Itmenaan Estate

What People are saying

ITMENAAN ESTATE – Kumaon Himalayas – DISCOVER TIME!

Renu8on 29/07/2017 13:00

One and a half hours drive from Almora, and two hours fifteen minutes from Ramgarh, along a well maintained tarred road, winding, twisting and turning, from a high to a higher altitude, then dropping to a lower one, but with no change in the vegetation, or much in the temperature. The panoramic view is mostly of brown terraced fields, which from a distance look like rashers of bacon packed together. As also the ubiquitous green vegetation of the hills.

You head towards Chalnichina village. The taxi driver, suddenly parks to the side of the main road and announces that we have arrived. Puzzled we look around, as we see no signs of habitation or any structure that may proclaim itself to be the resort that we are to stay in. As we were about to question him, a man appeared from over the hill. He greeted us and said that he had come from Itmenaan Estate and was to guide us to the resort carrying our bags. Our minds full of unanswered questions, we proceeded to follow him silently, walking sticks in hand, wondering what lay ahead. We were unable to keep up with his relatively brisk pace and sure footed feet. Thirty minutes down a steep hill side path, strewn with stones, boulders and dried slippery pine needles, huffing and puffing, stopping ever so often to admire the view or to pick up stray fallen cones, as reminders of our memorable holiday in the hills. Anything that would slow our descent and give us additional recovery time.

We reach Itmenaan Estate and are shown to our accommodation. A one storey independent structure built in the traditional Kumouni style of putting stones together without any cementing bond. The slanting roof made of planks of wood, held up by wooden beams and rafters. The skylight in the dressing area as also in the bathroom, gives a bright, open and airy look and feel. The running windows along two sides of the walls give an uninterrupted view of the terraced fields, and rows of mountain ranges. It seemed as if each range was casting its shadow on the one behind, until they disappeared into a haze over the far horizon.

As lunch was ready, we sat down to a delicious Kumaoni lunch in the spacious dining room. This too was made of local stones with a wooden sloping roof broken by two skylights. The easy feel, warmth and comfort comes from mattresses and cushions strewn along the room, from where you can look out into nature, watch the sun set, or gaze at the trillion stars on a clear night. The window ledge, holding an assortment of books, on varied topics.

An afternoon snooze was called for. It was interrupted. We woke up to rolling sounds of thunder, branched lightning and to a continuously blowing brisk wind, which tore through everything along its way, while carrying the threatening to rain ominous dark clouds away. We did so want it to rain! But alas! This ‘natural’ drama lasted for two hours, after which it became still and calm. The various notes of the birds could now be heard. A faint white outline of the mesmeric and majestic Himalayan range was more visible now. There is no escaping these lofty ranges where ever you may go in Uttarakhand. It is as if the state is surrounded by them.

Hospitality extends to the level where the cook will obligingly serve selected dishes of your choice. Nothing could be better than starting the day with a cuppa outside, in silent meditation and thankfulness as you ruminate over this land that is blessed with Nature’s gifts and bounties. A 3 course breakfast consisting of Indian and Continental ordered on the spot, follows.

After we partake of this, the furthest thing from our minds is physical activity of any kind. No sweat. You sit back languidly in your cane chair in deep contemplation. As here, you can find a way to centre yourself and reconnect.

When you are ready to do so, take up the offer of being escorted by a guide to many trekking areas. It could be a waterfall, a long way down into the valley, or to a temple up the steep side of a hill, or even to a village. But, wherever it is you choose to go, be prepared for a strenuous walk, stumbling over rocks and stones, circumventing around boulders, slipping along the mud track, over dried and crunchy oak leaves and pine needles. Every muscle, every sinew crying out to ‘stop’! You really have to be in good physical shape if you want to enjoy the benefits of this lodge!

You can ask for evening tea to be served on a slate table, while you sit on a comfortable cushioned bench, set up in a scenic part of the resort, where fragrant red and pink rose blooms growing with gay abandon. Sending their perfumed wisps into the air every time a gentle breeze sets them swaying. Nestled amidst a neon of green, trees laden with waiting to ripen walnut, pears and apples. Oak, pine and rhododendron trees. The disorder giving it the appeal of being in the wilderness.

