Returning to the R...
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Returning to the Roots
After a 77 km drive from Dehradun, walk for 800 meters to meet everything that’s largely recycled or reused. Some unique leisure experiences like hiking in the hidden Kodia Forest, home stay experiences in farmers and shepherds homes, riverside dining, and camping in the woods helps you commune with yourself, or the one you chose to share your space with.
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Local Dost - Vikram & Team
We have a team of villagers trained in multiple dimensions of hospitality and management, agriculture and cattle rearing practices, and mountaineering from various reputed institutes. Our village managers are usually top end professionals volunteering their services as a Manager while on a self actualization or Tech-Detox sabbatical for 1 to 3 months, also doubling up as trainers for our staff and villagers around.
Rooms - 3 cottages
A village in recreation, Kanatal, situated above 8200 ft. has 3 locally re-done cottages on double, triple and quad accommodation and one condominium (accommodating 2 people) for budget travelers and volunteers.
The cottages with hand crafted floors and furniture are designed to cover the basics and provide for an excellent living experience and a stay not only brings out the adventurer in you, but also ensures that we turn you into a Garhwali food connoisseur. We serve local delicacies.
The place can comfortably accommodate up to 12 people and is suitable for solo travelers, families, kids, babies, pets and people with different age-groups and fitness levels.
Amenities
-
Essentials -
Solar Lamp -
Hot Water -
Parking -
Bonfire -
Pony Service -
Camping
You can engage in the following activities to get the most out of the place and live it like a local.
Kodia Forest Hiking – Situated under Tehri district, Kodia Forest is 3 km from road and offers a 14 km hike deep into the realms of wild flora and fauna.
Satyun riverside & trekking – The Village Satyun is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and forests. Located 19 km away from the stay, the village and its culture – both are insulated from the rest of the world and offer a unique experience of living a countryside life.
Tehri Dam & Lake – Tehri dam is the highest dam in India and the lake being one of the largest in India. Experience the thrills of water-sports, such as jetskiing, banana rides, water skiing, canoeing, etc. Tehri is 15kms from your stay.
Surkanda Devi Temple – It is a hill-top shrine dedicated to Goddess Surkanda. It’s a beautiful ancient temple, which is visited by many pilgrims. The place is situated at 2700 meters and boasts of 360 Degree of Himalayan Range. The shrine can be visited by 2 km trek from Kaddukhal (20 kms from your stay).
Village Hopping – Let’s take the untrodden trails and explore the beautiful Himalayan villages and their lives and culture. Have lunch, tea, local snacks at random homes and experience unconditional hospitality of the locals.
Pick your Own Food – Indulge in basic rural farming practices with your family and friends and enjoy assisted cooking of what you plough. Enjoy authentic Chulha Dinner with the locals.
The following are the measures that the local dost has adopted to ensure tourism does not impact the place and boost Responsible Tourism.
100% local staff – Empowering rural lives by giving them the opportunity to host travellers and earn a living directly.
No road destination – To reach the cottages, you need to take a 800 meters downhill trek. This is to ensure that the place is away from vehicular noise and pollution.
Green Building – Accommodation is made from recycled and reused materials procured from abolished branded showrooms of Dehradun. The traditional architecture is also kept in mind while creating the cottages. All this ensures minimum impact to the environment and keeping alive the traditional architecture.
Solar lamp – To ensure minimum pressure on the power grid, the accommodation has no electric supply rather runs on solar energy.
Organic and local food – Relish the authentic cuisine which is made of fresh farm-picked ingredients to ensure healthy living.
Rationed use of water – Water is Gold. Hot water is supplied via buckets to ensure judicious use of water and energy in heating.
Waste Management – One needs to dispose plastic in the dustbins available in the premises and need to take back the waste in case of bulk plastic waste. Bio-waste is taken care by the local dost for the purpose of farming.
Accommodation
Rooms - 3 cottages
A village in recreation, Kanatal, situated above 8200 ft. has 3 locally re-done cottages on double, triple and quad accommodation and one condominium (accommodating 2 people) for budget travelers and volunteers.
The cottages with hand crafted floors and furniture are designed to cover the basics and provide for an excellent living experience and a stay not only brings out the adventurer in you, but also ensures that we turn you into a Garhwali food connoisseur. We serve local delicacies.
The place can comfortably accommodate up to 12 people and is suitable for solo travelers, families, kids, babies, pets and people with different age-groups and fitness levels.
Amenities
-
Essentials
-
Solar Lamp
-
Hot Water
-
Parking
-
Bonfire
-
Pony Service
-
Camping
Living Local
You can engage in the following activities to get the most out of the place and live it like a local.
Kodia Forest Hiking – Situated under Tehri district, Kodia Forest is 3 km from road and offers a 14 km hike deep into the realms of wild flora and fauna.
Satyun riverside & trekking – The Village Satyun is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and forests. Located 19 km away from the stay, the village and its culture – both are insulated from the rest of the world and offer a unique experience of living a countryside life.
