Nestled in the farms of Letibunga - a Kumaoni village at ~7500 ft filled with fruit orchids facing the snowcapped Himalayan peaks - Trishul, Nanda Devi, and Panchachuli.
At a ~600 m walk from the road, the cottage truly sits in the lap of nature with private tree covered surrounding areas, stone walkways and seating corners, offering what mountains call for.
The property is spread out in ~.5 acres with over 250 young native trees. The cottage sits right in the middle of the property while walking from one end to the other.
There are farms, trees, and village trails in the immediate neighborhood. The cottage area is secluded from the nearest houses at ~100 m walk. Most of the houses in the near vicinity are of native folks who are very warm and welcoming.
The cottage faces east with a wide open view of the upper Himalayan range on the north side. On a clear morning, the rising sun and the white peaks can be captured in one frame from the first floor balcony. Climbing up to the gazebo at the top only makes it more mesmerizing. You can lift some weights or do yoga. Or, you can just stay cozy in your bed looking through the glass window at the sun rising up the mountain horizon.
Guest access: The first floor of the cottage is completely reserved for our guests. There are two rooms - One is the Master bedroom with an attic, kitchenette, closet area, and attached bathroom. It can sleep four people including two in the attic. The other room, living + attic, is connected to the master bedroom. It has a seating area, book shelf, and a TV. The attic in the living room has a double bed and a small music studio setup. Both rooms comfortably accommodate 6 people with three double beds. There is one restroom outside at the first floor level. Guests have access to another washroom at the ground floor next to the kitchen area.
Distance: The property is at ~7 hours drive from Delhi/Noida, and 9 hours from Lucknow. 2-2.5 hours uphill drive from Kathgodam railway station. Roads are wide, and remain clear during all seasons. During tourist seasons, sometimes traffic runs slow until Bhimtal. We can arrange for a local taxi if booked a day in advance. Fare to be paid directly to the driver.
Parking: The parking spot is adjacent to the main road. A ~600m (12-15 min) village trail walk takes you to the property. First 100 m are the steepest: We can drop the needful guests in our car until that spot. From there it is ~200 m flat >> 50 m uphill, not very steep >> ~250m flat and down hill. Our team member/s will provide help with heavy luggage/s. We request our guests to extend their helping hands in carrying light items and luggages such as laptop bags, hand bags, bag-packs etc.
Food:
- We offer a food package at an additional cost that guests can opt for once the booking is confirmed. It includes breakfast, lunch, high tea, dinner and incorporates a symphony of unique flavours and local delicacies.
- We request guests to confirm their food preferences from the shared food menu at least 2 days in advance for a delightfully smooth service.
- A la carte is available only for snacks during limited time duration.
Things to do:
- Take an evening walk to the scenic and quiet Letibunga Primary school
- Visit the Local village temple nestled in Banj Oak forest
- Watch Himalayan birds closely while working or chilling in the balcony with the open view in the backdrop.
- Give a helping hand to the locals in the farm fields and taste the hard work.
- Take a guided trek through the scenic Letibunga Village to the waterfall down the hill and climb back through the forest. (Guide charges: 500 INR)
- Go for a picnic to one of the best view points of Letibunga. We will set up the tent for you, and get food items delivered to the picnic site. If the day is right, stay till dusk to see the moon rising while the clouds are painted in dramatic colors on the other side over the Mukteshwar hills. (Charges: 1,000 INR exc food)
- Spend the evening in the gazebo area over your favorite beverage. Have some fun time with friends and family playing Board and card games.
- Have a jamming session or record your own music. We have got an acoustic guitar, ukulele, scarlet audio interface, and a mic.
- Gather around the fire pit when it gets chilly and enjoy your favorite drinks together with hot snacks. Bonfire charges are separate and depend on the selected bonfire location (yes, we have 3 bonfire pits).
- Enjoy scrumptious barbecue snacks (Barbecue setup charges: 250 INR. Food charges extra and can be selected from the barbecue menu)
- Find the constellations and see the milky way while the crickets are chirping to break the silence of the night.
Nearby tourist spots:
- Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple and Chauli ki Jaali @ 8.7 km
- Bhalugaad waterfall @15km
- Bhimtal Lake @39 km
- Nainital Lake @50km
- Kainchi Dham/ Neem Karoli Baba Ashram @47km
