The Colonel’s Cottage, Mukteshwar

The Colonel’s Cottage

I had planned a trip to Mukteshwar, Nainital earlier in July 2015 but due to heavy rains and cloud burst in Uttarakhand, I cancelled our booking at The Peace @ Himalayan Heights and booked The Colonel’s Cottage.

Basking in the Sun

Our stay at The Colonel’s Cottage made me to strongly believe in the saying “Whatever GOD does is for the Best”. This time I’m glad that I chose to be here instead of The Peace @ Himalayan Heights.  It is a unique little gem, really.

Snow Fall

The Colonel’s Cottage is not a luxury place. Yet, in ten years from now, I’m sure we will still fondly remember the vacation we had there.

Warmth of Company

The warmth and hospitality makes it worthwhile staying in this small family-run Guest House. The owner Colonel (Mrs.) Anita is a wonderful lady. Together with her hospitable husband Mr. Nagen and staff, keeps no stones un-turned to make you feel at home.

Snow Clad Mountains

This said, there is nothing wrong with the facilities. The room we had was spacious and pretty with an ante-room attached to the main living space, carpeted flooring, electric blanket, hot-air blower, hot water kettle a well-appointed bathroom.

Our Room

The shaded terrace outside the room is a relaxing and quiet place. There are couches to sit and soak yourselves in the rising sun from behind the mountain opposite to the terrace. Certainly a place where you really don’t mind spending an afternoon or two with a good book in hand or listening to your favorite music, taking breaks once in a while to find yourself engulfed in the arms of Mother Nature.

Sunrise

Mukteshwar hill sits high in the Kumaon hills at an altitude of 2286 meters (7500 feet). It is 45 km from Nainital, 55 km from Haldwani, and 343 km from Delhi. From October through March, the Great Himalayas is clearly visible from Mukteshwar heights. A 180° panoramic view of the Himalayas can be enjoyed. Certainly, this place is a photographer’s delight.

Bhalu Gaad Waterfall

The other sightseeing places in Mukteshwar include Mahadev Mandir of Lord Shiva, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute established during the erstwhile British regime. Dense forests, trekking routes,  and local handicraft outlets.

The Writers’ Bungalow

But the place that must be on top of the list of the tourist is the location where the great bard Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore spent a considerable time writing his Gitanjali that bagged the Nobel Prize for literature. The place is just 12 km from The Colonel’s Cottage. It will be your pleasure to visit The Writers’ Bungalow, as it is called.

Clear Skies

You can reach Katgodham Railway Station comfortably in 5 hours and 15 minutes by Shatabdi Express from Anand Vihar Railway Station, New Delhi. Transport for pick and drop from Katgodham Railway Station to The Colonel’s Cottage and for sightseeing in and around Mukteshwar can be arranged on demand.

You can reach them at: thecolonelscottage@gmail.com. The road driving route from Delhi to The Colonel’s Cottage, Mukteshwar is: Moradabad bypass, Rampur, haldwani, Bhimtal, Bovali, Ramgarh, Satbhunga, Kasiyalekh. At Kasiyalekh, the landmark is Neelkanth Restaurant. The Colonel’s Cottage is 500 meters from Neelkanth Restaurant.

Morning after Snowfall

The Colonel’s Cottage is a place you would definitely come back to and recommend to your friends. Thank you very much for making our stay so pleasant and memorable!!!