day sanctuaries for the connoisseurs.

With Santai, meaning ‘relaxed’ in Balinese, Istana offers its first chapter: a palace that feels like a natural extension of success.