I have lot of memories attached to this beautiful place ie. Naukuchiatal we used to call it Nauki in short. I have been travelling here since 1997 and staying at a friends cottage “Deja Vu Cottage“ which was built in front of me. Till date I use this cottage as my base camp and travel to all nearby places from Naukuchiatal.
As Nainital gets a bit crowded in the peak season but Naukuchiatal still remains a very peaceful location.
Delhi to Naukuchiatal
This was my business trip from Delhi to Khali Estate, Binsar, Almora. I reached from Delhi to Naukuchiatal by road and took a night stay at the cottage. Then I had planned to drive up to Almora the next morning as I wanted to enjoy the drive and senetic views.
Naukuchiatal
City: Naukuchiatal
State: Uttarakhand
Country: India
Nearest Railway Station: Kathgodam (KGM)
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant
Almora
City: Almora
State: Uttarakhand
Country: India
Nearest Railway Station: Kathgodam (KGM)
Nearest Airport: Pantnagar
Nearest Bus Stand: Almora
Naukuchiatal to Mountain Resort, Khali Estate, Binsar via Almora.
I started early morning by 7 AM as 66 Km and the drive is for about 2 Hours if you do not take any breaks.
After I left Almora for Binsar, i could see infinite views of snowy peaks. I stopped at lot of places to take photos of the beautiful views.
Once I reached Almora, I had to go another 24 Kms drive through lush green jungle as my destination Khali Estate is one of the only four resorts in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. The roads are good to drive and full of green dense forest.
Binsar is a Wildlife Sanctuary and it entrance is restricted after 9 PM do to wild animals around. Binsar is historically famous as the summer capital of the Chand Kings, who ruled over Kumaon from the 11th to 18th centuries AD.
The sanctuary spreads over 46 km. Its altitude varies from 900 to 2500 metres with an average height of 2412 metres.
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is the best place in Uttarakhand for birdwatching safari’s, walking treks and photography.
I finally reached my destination and stayed for a night to finish my work.
Mountain Resort popularly known as Khali Estate is located in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary near Ayarpani village in Almora district of Uttaranchal in India. The Resort is situated on the top of a hill surrounded by pine and oak forest facing the vast panorama of the majestic snow clad mountains of the central Himalayas…
The Khali estate was once owned by Sir Henry Ramsay, who was the commissioner of Kumaun from 1856 to 1884 and called by British authors the King of Kumaun. He built a bungalow at Binsar. Vijay Laxmi Pandit, the sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, also lived there.
