Itmenaan Estate in the Himalayas

Itmenaan Estate is a fairytale getaway in a peaceful rural setting in the Kumaon Himalayas. The 10-acre estate includes virgin pine, oak and rhododendron trees; terraced fields laden with seasonal fruits and vegetables; and to top it all, a small private perennial natural spring. The estate offers panoramic views of the Himalayas including the majestic Nanda Devi.

The 100-year-old traditional Kumaoni style stone house on the estate has been painstakingly restored and offers 3 tastefully designed en suite bedrooms. In and around the house are abundant places for you to unwind and relax - the courtyard overlooking the mountains and verdant valleys, the semi open-air dining area, numerous nooks and corners perfect for reading or for fulfilling your spiritual quest.

The Lodges offer rooms in two kinds of cottages named after the trees found in the area - Oak and Deodar.

Oak House
Surrounded by forests, orchards and terraced fields, and with stunning views of snow-capped Himalayas, is the 100-year-old restored traditional Kumaoni style stone house. The house offers 3 tastefully designed bedrooms, Oak Room 1, Oak Room 2 and Kafal Room, all offering attached bathrooms and a day bed by the window.

Deodar Cottage
Located close to the main house is the newly built spacious two-storey Deodar Cottage. The cottage has been painstakingly built over a period of one year in traditional local architecture that involves stacking local stones one above the other without using any cementing material in a ‘dry stack’, locally called ‘kori chinai’. With a large bedroom on level-2 and a sitting room on level-1, the cottage offers stunning views of the valley and Himalayan peaks.

All rooms have king-size beds with luxurious mattresses. The traditional architecture of the walls and the roof provide for the snug insulation that is so needed during the winter season.The bathrooms are fitted with all modern fixtures and have running hot and cold water at all times. Each bathroom is fitted with a sky light to allow for the sun light to come in so that the guests can appreciate the dry stack architecture of the walls.

Specialty meals, choicest ingredients and stunning scenery - this is how dining is defined at Itmenaan Estate. Expect to be pleasantly surprised by the freshly baked breads and cookies, shorba soups, fulfilling main courses and sinful desserts.

At Itmenaan Estate, you are served delicious and well thought out recipes that range from traditional Kumaoni, regular North Indian, to dishes from the Western world.

Fresh, seasonal produce either from their own organic farms or sourced locally, are used, with seasonally changing menus designed around what is currently available. 

Meals can be served in the lovely front courtyard, in the semi-open air dining lounge, your exclusive dining area that comes with your room or at a venue of your choice for a perfectly romantic meal.

Keeping in with the main purpose of a holiday that is to break the routine, there are no fixed hours for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Meals are available at the time of your preference. Furthermore, their kitchen is open throughout the day and there is a never-ending supply of snacks and soft beverages.

Those who want to venture out and explore the countryside, will be accompanied with picnic lunches.

In the Resort
At Itmenaan Estate you may choose to just 'do nothing'.

• Laze around or read a book
• Enjoy the warmth of campfire
• Gaze at the countless stars in night time milky sky
• Admire mesmerizing valleys and snow clad peaks

For those who are a little more restless and active, there are a number of activities to keep yourself busy.

• Partake in farming and gardening within the estate
• Walk to nearby villages to share tea with locals
• Hike to the highest point for enchanting views
• Roam the beautiful oak and rhododendron forests

On any of the longer walks you will be accompanied by one of the guides who will share his knowledge about the region and help you connect with the local people.

Excursions Around
Jageshwar: A 45-minute-drive from the estate takes you to Jageshwar Temples. The drive is through the omnipresent pines, oaks and rhododendrons and the moment you reach in the vicinity of the temples, you enter the amazing world of deodar trees.
Jageshwar comprises a group of about 124 stone temples dating between the 9th and 13th century AD. It is believed to be the site of one of the twelve ‘Jyotirlings’ and hence occupies a prominent position on Hindu pilgrimage.

Chitai Temple: An hour's drive from the estate is another famous temple of the region, the Chitai Temple dedicated to Golu Devta, who is considered to be the God of Justice. As one approaches the temple, the first thing that strikes you is hundreds of bells hanging at the entrance.
People come to the temple to make a wish to Golu Devta; those who are not able to personally visit the temple, write letters to Him seeking justice. Once a wish is fulfilled people come and hang a brass bell on any of the temple walls, and hence the sea of bells all over the temple.

Almora: Almora is located at a distance of about one-and-a-half hour from the estate. The cobbled stone streets of Almora bazaar are a delight to walk through. Houses and shops align the narrow streets that bustle with activity throughout the day. The traditional architecture is very much in evidence here as one spots carved doors and windows.

Itmenaan Himalayan Walks & Treks
To offer discerning travelers a touch and feel of rural life, a village walk and stay program through some of the most unspoilt villages of Kumaon Himalayas has been devised. Charmingly, you also get to stay in village houses which have been touched up to provide very comfortable lodging without compromising on the authenticity.
You may choose to stay-put at a village house and explore the area. Or, walks can also be organized that take you from one village to another and each night is spent in a different village house.

By Road
From Delhi, Itmenaan Estate is 375 km / 10 hours.

Route1: Delhi - Hapur Bypass - Moradabad - Rampur - Haldwani - Kathgodam - Bhimtal - Bhowali - Almora - Barechhina - Artola - Suakhan - Chalnichhina

Route2: From Bhowali - Ramgarh - Nathuakhan - Almora - Barechhina - Artola - Suakhan - Chalnichhina

Route3: From Bhimtal - Padampuri - Shehar Phatak - Chalnichhina

Itmenaan Estate is an easy reach from key Kumaon tourist destinations. You may break your journey at Bhimtal (2.5 hours), Nainital (4 hours), Corbett National Park (4.5 hours), Ranikhet (2 hours), Almora (1.5 hours) or Jageshwar (45min).

By Rail
The nearest rail station is Kathgodam (3 to 4 hours drive to Itmenaan Estate) which has regular train service from Delhi:

By Air
Pantnagar, near Kathgodam, is the closest airport (135 kms).

Pick-up and drop to and from Kathgodam and Pantnagar can be arranged at additional cost.