And the piece de resistance! Dinner under the stars with a crackling bonfire. As you warm yourself, you gaze at the constellations, and the sky full of a zillion brilliant stars shimmering in the darkness of a cold night and the slim crescent moon shining a silvery white in the inky sky above. The quietude of the night being broken every time a crackling log sent out showers of dancing embers, or as another dislodged itself to give way to a burning log. Or, of the faint barking of a pie dog, from the hamlet across the lodge.

The sylvan serenity and montane ambience of Itmenaan Lodges awaits your holiday season!

Great views but needs better housekeeping

ArtistDhirajon 06/07/2017 05:33

It's a great place to unwind, esp after a nearly 10-hour drive from Delhi, amid the beautiful views and sounds of birds. The food is awesome!! We particularly enjoyed the hummus & pita, chickpea & pomegranate salad, herb & tomato pasta and the banoffee pie. Getting a morning cup of filter coffee added to the food experience. There were however 2 downsides to our experience there: one was the long walk to the property from the main road. This is not adequately highlighted on the website because it can be a problem for the elderly and people with special needs. The second part was the room which was not very well-ventilated. The windows can be bigger (for the view as well) and be provided with wire meshes. The bathroom was great by the actual room could do with some more careful housekeeping (of cobwebs).

Beautiful, Mesmerizing Place.

PV0hraon 28/06/2017 14:09

Was Skeptical while booking, as lots of options were shown on travel sites in Binsar. After driving for close to 10 hrs from Delhi reached the place. While moving in had no regrets for anything, even for the tiring long drive.
The place is quite, away of huzzle buzzle of any city or tourist place. You can sit outside your room and have a nice view of green hills and on clear days you can have a view of Himalayas.

Pros: Nice well maintained rooms. Oak rooms are bigger in size.
Washroom is too good, they have made it with stones.
Met a couple staying in the cottage with no complains.
Delicious food, no excess oil. Similar to home cooked food. Adrak waali Chai was wonderful. For Breakfast they ask for your choice and cook accordingly.

Cons: Spiders (Big Flat ones come inside the room), though they are harmless but are scary.
Not for those who are looking for tourist place with market around and shopping etc.
Half kilometer walk from the road to this place. Old people should avoid this place, as the walk is sometimes too much for younger people also.

Itmenaan 😍

Vivek Von 26/06/2017 07:35

Had a great stay.
Good food, good people.
Good short hikes .
Lot of birds.
A beautiful stream.
Great view from room.
Best time to visit would be October / November as the nanda Devi region will be clearly visible.
However we were lucky enough to get a good view in one of the days .

An experience that I'll carry with me forever

questseekeron 25/06/2017 17:59

As the title reads, I truly will carry the memories of Itmenenaan estates and three houses we visited for the rest of our lives. I was initially recommended the Itmenaan estate by my travel guide but as I read more, I realised that they also organized treks along the villages. It was like a dream come true as I'd never experienced life in villages, let alone in the Himalayas.

We were picked up by a driver and Amit met us midway. Amit manages the properties and I have to say that he was truly amazing. It's rare to see such service and dedication even at some of the world's top resorts and yet, you'll find this with Amit and his team. Being Malaysian and not being able to speak Hindi, he assured us that he'd be with us on the trip and he did. Over the three days, Amit looked after us as he would his own sisters and we're truly grateful for this.

We drove up to our first village home ie Thikalna village home (no hot water or electricity but that's what makes the whole experience more authentic). Despite being summer, the weather was chilly and we even had hot water bags and the stove on. In the morning, we were provided with hot water for our baths. This village house gave us some amazing glimpses of Nanda Devi herself and we were truly blessed by this!:) I wish we'd stayed an extra night here but the next day, we trekked down to Jageshwar temple which was another amazing experience - trekking through the pine forests. I never imagined such beauty to exist, to be honest.

While we didn't stay at the second village home, we did a short stopover for lunch and I have to say that this is another beautiful property. This one has electricity. We decided to stay two nights at the Itmenaan estate - we didn't do the full trek as we were told that it wasn't an easy uphill trek. We were glad that we opted to stay two nights at the Itmenaan estate though as it's another amazing experience. The trek up and down to the Estate can be a little slippery and can be arduous for some but it is truly worth it. All in all, our stays were some of the most memorable and I truly hope that I'll get to visit again soon. Everything is truly remarkable!