This hut is at the beginning of the Himalayan forest and away from even the village. Built by local artisans to suit the high altitude weather. It is part of space that also has Yoga center and is in midst of nature with sounds of birds, trees and nature giving you company.
Raithal is a small, fairy-like village located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The cottage is located at 2250msl and has absolutely stunning views of the Himalayas range. The food eaten here is locally grown. Raithal is known for Dayara Bugyal, located at 3408m. It is an 8.5 km scenic trek all the way to the top and is recommended for beginners. During winters, skiers also frequent Raithal.
The cottage is in midst of greenery and guests would need to climb up a hill to reach.
The place is in midst of nature and hence provides boundary-less environment for guests. The space has restriction on non-vegetarian food and liquor and hence is not allowed. Guests are welcome to check-in early and stay late if the hut is available. Any arrangement for stay of accompanying driver can be made at an additional cost.
The space includes few fields that may have crops being grown as per seasonal plan. The deep forest is not too far for people to venture and be with the nature. If you wish to trek to Dayara Bugyal, please do carry few paper copies of your ID, as those will be needed to submit to the authorities.
We do love trekking ourselves and hence do have a tent and sleeping bags for people to rent while staying here.
There is a functional wifi at the hut, however the speed varies. Jio and Vodafone mobile networks are functional in the region.
Guests are welcome to join in the Yoga Classes when they are in progress in the retreat.
Food facilities are made available on request, the kitchen can be used for preparation of food at an extra cost or meals can be served too.
aving introduced Raithal village and community, one should not miss out on Pannchpura Bhavan, the oldest house in Raithal and is about 500 years old.
It has survived 3 major earthquakes and is the ancestral home of the Rana
family. It is made entirely from Deodar wood, in the traditional style and has
now been converted into a storehouse for organic, locally-grown grain.
The mystical hot water spring is an hour's drive at Gangnaani and Gangotri is around 4 hour's away.
Harsil, or Harshal, is a village also known as “the mini Switzerland of India" is around 50 kms away. It is located on the banks on the turbulent river Bhagirathi at the height of 2745m. Many pilgrims rest here on their way to Gangotri. The famous temple of Gangotri is a little over 75km away.
There are multiple other absolutely magical villages scattered around nearby.
A walk to villages like Natin, Dwari and Gorsali is along a scenic flat route
which does not require high fitness or stamina.
A trek to the village Barso on the other side of the mountain is extremely
enjoyable, if the waterfall between Raithal and Barso isn’t swollen.
Other than these, there are a couple of villages- Chadheti and Bandrani- down
the mountaintop. While there is a motorable road that connects Raithal to Bhatwari (the town at the base of the mountain), you can trek down the mountain slope through these villages.
If you wish for a lazy day to enjoy the wonders of nature, even just a walk
down the winding streets of Raithal will fill your heart with awe and wonder,
for you will discover quiet little streams, and tiny little flowers poking out of
the dirt, and the air pregnant with the smells and sounds of nature, and
quaint little huts dotting the valley and little green step farms, and rolling hills.
You will see the majestic Himalayas in the distance and the pure white snow
and the striking cone-shaped trees and the mist and the clouds and you will
sit down for a steaming cup of tea or coffee or hot chocolate and just stare at
the beauty of life.
If you require a guide to help you find your way around, especially if you are visiting for the first time, the local villagers are quite willing to help you. They will show you the trail to the Bugyal and if you wish, will climb it with you. There are options for you to ride a mule up the trail too. There is a special festival called the Butter Festival celebrated in Raithal annually, up at the Dayara Bugyal, in August. It is a fair of sorts, in which the people of the village offer the fresh produce of their cows- butter and milk- to nature, the cause of our very existence.
