Tea Estate bungalow, 170 years old, preserved in its original quaint beauty. It is nestled in a private forest in the Lake District of Kumaon. Great for foodies, walkers, birdwatchers, nature lovers, readers, authors, artists. Peace and solitude, forest-bathing walks. Every room looks out to trees, birdsong and wilderness. Family-run. We cook and bake from the heart, and serve fabulous food, using organic homegrown and locally sourced ingredients. #Heritage #Nature #Food #Sustainable The space Picturesque, beautifully preserved Colonial-era bungalow, perched atop a hill, in the heart of a private forest estate in Nainital's Lake District, in the Himalayan foothills of Kumaon, Uttarakhand. Enjoy the warm, personalised hospitality of the family, and our delicious home cooking: Indian, Pahadi, Continental and Colonial; Paddy's delish desserts and baked goods. Organic herbs, salads and whatever is in season come straight from the kitchen garden to your plate. Breakfast in the verandah overlooking garden, with a rich spread of home-made preserves, eggs to order, toast or home-baked bread, cereal, fresh fruit, and more. Vegans and vegetarians get delicious alternatives. Special diets (ethical, religious, health) catered to. Great place for walkers, bird watchers (about 150 species of birds spotted here), authors, artists, overseas travellers looking for a restful break in a warm and friendly home before tackling more of exciting but exhausting India! We practise sustainable, comfortable living, so linen is changed every three days, and any waste avoided. No luxury but good, solid comfort. Naturally warm in winter and cool in summer, made better with additional heaters, electric blankets and wood-burning stove for winter, and in summer table fans are enough. Our property includes the forest, with no fences. Wilderness garden encourages bird and insect life. We have six extremely friendly and gentle dogs. Guest access Free wifi; living and dining room; verandah, garden, and grounds; kitchen if needed; automatic washing machine, dryer and ironing facilities; walks and guided hikes through the forests of the estate; bbq and picnics, guided village walks; Other things to note 1. Water is scarce in the hills, so guests are requested to use water with care and thoughtfulness. 2. The hills are vulnerable to forest fires, so please DO NOT light fires, smoke, or throw matches/cigarette butts in the forest. 3. You may smoke in the outdoor spaces of the property. Please ask for and use an ashtray. 4. Guests are welcome to bring and imbibe alcoholic refreshments; but please do not disturb other guests or the hosts. 5. Please carry away all your litter back to the house for disposal: do not throw anything outside, in the forest, or elsewhere. Thank you. 6. You can go swimming in the lake (at your own risk), boating, fishing (license available cheaply), kayaking, paragliding (in tandem with a pilot), hiking (guides available). 7. We have six dogs of our own. They are very gentle and friendly with humans, but do not tolerate other animals, so we have had to stop accepting guests accompanied by pets.