“Quiet getaway by the mountains”

Lovely place to spend a few days, or more in silence, tranquility and amidst the mountains. Its like having built an amazing house of your own amidst the hills and getting to stay there with all amenities and services intact. Actually the place was built by that idea initially by its owners, am told, who later thought of converting it into a getaway, (hotel- wouldn’t be the right word for it). The rooms are all individually done and have quite an English feel to them in terms of interiors and decor. Even the non- suite rooms are large enough to be called “suites” at other hotels. You will need to pick your room very carefully as each room has a different interior, view, location in the property, size etc. Their website has been amazingly done up with so much thought put into each page and tab that you are never misguided about what you’re booking. Every little detail is disclosed. When you reach the place you will find things just the way you had seen them online, may be better, but no shocks… only surprises. There are electric blankets and electric heaters provided. Fireplace is there in each room but will be lighted only upon request, which I guess is due to the smoke that may get annoying. Hot water is available all day long, power backup is good, things you long for in place where temperatures are on the cooler side most of the times. You will find little notes on the notepads, tea- coffee maker, washroom goodies basket- that you will find interesting to read- they mention a word or two about the local dialect and customs- very thoughtful. Free wi-fi is available. They arrange treks to near by temple for those interested. Nice homely food is served in a small dining room which looks like your own with the waiter serving hot phulkas right from the stove to your plate. Food is decent with fixed menus and buffet system for each day. You have a small ala carte for non meal timings to handle your hunger pangs between lunch and dinner, For this who live to eat it may be a little disappointing as the buffet spread is not as elaborate as you would normally find in a 4-5 star. For the liquor buffs the place doesn’t serve alcohol but if you carry your own they’ll help you enjoy your drink to the fullest with all ancillaries needed- provided. But minus that no complaints as to my mind anybody picking up this place would have food as the last thing in his/er mind. On days of clear weather you get a lovely view of the Himalayas, even without them you can see the Kumaon hills all around as far as the eye can go. If you book the Secret Garden- you can see the Himalayas lying on your bed, don’t even have to walk will the window. The rooms that have windows have huge wall size windows which I think I can safely call the USP of the room.Service is great. Parking can be a little tricky for those who are driving in the hills for the first time as the entrance to the property has a very, very steep decline, almost like you;re doing free falling. But with little grit you can manage that. Worst case you can park on the roadside. For that book you wanted to read or write all this while but never found the time or the mood to, this is the place to come to. Even without it definitely a place worth visiting again.. and again…

Stayed January 2016, travelled as a couple