Tehri Dam & Lake – Tehri dam is the highest dam in India and the lake being one of the largest in India. Experience the thrills of water-sports, such as jetskiing, banana rides, water skiing, canoeing, etc. Tehri is 15kms from your stay.
Surkanda Devi Temple – It is a hill-top shrine dedicated to Goddess Surkanda. It’s a beautiful ancient temple, which is visited by many pilgrims. The place is situated at 2700 meters and boasts of 360 Degree of Himalayan Range. The shrine can be visited by 2 km trek from Kaddukhal (20 kms from your stay).
Village Hopping – Let’s take the untrodden trails and explore the beautiful Himalayan villages and their lives and culture. Have lunch, tea, local snacks at random homes and experience unconditional hospitality of the locals.
Pick your Own Food – Indulge in basic rural farming practices with your family and friends and enjoy assisted cooking of what you plough. Enjoy authentic Chulha Dinner with the locals.
Living Responsible
The following are the measures that the local dost has adopted to ensure tourism does not impact the place and boost Responsible Tourism.
-
100% local staff – Empowering rural lives by giving them the opportunity to host travellers and earn a living directly.
No road destination – To reach the cottages, you need to take a 800 meters downhill trek. This is to ensure that the place is away from vehicular noise and pollution.
Green Building – Accommodation is made from recycled and reused materials procured from abolished branded showrooms of Dehradun. The traditional architecture is also kept in mind while creating the cottages. All this ensures minimum impact to the environment and keeping alive the traditional architecture.
Solar lamp – To ensure minimum pressure on the power grid, the accommodation has no electric supply rather runs on solar energy.
Organic and local food – Relish the authentic cuisine which is made of fresh farm-picked ingredients to ensure healthy living.
Rationed use of water – Water is Gold. Hot water is supplied via buckets to ensure judicious use of water and energy in heating.
Waste Management – One needs to dispose plastic in the dustbins available in the premises and need to take back the waste in case of bulk plastic waste. Bio-waste is taken care by the local dost for the purpose of farming.
Factsheet
How to Reach:
- Public Transport: Board an early morning bus that leaves from Mussourie Bus Stand in Dehradun (outside Dehradun Railway Station) for Kanatal at 6:00 AM. Get down at Ramola Tea Stall at Thangdhar Village. Follow the signboards and walk for 800 metres to reach our village. Bus Conductor: Kaushal +91 8979276672. Daily buses also operate from Rishikesh to Kanatal via Chamba.
- Self Drive – Driving Directions:
From Dehradun Via Mussoorie Road: Before entering Mussourie, take a diversion towards Dhanaulti, cross Kanatal Main Market and reach Thangdhar Village. Take the bifurcation descending adjacent to Ramola Tea Stall. Drive for another 100 meters and park your cars. Start descending down for next 800 meters to reach our Village. From Rishikesh Via Chamba: From Chamba, reach Thangdhar Village in Kanatal (Chamba to Thangdhar is 15.6 kms), take the bifurcation descending adjacent to Ramola Tea Stall. Drive for another 100 metres and park your cars. Start descending down for next 800 metres to reach our Village.
Weather: April to Sept: Cottons with light woollens. Oct to March: It snows during winters at Kanatal – Heavy woollens
Best For: Groups planning for a perfect weekend detox experience in a pristine location or wish to live in a secluded place post-rafting activity as the place is just 2 hrs drive from Rishikesh. Families and Couples to breathe and live in such an enriching atmosphere and relishing authentic and organic food with some good Me Time.
Responsible Tourism Features/Tips: “Keep the place as you wish to see when you come back”
- Location: To ensure no carbon footprint, the village cottages have been setup at a 800 m trek from the main road so that it’s free from noise and vehicular pollution. Travelers should be ready to explore this offbeat place via 20 mins trek. We also have mules to carry you in case you can’t trek.
- Property: This property is completely self-sustainable and runs on solar panels. Travelers will be provided with solar lamps during the night inside the cottage. It’s a lights out experience but you would love the night under the starlight only.
- Carrying your own towels, soaps and other toiletries will help us avoid the wastage of gallons of water which goes into washing, and in minimizing the use of chemicals in the form of washing powder etc
- We don’t have electricity. Kitchen gets lit in the nights on solar panels and offers limited power for charging phones and other necessary equipment. Please carry a handy flash light/torch with extra batteries.
- You’ll be amidst wilderness while hiking or exploring around. Do carry insect-repellent ointments, oils or creams to stay protected from seasonal bugs.
- Do not light fires, or smoke inside protected areas. Accidental forest fires cause irreparable damage.
- Respect local culture: We are committed to help marginalized farmers and insulating their
culture and environment from onslaught of modern world. We request our guests to observe the
sanctity of village and respect local customs and communities. Do not talk loudly or play loud or
offensive music. - Garbage Management: There is a complete ban on burying, burning or otherwise disposing non-biodegradable or toxic waste in the village area. Dispose waste responsibly: carry back all non-
biodegradable litter, and leave campsites litter-free before departing.
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