#juee

Dussehra holiday break brought us all family members together to embark on our much-awaited journey - from a Covid-19 induced stressful confinement - to this amazing and impressive locale. Vanvasa means living in the woods, and it truly lived up to its name! It virtually became our dreamy home for 3 nights! Such is the beauty, equity and allure of this place that the brand Vanvasa in itself has become a prominent touristy destination in this region of Rikhnikhal, Uttarakhand. You ask anyone on your way to Vanvasa and, without being clueless, they will promptly give you the directions! Vanvasa is an expansive estate spread in about 30 acres over a hilltop; a perfect destination for a family visit, especially in large groups of kith and kin. Vanvasa is very well appointed, neat and tidy, and much equipped with all creature comforts. Gorge on delicious food, plunge in the pool, walk around in the verdant forestry landscape, play badminton, carrom, cricket or table tennis. Also, indulge in the in-house adventure activities like suspended Burma bridge, rope-walk, planks-walk, tyre-walk, commando drill etc., which provide much needed fun and adrenal rush in this calm seclusion.

Great weather and cool climate adds to your well-being: clean air, clear blue skies and lush mountains and dense forest all around is a sight to behold. No wonder, nature’s elements are at its best play. The entire estate witnesses an en masse congregation of variety of birds chirping all along the day like singing a melodious chorus to your ears. The nip of the dawn and dusk will uplift your mood manifold. The resort comes alive in the night when all its pathways illuminate with its sequenced lamp-lights. Aside, the multitasking staff will entertain you with their live music and a magic show when dark wraps you up in the cold settings.

The acreage in the central area is developed like an orchard with a variety of fruit-bearing trees and other plantation. A portion of the uneven land next to this orchard is also being developed as vineyard, as I could see many arrays of Y-shaped trellis installed for grape vines to climb and spread around. And, as we exploring the resort further, voila, a private helipad, nestled in the hills, appears from nowhere – a beautiful evened out site to land-in the Chopper from the blue skies and disembark directly at Vanvasa!

I must also endorse the fact that the cottages are as expansive as the estate itself. They are huge, tidy, naturally lit, nicely designed, well laid-out, well-furnished and equipped with appliances including a minibar. Washrooms are as spacious as like a city room, fitted with all the required bath fittings and amenities. Each cottage is having an excellent view of the greens and a large sit-out area (calling it a balcony won’t do justice to its size!). The staff is well-behaved, neat and uniformed, polite and courteous attending to your service needs with great care and speed. A well designed large restaurant - which integrates the local culture, nature’s elements and imbibes the native construction cues - dishes out mouth-watering meals and buffet for your gastronomical delight.  Food quality and taste is so amazing and lip-smacking that it only leaves you wanting for more and more!

 One can also see the rural and agrarian life as a small but a thriving village - Jui - lies in close vicinity to Vanvasa. Guests can go for village tourism activity and buy ultra-fresh organic produce from the villagers. All the produce is pulled out directly, right before your eyes, from their cascading farms and given to you. Spices like ginger, green chilli, turmeric, garlic etc; vegetables like round radish, cabbage, potato etc; and healthy mandua (millet) atta and other fruits and vegetables are available aplenty in this local village. One more aspect of Vanvasa which needs to be highlighted and appreciated is that it has provided employment opportunities mostly to the locals belonging to the nearby villages. They are trained and absorbed at the resort giving much needed impetus to local economy.

And, adding to Vanvasa’s alluring charm, is the long-and-winding adventure filled 60km forest drive passing through the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve (Northern Corbett). A substantial stretch of the road runs parallel to the tributaries of Ram Ganga river which in itself is a much pleasing sight to behold for long. Enroute, at couple of places, you will witness small waterfalls and spring water erupting and splashing on the road as you drive through in serpentine motion. The forest is so dense that sunlight barely touches down, and most of your drive cruises under the cool shade and the silence of the jungle giving you ample opportunity to wildlife encounters. We had our moments to see up-close and personal the spotted deer pack, foxes, apes, partridges, and a crab crawl-crossing the road near the streams while we were returning back from Vanvasa.    

Kudos to the staff for their impeccable service!

And, much applause and appreciation for the affable Owner for his grand vision and tenacity in creating Vanvasa the way it is – like a grand and intricate piece of ‘Jewel’ all in the wilderness perched on a hilltop with a commanding view. Take a bow, Mr. Satender Rawat!

Overall, a perfect place to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. And, truly, Vanvasa’s sheer beauty and offbeat allure has casted a magical spell on all of us. A quintessentially mesmerising place to visit over and over again!

 © Anil Bisht

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i managed to put together some keroro land frogs too today...

being a maid is never easy, especially when you work for two really messy girls

the perspective is a bit messed up...whatever

ps. there’s an easter egg in this pic, whoever notice it has a good eye, but the ones of you that can also understand where that came from gain my respect because it means they follow me since my first weeks on tumblr

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