- The Best Places to Visit Near Nainital
- A Weekend Getaway to Ramgarh: Travel Guide
- Explore The Magical Cochin Backwaters
- The Majestic Coonoor to Ooty Toy Train
- The Best Vacation Spots Near Chennai
- Must Visit Places in Kerala
- Destination Wedding in Rajasthan
- Exploring the Orchards in Ramgarh
- Explore the Museums of Tranquebar
- Masilamani Nathar Temple, Tharangambadi
- Things to Do in Kesroli
- Best Places to Visit in South India in January
- Exploring the Tamil Nadu Coastline
- Places to Visit in Gwalior at Night
- Places to visit in Rajasthan in Winter
- Unexplored Treasures of Uttarakhand
- A Visit to Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
- Royal Rajasthani Weddings
- Rajasthan Itinerary for 7 days
- Into the Wilderness of Rajasthan’s National Parks
- Explore the Historic Town of Neemrana, Rajasthan
- Enchanting Lakes of Nainital
- A Dive Into the Royal History of Alwar
- Trails and Treks near Nainital
- The Seven Most Frequented Places in Rishikesh
- Kochi: The Queen of the Arabian Sea
- Fairy Queen: The Oldest Working Steam Locomotive
- Forts and Palaces of Alwar
- The Unparalleled Art and Culture of Madhya Pradesh
- A Spiritual Journey to the Temples in Alwar
- Handicrafts of Rajasthan
- Places to Eat Street Food in Gwalior
- Wellness Retreats in Rishikesh
- The Danish History of Tranquebar
- Of Mystical Spaces and Hidden Treasures
- Rehabilitating Our Roots in Ruins... A Meet with Mr Aman Nath
- Our Annual Getaway to the Ramgarh Bungalows
- Experience Gwalior The Royal Way With Deo Bagh
- Living it up at a 14th Century Fort
- The Best of Both Worlds - Delhi and Jaipur
- Alwar City - Attractions
- Gwalior - The Tourist Capital
- Best Beaches To Visit in Cochin
- Drivable Weekend Getaway from Delhi-NCR
- Hiking and Trekking Trails near Jaipur
- Safe Weekend Getaway from Delhi
- Trek Trails from Rishikesh
- Things to do Around Tranquebar Fort
- Majestic Temples of Gwalior
- Tea Plantations of Coonoor
- Fort Stay in Alwar
- Best Places to Visit in Tamil Nadu
- Shopping in Gwalior
- The Chinese Fishing Nets of Kochi
- Exotic Swimming Experiences near Delhi
- Ketty Valley, The Second Largest Gorge in the World
Saturday, 28 July 2012
We hopped onto the buses and other vehicles amidst all the excitement for the much awaited annual trip to The Ramgarh Bungalows, perched on the Kumaon hills. An 8 hour drive from the capital, we were looking forward to a fun-filled road trip to the unexplored hills. Muffins and melody, songs and spirit, all of it made the drive an experience! Traffic jams and long halts did not dampen the mood of these excited minds. The monsoon created its own magic, making even the ordinary, come out alive! The first view of the hills is always an exciting moment and the showers from heaven above lent a vibrant blue hue, so surreal that only our minds could capture! On reaching the hills, we found ourselves to be engulfed within whispering clouds, taking us far from realism.
Stepping out of our cars, the old-world charm welcomed us with its own sense of tranquility. Indulging in warm cookies, flavoured tea and tasty pakoras at the open terrace, overlooking the lush green valley, was exactly what we needed after a long drive. With plentiful flora around us, the colourful and exotic flowers were a real treat to the eyes! Falling straight from the trees, the peaches, plums and pears tasted a lot sweeter than the urban lot. These 19th century bungalows, 6500 feet above sea level distances one from stressful routines. Carefully revitalized by the Neemrana brand in India, the cottages seemed in perfect harmony with nature as if they always belonged there!
Six different cottages set out at varied levels on the same route uphill, gave us a chance to walk the distance, amidst a magnificent backdrop of the hills. Each of these cottages has a character of its own. The main building ‘The Old Bungalow’ houses a few rooms and the main dining area, where the entire group would gather for interactive sessions. Spread over a large area, this structure has within its boundaries two more compounds called ‘The Rose Cottage’ and ‘The Vista Villa’ connected through short paths cutting through the fruit orchards. The hotel staff took us through these paths to show us the factory where Neemrana creates its own produce - natural jams that contain no preservatives. Connecting with colleagues over a sumptuous offering - an elaborate buffet was a fulfilling end to a long, tiring day!
The highest points ‘The Ashok Vatika’ and ‘The Cliff House’ were enveloped with dense clouds during heavy morning showers. The Blue and Green Rooms in The Ashok Vatika, are specially designed with bay windows framing wonderful views of the sunrise and the sunset. The exposed wooden rafters on the ceiling added to the warm ambience. A common lounge provided us with much needed entertainment; with a television and space to collect together for enjoyment and loud banter!
The uniqueness about each property under the umbrella of Neemrana Hotels is that every space is distinctively designed. True to its 21st century construction, ‘The Cliff House’ is designed in a contemporary fashion, unlike anything you would expect! With amazing pieces of artifacts and a rustic atmosphere, it creates just the perfect balance between the new and the old. ‘The Writer’s Bungalow’ has authentic colonial architecture, sloping tin roofs and stone walls covered with ivy. It looks spectacular at night with a string of lights dotting the roof eaves.
After a long spell of rain, it felt great to be warmed with a hot bowl of soup and a satisfying lunch. The mellow quality of sunlight enticed us into taking a long trek down till the river below. Watching the stunning sun set proved to be quite an antidote to the tiredness we felt.
The joy of dancing with colleagues around a bon-fire under a blue sky spotted with stars could only be experienced at this Ramgarh hotel! Such an interaction helped us bond better with teammates outside glass cabins. An enjoyable evening followed by a comfortable sleep at night was all we needed to refresh ourselves for a long drive early next morning. We left Ramgarh in high spirits with greater camaraderie to face new and exciting challenges that awaited us!