Hotel Leela Orchard Sonapani (Nainital, India)

About Leela Orchard Sonapani

Sonapani is a small private estate located in a village called Satoli. We are in the the district of Nainital, Uttarakhand Trekking through mountains, crossing streams and villages, enjoying a picnic, not having the mobile signal for hours – these are definitely the highlights of my trip to Uttarakhand Surrounded by snowcapped mountains and dense forests this place is a delight for nature lovers and adventurers Or you could just laze around doing nothing at all as distantly Almora city paints a gorgeous picture with its pink golden dawns and crimson sunsets. Visit this place not just for its fantastic views and fresh air but also to discover a unique clan. Each room at the cottage is different from one another as per linens and lay out. Every room has its own view. Nestled among fruit trees and vegetable gardens. You can freshly pluck seasonal fruits from the trees. Jams and chutneys are made from these organic fruits and served daily in the breakfast. A lot of the food is grown on our farm and is free of chemicals. We use processed food items sparingly in our kitchen. Almost all the food is prepared from scratch and is home cooked. If you like to booze then please carry your own and should be consumed in the confines of your rooms. To sum it up, we are a basic place but the "basics" are right. The cottages are made of sun-baked mud bricks hand made on location, the floor is of recycled slate, the bathrooms are clean, the linen fresh and the beds comfortable. We are assisted by a dedicated team of workers from nearby villages in our hospitality that is warm and straight from the heart. Experience a life without television and Wi-Fi as we have none. Commune with nature. Pluck fruit and wild berries (during season) or climb trees. Go for walks in the jungle and explore the numerous walking trails around Sonapani. Enjoy views of the snow clad Himalayan peaks, like Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nandakot, Maiktoli, Panchachuli and Chaukhamba. Picnic besides a stream that is a 30-minute walk from the resort. Sit around a bonfire in the evenings. Explore the traditional Kumouni villages around Sonapani. Buy locally made, fair-trade handicraft products (www.kilmora.in) Places one can drive to: Jageshwar, a cluster of 104 ancient stone carved temples 72KM/2.5 hours The Binsar wildlife sanctuary 65 KM/2.5 hours Muteshwar, driving through a beautiful reserve forest 15 KM/40 minutes We'd be happy to pack lunch for you and organise a local cab for these trips. Signature walks: Mukteshwar This is a day hike that takes you through a reserve forest area to the quaint British-era town of Mukteshwar. The walk is about eight kms long and takes three to five hours depending on fitness levels and the number of photographs you click en-route. We pack a picnic lunch for this walk. In Mukteshwar one can visit the PWD guesthouse that offers an expansive view of the Himalayas and the valleys below. It was a favourite spot of the legendary Jim Corbett. There is an old Shiva temple close by. "Chouli ki Jaali" is a rock face behind the Shiva temple where local youth who are trained as mountaineers offer rappelling, rock climbing and valley crossing for a fee. If there is time and stamina left then one can walk back to Sonapani using a different route that is all downhill, taking about three hours. Or you can hire a cab for about Rs 600-700 and drive to Sonapani in 40 minutes. The Mukteshwar trail is complicated and requires the services of a local guide. We help train young men as guides and apart from giving them a chance to interact and learn from city people it also helps them earn some pocket money. The guide fee is Rs 400/ per day. Trek to Kapileshwar The 10th century Kapileshwar Temple is a three to four hour downhill walk from Sonapani. The temple is a protected ASI monument and is made of stone with beautiful and intricate carvings. Right next to the temple is a small rivulet where one can indulge in some water splashing. The route to the temple is through a beautiful village called Mona that still retains its traditional look and feel. After a picnic lunch the return walk can be quite taxing as it is all uphill. A local cab can be hired from about half way on the route up. One can do without a guide if one is ready to be a little more adventurous as one finds villagers on the route once in a while. Trails around Sonapani There are a lot of beautiful walks around us suited to different age groups, fitness levels and temperaments. Depending on how you are feeling on a particular day, walks ranging from 45 minutes to three hours can be suggested. As we had said in the beginning: Here in Sonapani doing nothing also is a very viable option! Child Friendly There is enough in and around Sonapani to keep children engaged. The idea is to expose them to a life without television and modern gadgets. There are picnics in the jungle, a stream, fruit to pluck, trees to climb, birds and butterflies to identify.