While I was in Nainital on 29-30/06/09, I spotted an attractive looking little hotel near the rope-way base – Hotel Ankur Plaza. It is at a height of about three floors above mall road. I was attracted by a terrace restaurant at the top and went to the hotel and met the owner/manager – Mr. Rohit Alagh. I had already decided to make another visit during the second weekend of July. During discussion, my intuition was confirmed that this hotel was once a holiday home for my company (which now has Arif Castles on its panel).

Hotel at an elevation
(more…)

We left from Haldwani at about 10:00am. In a short while we were at Bhowali Chowk from where we took the Highway to Almora. The highways in Uttarakhand are really well laid and well maintained, now. Fluorescent markers and posts are installed on all the main highways. Driving by self would have been a breeze and it was a loss that we were being driven, in a bursting-at-seams-Scorpio.

We were going to Nainital from Bareilly, from where a day trip is usually sufficient to let one have most that Nainital usually offers. My parents-in-law (it was also the occasion of my PIL’s marriage anniversary) had to make some offerings at Jageshwar, so we were straightaway hitting the highway to Almora from Bareilly. We reached Haldwani via Bahedi-Kichcha-Pantanagar. The road was in a good condition against our expectations. So reaching here was a zip as we left Bareilly at about 6:00am against our scheduled 4:00.
(more…)

I must appreciate my company for declaring a National holiday on Monday so that people could take a long weekend off and spend time with their families. This was done essentially to reward us for a blockbuster performance in June. It did not take too long to persuade the Missus to take one day off at her workplace and the plan was made to drive Nainital for the weekend. I had by then already read around 4-5 reviews on this site and had the route figured out mostly. This is just meant to be an update on the latest road conditions.

We started off on Saturday morning from Faridabad in an i10. We also have a Swift, but it was parked in Chandigarh where I usually travel for work (such complicated lives we live these days I must say).  We hit the Ring Road and then NH24 within 25 minutes. Thankfully we did not face any jam at the Ghazipur crossing and then it was peaceful cruising right upto the Garh. It had rained pretty heavily the previous night and there were spots in between where we could see Water logging by the side of the roads. The interesting point was that we were catching Delhi FM signals right upto Hotel Skylark, which must be at least 80mks from Delhi
(more…)

“Nainital” is a glittering jewel in the Himalyan necklace, blessed with scenic natural spledour and varied natural resources.

It was long awaited trip, almost for 2-3 years and finally this Holi Vacation I made it for a short trip to Nanaital and small temple Kainchi Dham situated in Bhuwali near Bhimtal.

We started our Journey from my hometown Bareilly in North western UP early in the morning as we wanted to be back by evening as Nanital is just 141 KM from my place.

Me, my wife, kid and my parents started at 7:30 and decided to have a breakfast on the way. My wife is from Rajasthan so she was enjoying the lush green outfields on the both sides of the road and my kid was sleeping as it is too early for him.

We reached Baheri a small town on the way (40 KM from Bareilly) by 8:15 and stopped at one road side shop(there were so many in a line) preparing fresh pakoras, jalebis and tea.

We had moong daal pakoras (famous in that area), Paneer bread pakora, garamagaram (hot) Jalebis bread butter and Tea. I was surprised to see that we had too much and bill was only Rs. 55. Now that is the advantage of small towns where you get everything fresh and at a lesser price than metros.

(more…)