The Retreat, Bhimtal

British-era bungalow nestled in a private forest estate in the Lake District of Kumaon, great for walkers, birdwatchers, nature lovers, readers, writers, artists. All rooms have views of only trees, garden and hills - no other house. Pets allowed. Picturesque, beautifully preserved colonial-time bungalow, perched atop a wooded hill, in the heart a private forest estate in the Nainital's Lake District, in the rolling foothills of the Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand. Enjoy the warm, personalised hospitality of the family, and their delicious home cooking, Indian, Continental, and Colonial. Breakfast in the verandah overlooking garden and trees, with a rich spread of home-made preserves, eggs to order, toast or home-baked bread, cereal, fresh fruit, and more. Vegans and vegetarians get delicious alternatives. Special diets (ethical, religious, health) catered to. Great place for walkers, bird watchers (about 150 species of birds spotted here), writers, artists, overseas travellers looking for a restful break in a warm and friendly home before tackling more of exciting but exhausting India! We have five extremely friendly and gentle dogs. Free wifi; living and dining room; verandah, garden, and grounds; kitchen if needed; automatic washing machine, dryer and ironing facilities; walks and guided hikes through the forests of the estate; bbq and picnics, guided village walks; Our family is experienced and skilled in caring for guests, as we have been hosting international guests since 1953. We interact on a constant and personal level, as guests are treated like personal guests of the family. At the same time, guests get plenty of personal space and privacy. We cook for our guests and see to their welfare ourselves. They are free to have less interaction if they prefer. We are a family with young children as well as grown-up ones, so prefer family-type guests or couples or singles who will also treat The Retreat with the consideration due to a family welcoming guests into its fold. The best thing about our neighbourhood is that it consists of trees, birds, and animals! The Retreat is nestled in a private forest estate, where the sound you hear is that of cicadas, crickets, and lots and lots of birds. Deer (muntjac and sambhar) wander into the grounds, monkeys and langurs swing from the branches, birds nest under the eaves (whistling thrush, verditer flycatcher) and tree hollows (black-lored tit in the mulberry behind the house), and the leopard is occasionally heard 'sawing' (as its call is termed) somewhere in the forest. Trains and buses (including Volvos) to Kathgodam (21 km away); then bus or taxi to Bhimtal. Plenty of buses, 'share taxis' and 'share jeeps' to get around in the hills. Sat Tal, Panna Tal, Naukuchiatal, Nainital, Mukteshwar, Peora, Nathuakhan, Ranikhet, Almora, and even Corbett Park, are within reach for a day trip. (Though Corbett is best visited over a period of two or three days -- more chance of sighting wildlife.) Private taxis are easily available for any trips. 1. Water is scarce in the hills, so guests are requested to use water with care and thoughtfulness. 2. The hills are vulnerable to forest fires, so please DO NOT light fires, smoke, or throw matches/cigarette butts in the forest. 3. You may smoke in the outdoor spaces of the property. Please ask for and use an ashtray. 4. Guests are welcome to bring and imbibe alcoholic refreshments; but please do not disturb other guests or the hosts. 5. Please carry away all your litter back to the house for disposal: do not throw anything outside, in the forest, or elsewhere. Thank you. 6. You can go swimming in the lake (at your own risk), boating, fishing (license available cheaply), kayaking, paragliding (in tandem with a pilot), hiking (guides available). 7. We have six dogs of our own. They are very gentle and friendly with humans, but do not tolerate other animals, so we have had to stop accepting guests accompanied by pets.