Aah Himalaya

The house, is a cottage made entirely of stone and wood as most pahadi homes or English cottages are traditionally wont to. It is situated in a quaint and picturesque village called Bhalar, about two hours from the hustle and bustle of Nainital. Bhalar has a handful of village houses and is fringed from all sides by thickly wooded deodars and oak. The area still boasts of a surprisingly fair amount of wildlife and the surroundings are still remarkably pristine. The landscape allows for long walks in the crisp and bracing mountain air, strenuous treks or just a delightful picnic, depending on the inclination and of course the weather. The house by itself is very comfortably furnished and has all the amenities that a city dweller might seek including a TATA Sky Network connection and internet facilities.

In terms of access, Bhalar has the advantage of being located one and a half to two hours from every hillstation of the Kumaon, including, Nainital, Raniket, Almora and Mukteshwar (which is only 45 minutes away). The Jageshwar temple, which has some of the oldest swayambhu lingams in India and the wildlife sanctuary at Binsar are both three hours away. The famous Corbett National Park is enroute to Delhi and about three hours from Bhalar. The National park is open from October till April. If you are lucky you could be one of the few to have the experience of seeing the great Indian tiger in the wild.

In terms of in-house entertainment, we have a lovely library with a wide range of books; plenty of movies; board games and playing cards, an attic room with toys meant for very young children; a small children's library, two telescopes and a binoculars, walking sticks, umbrellas and torches. We have books relating to astronomy and bird-watching so that you and your family can spend happy hours identifying birds on your walks or studying the sky under a blanket of stars on a clear night. We offer a barbecue during your stay and of course the customary bonfire if it is cold enough. We also have a guitar for people who can strum and sing. It is quite delightful to sit around the fire with a song on your lips. In the quiet of the night, the leopards come out to prowl as do many other small wild animals. Depending on your interest and inclination, we would be happy to organize a night safari(at a nominal extra cost) so that you could have an opportunity to spot this shy and elusive jungle cat in the wild. The wildlife that one is most like to see here comprises of leopards, civet cats, very rarely bears or wild boars, barking deer, rabbits, plenty of himalayan birds and butterflies.

The main feature of the house that sets it apart from others, is the fact that it is a home. We offer homestyle food, according to your taste and palate. Apart from the regular north Indian fare that you can expect to eat in this part of the world, we also offer you a wide variety of South Indian., Bengali and Continental cuisine as well. You are welcome to try your culinary skills if you wish. The kitchen is completely equipped with all the technology one is accustomed to these days in the cities yet quaint and village like.

Bhalar enjoys a variety of seasons and in our experience, each of them is special in their own way. For example, during the monsoons, which are predominantly in July and August, although the peaks almost surely are not visible, the valley below the house resembles an ocean of clouds in the mornings, which lift as the day progresses and begin to drift into the open windows of the house. It is simply magical to walk amongst the clouds. September to March are the best months to view the stately snow capped peaks, which will be visible from every room in the house. Winter is very very cold but it is completely another experience to drink a mug of hot soup beside the fire while watching the soft flakes of snow fall outside the window. The house is one of the best located residences in the Kumaon. One can see an uninterrupted 180 degree, 300 km long range of snow capped peaks, that include Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nanda Kot, Nanda Ghunti, Panchachuli, Mrigthuni etc. It is almost meditative to sit on the deck and watch this panorama in silence with a mug of hot South Indian Filter coffee. March to June is the time to celebrate Spring in Bhalar. Nature celebrates these balmy months in a most spectacular fashion. This area is known as the fruit bowl of the Kumaon. All the trees are laden with the choicest of apples, plums, apricots and peaches. wild strawberries grow unbidden and the smell of rosemary and sage and wild thyme infuse the night air. Butterflies and birds abound and the weather is perfect at a daytime temperature of 20-22 degrees.

In order to help us share this experience with others and maintain the place , we request you to treat this place as you would your home. Water is a precious commodity in the hills. Therefore as citizens of the Earth, it is our duty to conserve it. There is the luxury of a shower is every bathroom but using the bucket is advised.

Bhalar therefore beckons you for no camera lens can capture what the eye can see!