Himalayas – delightfully local weekends

January 4, 2020January 6, 2020

Vacation Ideas : A Week Under the Dhauladhars – Art, History, Adventure, Nature

Palampur is one of those amazing places that’s blessed with everything – snow peaks, green valleys, streams, weather that’s mostly never harsh, history, culture, art, adventure.

Explore the amazing fort at Kangra – the oldest continuously occupied fort in the world from the times of Porus and Alexander, and whose cliffsides have an interesting story to tell!

Take the little heritage train to Baijnath to see the old, mystical temple that’s one of the jyotirlingas established by Lord Shiva himself. Head further to Bir and Billing for some paragliding!

Nearer Palampur is Andretta, home to art and a pottery school. Many an artist comes spends time here, and you can even sign up for a session of learning how use the potter’s wheel and create your own work of art!

Of course, around The Earth House itself are numerous hikes, treks, village walks that let you explore the hills and streams and dams, the homes and bazaars of a Himachali village, and old temples. It’s just great for your lungs to hike in the fresh air of these hills.

All of this is just 35km from the Dharamshala airport! You could also drive from Chandigarh (245km) or Pathankot to which you can take one of many trains from Delhi – which is about 3.5 hours away by road, or you could take the slower but really lovely Kangra Heritage Railway.

You could easily spend a week in this beautiful valley and will never want to head back home!

April 21, 2014September 22, 2014

Getting to our Kumaon Properties – Corbett and Vijaypur

We started these 2 new properties in the Kumaon – Vanghat Lodge in Corbett and Chestnut Grove in Vijaypur, near Chaukori, Uttarakhand. A lot of folks have written in asking for how they get to these places.

Here goes…

Vanghat, Marchula, Corbett

Please note: Leaving Early out of Delhi is highly recommended due to the remote location of the Lodge.

Get on the Nizamuddin Bridge and onwards toward the Delhi – UP Border.

Drive straight to Moradabad. En route you will pass Hapur, Garh Ganga, Gajraula (Best midway stop with numerous options for meal and restroom use) and Joya.

Take the Hapur By pass just before Hapur town.

You take the Moradabad bypass just before Moradabad town. At the first toll booth get a ticket for the full by pass, onwards you encounter another tollbooth and finally join the main highway back. You need to U turn from this juncture and drive back about 2 Kms and then take a right turn for Kashipur and onwards to Ramnagar.

After you cross Ramnagar drive straight on the Ranikhet road for about 21Kms till you get to the village of Mohan (There is a police barrier here and a couple of tea shops). At Mohan there is a fork, the right road goes to Ranikhet and the left on to Garhwal take the left road going to Garhwal drive for another 14 km and you will spot the Baluli suspension bridge built over the Ramganga River. The Baluli suspension bridge is a visible and prominent landscape. There would be a representative from lodge to meet you at the Baluli suspension bridge and guide you to remote Vanghat.

Please note the hike is a 1.8 KM hike through undulating terrain. This walk through the village of Baluli and riverine forest is an excellent introduction to the valley, and can prove to be the most personally satisfying way of reaching the Lodge. Porters are provided however guests are requested to travel light.

Average fitness and good walking shoes are vital.

By Train: Preferred by most regulars since it is comfortable, convenient and economical. Ranikhet Express (also called Corbett Link Express) has First Class AC 2 Tier and departs every day from Delhi (Old) station at about 10:30 PM and arrives at Ramnagar at 5:00 AM. Since Ramnagar is the last station, coach attendants give you a wake-up call if instructed. This train departs back to Delhi at 9:30 PM everyday and arrives Delhi at 4:30 AM. This Train gives you the option of optimising your time in Corbett.

The other train option is Uttarakhand Sampark Kranti departing Delhi (Old) at 3:30 PM and arrives Ramnagar at 8:30 PM. The train departs Ramnagar at 9:00 AM and arrives Delhi at 3:30 PM. For those arriving by Uttarakhnad Sampark Kranti we make arrangements for stay at a lodge at a short distance from train station.

