You know the mountains are nearby when clean, chilled and crisp air begins to hug you even before you reach your destination. My lungs were happily filling in the awesomeness, the eyes were soaking in the calming vibes of the rural settings and my mind was shifting towards Zen mode. Soon, the car came to a halt and I found myself standing in front of a singleton house perched on a hillock. It took me a minute to comprehend the settings. There are views and then there are uninterrupted 360 degree views of snow-capped mountains. I knew we were up for a surprise because the villages in Uttarakhand never disappoint, but Basot was pristine and far from civilization. What conspired in the next three days was pure magic. We ( I along with my friends) did everything that we often read but forget to put in practice- from having breakfast under the sun to enjoying surreal sunsets, clicking pictures of gorgeous skies, playing games, reading books, chit-chatting, enjoying bonfires and relishing delicious food, we indulged and surrendered to nature. If this doesn’t qualify as mindful and slow travelling, nothing would. For those who may be looking for a peaceful summer getaway and digital detox, not far from Delhi and a place like home-away-from-home, Nivriti Summit View in Jihar (Basot) ticks all the boxes.
Getting to the Nivriti Summit View
On a bright and cheerful morning of February, I travelled with a group of fun travellers-cum-friends to an offbeat destination called Basot in Uttarakhand. Since this village is located close to Ranikhet and Almora, we had thought that we will work on an itinerary and revisit these destinations, but Mother Earth had other plans for us. When we reached our homestay-Nivriti Summit View, we knew we were not going anywhere. I am the kind of a traveller who loves exploring and having a packed day but ten minutes into the property and I was the first one to declare that this was going to be my no-itinerary trip. All I wanted was to indulge in the tranquility and serenity of the surroundings. The feeling was close to heavenly.
We started from Delhi at 7.30 in the morning, drove past Corbett and reached Basot by lunch time. Starting early is the key to reaching on time. Another very important thing is that do not take long breaks enroute. Having a packed breakfast with us helped us reach Ramnagar by 12 and from there, Jihar was hardly a two hours drive. Basot (Jihar) is truly a hidden gem near Almora and is only 7 hours drive from Delhi.
Check -In
While the homestay usually has a check-in time, the staff (made of only 3+ the driver) at Nivriti are accommodating. When we arrived, they were ready and waiting, making the check-in process quick and efficient. It was like being picked up in a whirlwind (a nice one), as within moments of arriving, we were checked in and walking towards our rooms. I like homestays or boutique properties as check-in process at some hotels can keep you waiting for long.
The staff walked us to our rooms, made us comfortable and made it clear that if we needed anything, we just had to ask. A major positive for me was that my friends let me pick the room I wanted. (How sweet of them). We had the whole villa to ourselves. It comprises of three bed rooms and living room. Apart from that there are three more rooms. The fourth friend chose the corner room, which promised some spectacular views of the valley.
My Room and more
As I moved the curtains of my room, my eyes locked gaze with the mesmerizing mountains. “Oh My God, this is heavenly!” The caretaker said, “Many surprises await you here madam”. The Himalayan ranges were spread as far as they could. One could see them from everywhere, the terrace, the balcony, the front garden, living room and even the bedrooms. I must have clicked a hundred pictures and yet couldn’t capture the spellbinding stretch that met the eyes at every hour of the day.
The room was simple, uncluttered and spotless. It was equipped with a double bed, table, chair, almirah, heater and water bottle. The bathroom was neat and tidy. The living room had a huge television, lots of sitting space, a fireplace and a beautiful library. If you love bigger bedrooms, there was one which had a antique feel to it and was very spacious. I chose the smaller one because I like cozy setups, especially in winters. The staff reiterated that we could ask for anything that we needed. Every night they would give me a bottle water filled with warm water and also heat my room before I called it a day. This just shows that they are trained for personal care.
The wifi was great in the living room and despite that, I chose to do a digital detox. This place called for it. This was not the place for scrolling mindlessly but basking in the sun, playing badminton, reading books, gazing at stars (planets too) and sharing laughter over tea and coffee.
Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast
As soon as we reached, a local meal was awaiting us. We enjoyed sitting around the dining table (just next to the kitchen) and enjoyed the rice, lentils, veggies and hot breads. It was a easy setup for the staff as well as the guests. We had access to good food as well the views of the ranges. All food was cooked to order, therefore there was no scope of wastage as well as over-indulgence. I would give a thumps up to all the meals. The soups were my favorite. Personally, I would look forward to that hot bowl of flavors every evening. The barbeque dinner was also too much fun. I like this about homestays- fresh food made with the local ingredients.
The breakfast was not a buffet layout but it had everything that we wanted. We requested them for some boiled eggs, breads, paranthas and curd. One morning they also made lip-smacking chole bhature for us. The picnic lunch happened to be the most memorable one which I will talk about later. Do not miss this experience. (It may cost extra but it is totally worth-a-do.)The dinners were usually made of three course meal-soup, snacks and main course.
At Nivriti Summit View, guests get mix of both western and local dishes, all cooked to order.
Surreal Sunsets
If someone asked me to pick just one thing for which I would love to return to Nivriti Summit View, I would say ‘sunsets’. Everyday, mother Earth painted a fresh canvas. The sky changed colours , grew darker, with blue on blue, one stroke at a time, with deeper and deeper shades of night, first it turned orange, then red, and later it lit up in shades of pink and purple. Aaah! I was left me dazed. The infinite beauty and boundless wonder of this place can be seen in the pictures below. Why not take this as your cue to travel here?
Picnic by the Ramganga River
Uttarakhand is one loveable state that offers a wealth of experiential variation for those seeking outdoor adventures. I am not suggesting a trek but a fun-filled family activity where everyone can participate. The team at Nivriti will help you plan a picnic lunch by the Ramganga river. And what if I told you that this isn’t a picnic where you will have people around you. To my surprise there were none. They own a portion of land which is exclusively theirs and they let the guests have it to themselves. The pulao, aloo ki sabzi and the puris that the team had packed tasted heavenly. The walk to the river bed may require some effort but if you are wearing the right footwear, it can be done by anyone. Those who love swimming must carry their swim suit.
Hike to Bhauna Devi temple
In Jihar, Bhauna (Bhona) Devi Mandir is very popular among the locals. It is located hardly 2 kilometers from the homestay. One afternoon, we decided to do a little walk to the temple. Trust me, this was not out of boredom but the urge to burn some calories. Remember, we had already cancelled our plan to go to Almora or Ranikhet because it felt so peaceful here. We were extremely happy far away from the crowd. We had not seen any human except us, nor a vehicle since 3 days. We were only 8 humans and there was none in the sighting too. (4 of us, 3 caretakers +1 driver)
Taking this walk to the temple turned out to be a great idea as we used this opportunity to peek into the local life as well. And the up-climb and down-climb also prepared us to eat more. One can enjoy the sunset at the temple or at the property.
This is how you do a no-itinerary trip!
In the times when our attention span has become too short-lived and we constantly feel the need to do something, I want to share this no-itinerary plan with my readers. It is absolutely fine to do nothing and just sit and relax. In this trip, my level of rejuvenation was the highest.
My trip was hosted but the review is absolutely unbiased. I have simply narrated the events as they happened. I bet the pictures above prove my point. The home stay is very welcoming with a happy and positive vibe. As long as you do not expect hotel like settings and facilities, the villa is well-equipped and the food is delicious. Most importantly, the location is untouched and virgin. And this is what the whole idea of holidaying in the mountains is. Isn’t it?
