Run for the Hills
With temperatures soaring and Covid numbers ever likely to rise, the need of this season is to find a private retreat in the hills. Our list of stays, you’ll find, is just what the weatherman and doctor ordered
UTTARAKHAND RAMGARH THE WHITE PEAKS
Sitting on the Gagar ridge of Ramgarh, a charming hill town some 52 km away from the Kathgodam railway station, the White Peaks is the labour of love of owners Abhijit and Aparupa Ganguly. The petite two-bedroom cottage comes with a living room, a kitchen, a dining area, and a caretaker who can also cook. A wooden staircase connects the cosy living space to the bedrooms upstairs. The pet-friendly cottage has a grand view of snow-capped peaks on the horizon, which together give the place its name. (Rs 20,000 for four guests, with all meals. thewhitepeaks.com )
DON’T MISS: An hour-long hike up to the Gagar temple will give you a panoramic view of the Kumaon Himalayas.
SOULITUDE IN THE HIMALAYAS
The stellar mountain views do inspire solitude, but one often recommends this luxury space for its plush comfort and the sheer indulgence it affords. Here’s a tip: Rent the property’s independent five-room cottage. At a distance from the main house, it comes with its own kitchen and dining space, large bedrooms, rooftops with skylights, a private study, a reading lounge, and a private garden. (Rs 46,000 plus taxes with breakfast for the three-bedroom wing. Additional charges for more rooms; soulitude.in)
DON’T MISS: The private outdoor barbecue and dining, organised exclusively for cottage guests.
NAKUCHIATAL LA BELLE VIEW
Only 30 km away from the Kathgodam railway station, this threebedroom ivy-covered elfin cottage is located by the still waters of the Naukuchiatal lake and it can, at times, come to seem more dreamy than earthly. Driftwood fashioned into bookshelves, chandeliers in the bathrooms, lofts for kids to sleep in and then there is that enchanting little outdoor garden complete with wroughtiron furniture. Fairy tale enough? (Rs 25,000, inclusive of breakfast and taxes; airbnb.com)
DON’T MISS: Zorbing on the Naukuchiatal lake! For the less adventurous, boating is an option.
HIMACHAL PRADESH SAINJ HAKUSHU
Equally suited to families, couples and solo travellers, this one-bedroom cabin is an ideal getaway. A 90-minute drive from the Kullu-Manali airport, the strikingly designed, minimalistic A-frame cabin comes with a modern kitchen, living space and a bedroom on the mezzanine floor. The views from its all-glass, 20-feet-high triangular front are altogether staggering. (Rs 7,000 with breakfast plus taxes; hushstays.com)
DON’T MISS: A picnic lunch organised by the stay on the banks of the nearby Giri river. RATNARI MEENABAGH
If ‘offbeat travel’ is what you are after, drive 85 km from Shimla and spend a relaxed weekend at this four-bedroom restored cottage. The brainchild of permaculturist and ex-journalist Sanjay Austa, Meenabagh is where sustainable living meets luxury. Start your day by working on the farm, befriend the property’s permanent residents—ducks, cats and the lovable dog Beswa—and tuck in some of that splendid apple cinnamon jelly. When the day is over, soak yourself in the hot tub, or enjoy a glass of wine in the dining area. (Rs 49,800 per night, inclusive of taxes; meenabaghhomes.com)
DON’T MISS: A session at their in-house observatory, which houses the country’s largest privately owned telescope. PALAMPUR THE LODGE AT WAH
Whether on the tea estate they run, or at the Lodge at Wah (the estate’s extension), sustainability is more than a buzzword for the Prakash family. Their ethic quickly becomes manifest when they take you on a walk or a tea-tasting tour. Away from the main building are two independent cottages with two units each, beautifully built in upcyled wood. When here, you can also paraglide in Bir, or try your hand at pottery in Andretta. Even Dharamshala is only an hour away. (Rs 26,000 plus taxes with breakfast and dinner for a two-room cottage; thelodgeatwah.com).
DON’T MISS: The Kangra thali, a speciality of the region, served here.