In the train beware of snoring neighbours!!! Must get hold of state of the art ear plugs!!

We arrange for station transfers if requested.

Chestnut Grove, Vijaypur (near Chaukori), Uttarakhand

From Delhi– Leaving Early out of Delhi is highly recommended due to the remote location of the Lodge. One can also take a break in between to have a relaxed and comfortable journey.

Get on the Nizamuddin Bridge and on-wards toward the Delhi – UP Border

Drive straight to Moradabad. En route you will pass Hapur, Garh Ganga, Gajraula (Best midway stop with numerous options for meal and restroom use) and Joya.Take the Moradabad By pass just before Moradabad continue till Rampur. From Rampur, just after the Railway Station turn left for Bilaspur – Rudrapur – Haldwani. From Haldwani start climbing up towards Bhimtal – Bhowali – Almora. From Almora you can either go via Kausani Bageshwer – Kanda – Vijaypur or Takula – Bageshwar – Kanda – Vijaypur.

From Ramnagar/Corbett/Ranikhet/Kausani – Drive through Mohan-Ranikhet-Vinta-Someshwar-Kausani-Baijnath-Bageshwar-Kanda-Vijaypur

From Pithoragarh/Berinag – Drive through Ghat-Panar-Gangolihaat-Berinag-Chaukori-Kameridevi-Vijaypur

From Munsiyari/Thal/Dharchula/Chaukori- Drive through Thal-Chaukori-Kameridevi-Vijaypur.

By Train: Preferred by most regulars since it is comfortable, convenient and economical. Ranikhet Express has First Class AC 2 and 3 Tier and departs every day from Delhi (Old) station at about 10:30 PM and arrives at Kathgodam, at 5:300 AM. Since Kathgodam is the last station, coach attendants give you a wake-up call if instructed. This train departs back to Delhi at 8:40 PM everyday and arrives Delhi at 4:30 AM. This Train gives you the option of optimising your time in the hills..

The other train option is ANVT Shatabdi Express, departing Anand Vihar Terminal at 6:15 AM and arrives Kathgfodam at 11:30 AM. The train departsKathgodam at 3:45 PM and arrives Anand Vihar Terminal, Delhi at 9:30 PM.

Of course, if you need help or more info, call us at +91-959-005-0001 or mail us at stay@linger.in

April 4, 2014April 10, 2014

The Himalayas, Wildlife and Kerala! Linger grows

We’re now live at 3 very do-nothing, quiet locations across the country. And with this, we have our first properties in Kerala and the Himalayas now live.

Vanghat, Marchula, in the Corbett Buffer Zone

At the end of a 2 km journey on foot and a raft across the river is this seriously committed-to-forests property that respects its surroundings even while making it accessible to us. Run by a naturalist and a team that’s friendly – both with the guests as well as the forests. You’ll love the place, and learn a lot, we assure you!

Chestnut Grove, Vijaypur (Uttarakhand)

6750ft high up in a very quiet, relatively unknown part of the Himalayas is Vijaypur (or Bijepur) a small little tea town with pine and oak forests, tea estates, and old temple or two and miles of opportunity for walks, hikes and treks. Or of course, do nothing but read a book, sip on tea and enjoy the stunning views of the snow clad mountains in the distance.

The Palathra Heritage, Mararikula, Allepey (Kerala)

Amidst the very green, laidback Mararikulam village is an unassuming little space where a very passionate family has resettled old, traditional houses in a backwaters setting. Illam, Eatti, Chandanam, Maavu and Plaavu – the names themselves tell a story of a different time in a context that attempts to keep up with the same even as the world around changes rapidly. The beach is a short walk/ride away, as is the pretty Vembanad lake and the famed Kerala backwaters. What a trip!

We’re adding a few more places. Keep watching the action on our Facebook page. For reservations, as always – we’re at stay@linger.in and at +91-959-005-0001.