Shakti Kumaon Village Houses are located in three different villages around the town of Almora in Uttaranchal. Each of these are spaced out to allow a leisurely walk through pine forests and remote villages around rice terraces. Guests are accompanied with knowledgeable local guides who will fill you with interesting stories as well as historical and cultural information. The day’s journey always has its surprises; meeting interesting people, visiting a remote temple or views of Mt Nanda Devi.
Each day ends at a new Shakti Kumaon Village House, where your luggage will be carefully transported by the porters. You stay in a traditional house, carefully renovated for comfort but retaining its original architecture and décor; terracotta tiled roofs, comfortable Indian Charpoy beds draped in fine cotton sheets and sitting area with a fireplace. Each house has just two rooms with an adjoining bathroom fitted with modern amenities and a shower hut using a hot water bucket.
Gourmet meals at the Shakti Kumaon are home cooked using fresh local ingredients. Breakfasts and lunches are mix of Indian and western dishes, the later served as picnic. Dinner is primarily Kumaoni cuisine served with fine wine around a roaring fire. In the surrounds are local temples, some adorned with hundreds of brass bells and handicrafts emporiums selling colourful wool shawls. Further afield is Jim Corbett National Park which can be easily combined with the stay.
Amenities
GardenRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesSpa/SaunaStay Shakti Kumaon offers three village houses with two rooms in each. Each of these are quaint traditional homes with intricate woodwork with lofty mountain views. The slate-roofed cottages are stylishly furnished to offer good old-fashioned comforts. These are usually taken on a private basis to accommodate up to four people in two spotlessly clean rooms. Modern bathrooms are set in the adjoining building with a shower hut which uses a hot water bucket.
ChildCare Families with children of the age of 3 years and above are welcome to stay at the Shakti Kumaon Village Houses. The distance between the houses can be taken at a leisurely walk with young children and they will enjoy the new open surroundings.
Dine The day at any of the Shakti Kumaon Village Houses begins with the traditional bed tea followed by British-Indian style breakfast – fruit, muesli, 'masala' omelettes – while sitting out in the sun. Later, take a leisurely walk through villages and stop at a scenic waypoint for picnic lunch with occasional glimpses of Mt Nanda Devi. After the trek there is hot tea with snacks and in the evenings, you have a choice of fine wine and spirits followed by home cooked delicious Kumaoni meal.
Relax Facilities at the Shakti Kumaon Village Houses include a small living/dining room and partially covered outdoor sitting areas that are usually used for breakfast or dinner under the stars with a fire to keep you warm. Guides, porters and cooks are provided and accompany guests from village to village.
Experience The region of Kumaon lies in the northern hill state of Uttarakhand. The Shakti Kumaon houses are located in the foothills of the Himalayas with beautiful landscapes of pine forests and rice terraces. Remote and un-touristy, the region offers an authentic experience of life in the Indian Himalayan villages. Experience beautiful landscapes, flora and fauna, and spell-binding snow-capped mountain views. Add this with heart-warming hospitality and you have a perfect holiday experience.
Location The Shakti Village Houses are located around the town of Almora in the little known Kumaon region, which lies in the northern hill state of Uttarakhand. The area surrounding Deora, Alai and Jwalabanj is typical of Himalayan foothills, with pine forests and rice terraces.
Getting there To get here, you need to fly to Delhi, then travel to the hill station of Kathagodam by train (overnight). A 3-hour drive, followed by a 30-minute walk will see you at Shakti Kumaon Village Houses.
When to go Shakti Kumaon is open from 1st Oct – 20th April, the closing date can change from year to year depending on weather. Almora has a pleasant and cool climate all through the year with the annual average maximum temperature is around 23°C and average minimum temperature is about 11.5°C. Monsoons season from August to October. Best time to visit is between March to June and September to December.
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