Whenever we travel, we like to plan everything out so that we don’t have to book at the last minute and can stay at some of the more unique places, rather than stay in “whatever is available”. For me, there’s as much joy in planning the journey as going on the journey. You discover as much on the ground as you discover on the internet. I can choose the popular and the offbeat and design my own itinerary accordingly. Family travel in Uttarakhand brings much of the same happiness.
Planning a family trip can be equally exciting, especially if you find the right place to go to. The anticipation, the planning, and the packing for the activities all make for life’s most memorable journeys. If you discover a destination that stays offbeat but still gives you the adventures you’d like to provide your children. Kumaon in the Uttarakhand Hills of India is one such destination. It’s relatively unknown, quiet, away from the crowds, and a perfect place to end your journey to India.
The idea behind setting up Nayalap was to provide these adventures for family travel to Uttarakhand – the hikes, the explorations, the space to reconnect – while ensuring a safe and comfortable place to stay at night. The places around Shitlakhet offer many such nature-based adventures with a hint of the local lifestyle. Take a walk in the Indian Himalayas. Learn about the local culture, food, flora, and fauna.
Getting there
From Delhi
If you are in Delhi, you can travel to Nayalap in a variety of ways:
- Flight: Take the flight to Pantnagar (1hr) and then take a taxi to Nayalap (5hrs)
- Train: Take the Shatabdi Express leaving in the morning to Kathgodam Station (6hrs) and then take a taxi to Nayalap (3hrs)
- Road: The drive to Nayalap from Delhi takes about 9 hours without stops. If you’d like to break the journey, you can stop at Ramnagar near Corbett National Park, which is halfway between the two places. In the Corbett National Park, you can take jeep safaris to see elephants, tigers, and deer.
From Mumbai
If you’ve been traveling in Southern India and want to now make it to the hills of Kumaon as the last chapter of your stay, there’s a great flight from Mumbai to Bareilly (2hrs). From there, you can take the taxi to Nayalap (5hrs). You can also fly to Delhi and continue your journey using the options from Delhi. However, it is easier to fly to Mumbai and drive from there. If you need, call the good folks at Nayalap, and they’ll arrange a taxi for you. There is great connectivity for family travel to Uttarakhand.
What to expect
A host of easy adventures are on offer that you can book on short notice. Take it as easy or as active as you want. Rest for a few days or go on some of the many hikes through the forest and the hillside. Go to the stream of drive to cafes located an hour away from Nayalap. Go for picnics to the stream to see the sunset from the forest. Explore the local cuisine and the farming practices. Visit the villages to get a glimpse of the local lifestyle.
Make it an easy 4-day trek. Hike the short distances from one Nayalap to another – staying in a variety of differently styled places and exploring the different villages. Go on the relaxed 4-day lodge-to-lodge hike or spend an extra day at each of Nayalap’s spaces to go for walks into the nearby villages. Instead of hectic adventures, do these half-day hikes and then relax for the rest of the day in the forests and fields that Nayalap’s different properties are situated in.
Food
Food at Nayalap is a mix of local Himalayan cuisine and some European options. Most of the seasonal grains and vegetables are procured from the village, and these local recipes are great for the time of the year you’d be traveling in. Try out the highly nutritious black beans or the horse gram along with vegetables cooked in hemp and desserts made from millets. Try the local fish, mutton, and cottage cheese made in the village.
If you’ve been on a long trip through India and are nostalgic for a taste of home, try out our European options. Using locally grown condiments like chives and rosemary, locally grown vegetables including zucchini and pumpkin, the food at Nayalap is fresh and made from scratch. It’s light on the sauces, and you don’t feel bloated after having the fresh food and going for some long walks in the fresh air of the mountains.
Menus can be tailored for kids. The level of heat can be kept as per your requirements, and the chef at Nayalap is happy to tailor the menu to your needs. Nayalap has catered to gluten-free, vegan, and keto requirements. The grains of the Uttarakhand hills help in keeping food flexible to requirements. So feel free to experiment or play it safe. The Uttarakhand hills are great in this respect.
Safety
Nayalap is hidden away from the hustle and bustle of a modern Indian city. It is in the rolling Kumaon hills and has generally been regarded as a safe and free space for families and single women travelers. Over the 8 years of operations, care has been taken to ensure that all walks, unless otherwise requested, are guided, and the trails taken are well-marked and suitable for the little ones’ abilities. In general, family travel to Uttarakhand has been regarded as safe. Nayalap also has first aid and a doctor on call in case of emergency.
Make it a tailor-made adventure for you and your family. Tell Nayalap your requirements and let them plan your stay. Take the lodge-to-lodge hike and make it an adventure in the Kumaon hills to remember. Relax under the oak trees. Dip your feet in the stream. Make it active. Make it relaxed. Make it yours. That’s the beauty of the Uttarakhand hills. They have space for everyone. The people of the hills make space for everyone as well – inviting you over for a cup of tea or a short conversation, inquisitive about where you’re from, and gifting you some produce from their fields before you leave.
