Writers Retreat in the Himalayas, Mukteshwar

The air is purer than crowded hill stations . it's just pure without any element of pollution. The Writers Retreat in the Himalayas promises all that is simple and cosy for a rejuvenating experience. Located off a beautiful hill road and adjoining a jungle stretch which is frequently used by wildlife to cross-over, the Retreat unfolds an interesting living with nature. Unwind yourself at this charming retreat with great views of the Himalayan peaks, lush green surroundings and walk around the area. If you are lucky, you may sight wildlife on the adjoining jungle patch that works as the corridor for wildlife to move across. Please remember, the clock of this area is different from the clock of metro cities. So enjoy your time, relax and recharge yourself. Guests can access the green patches, eat the plums, pears and apple during the fruit season...can create bonfire on side yards and the open sitting areas, living as well as the dining/ kitchen. There are two bedrooms with attach bath. For large families, there is option to use the divan as a double bed in living room and the beautiful Attic as extra bedroom. Senior citizen can access the house easily as the entry is road level and parking facility is at the entry. Our caretaker Lalit lives in the adjoining place and is always there to help our guests. Guests privacy is assured. We can offer and recommend local trips with tips on jungle treks, climbing hills, eating places, bathing in the river or spring nearby. We frequently stay there but whenever we are not there, we are available on phone round the clock. A short trek will take you to the nearby temple top. A longer 2-3 hour trek will take you into the jungles below ( with the help of a guide). For seniors, a short walk to the nearby Sitla mode or Dobatta is recommended. Drive to the famous Shiva temple (mukteshwar) takes 15 minutes through the fascinating jungle road. You can also visit a local villager's house and a natural spring down below. Kathgodam is the nearest railhead which connects to New Delhi, Dehradun, Lucknow, Calcutta and many other cities. By train, Delhi to Kathgodam takes about 6 hours. There is Shatabdi Express in the morning which reaches Kathgodam by noon. The Ranikhet Express is a night train which starts 10 pm from Delhi and reaches Kathgodam by 5 am. There is a third train from Delhi at 3.30 pm which reaches Kathgodam by 10.45 pm. Therefore, Shatabdi and Ranikhet Express trains are preferred trains. From Kathgodam, you can take a small cab ( or take the public bus) for the 70 km journey uphill. Cabs ( one way) can be booked in advance for Rs fourteen hundred or less. Cab ride to the retreat takes about 2.5 hours. Buses originate at Haldwani bus stand, about 5 km from Kathgodam station. You get the bus on the main road in front of Kathgodam station. Buses start at 6.30-7 am and 10.30 am. It usually takes 4 hours and drops you right in front of the Writers Retreat. Return buses to Kathgodam are available at 7.30 am and 2 pm from the house itself. Check exact time from caretaker Lalit. Nowadays, many travellers drive from Delhi to our place. If self-driving, Its best to start early morning when Delhi-Ghaziabad roads are free. If one starts at 5 in the morning, by 1.30 pm he/ she should be at the retreat. The route is via Hapur- Moradabad-Rampur-Rudrapur-Haldwani-Kathgoadam-Bhimtal-Bhowali-Ramgarh Malla-Ramgarh Talla-Nathuakhan- Sitla mode-Writers Retreat. Take the expressway by-passing Hapur and Moradabad. Drive to Rampur in 4 hours. The road stretch between Rudrapur and Rampur is not good . Rest of the road is fine. If one wants to avoid the bad stretch, there is a route via Swar, Bajpur, Kaladhungi. Before you enter Rampur city, there is another road which takes you to Swar town, Bajpur and then to Kaladhungi. From this point you have come to the Retreat via two roads-- one via Nainital and the other via Haldwani. Ample parking is available at the retreat. Local trips More adventurous can walk or trek the hills around/ go down to the jungles or trek to Shiva temple. The nearby places to visit for day trip - Almora (1 hour)- Almora is a 400 year old town and the old capital of this region. Its also the most populated. The old market streets with paved stone and flanked by old wooden houses makes for interesting walk. On the outskirts, there is a Leopard care enclosure. Almora also has Udayshankar institute of Dance and Ramakrishna ashram and the Chitai temple housing the local GOLU god. The city with its lights is a treat to watch in the evening from the Writers Retreat, Binsar ( 2 hours): Binsar has a lovely wildlife sanctuary and good forests, maintained by the Forest department. It takes 1-1/2 hour from Almora to reach Binsar. The road is not so good. But once inside the forest, it really becomes bad. So you have to take care of your car tyres!!! On the way to Binsar, there are options to have your meals at a nice restaurant. Ranikhet (2 hours): Ranikhet is a Cantonment town. Clean and there is a sense of order in the area. But now getting crowded. Ranikhet's attractions include its golf course and its botanical gardens at Chaubatia. From Writers Retreat it can be comfortable day trip to Ranikhet. If taxis are to be booked for such local trips , its better to book one day advance, especially in season. All travellers experience the refreshingly pure and tranquil atmosphere and green surroundings that soothes the body and mind. The longer you stay, the more you would like to stay back at this place.