Van and Vilas do not go well together. Van means jungle, usually a place where it would get a little difficult to have Vilas (luxury) but then I guess the people who christened this particular hotel didn’t care.
Cut the Crap Mr. Jha and lets get back to topic. We were there on a tiring and wet weekend in July 2007 and wanted a decent place to kill the night. After checking out a couple of dingy ones, more so because of season, we saw this hotel right on the bank of Bhim Tal. If you are coming from main Bhim Tal bus stop (the point from which one road goes up towards Naukuchiatal), then you keep driving along side lake and look for a signage on your right. You would need to climb up and the rooms are set against the rock facing the lake.
There are 8 odd rooms and 6 odd cottages. Rooms are decent, clean loos, ok furniture and a breathtaking view. The only thing which is between you are the lake is that 15 feet tar. And since you a way above the tar, it feels like as if you are actually in the lake.
There is a common dining area but they serve in rooms as well with no extra service charges, the usual tariff is Rs 2200 on MAP 
and Rs 1800 AP for a deluxe room. We got that for Rs 1000 since it was an off season. They do not have Bar, but the state run shop is not too far and the guy can get you stuff for a tip of 20 bucks. But as always, its better to carry then to buy.
I did take the brochure and contact details but I dont have then handy now but I will get that and update it later.
All in all a nice place. 3/5
i visited van vilas resort not hotel as shri Jha has blogged in june end. Travelled many times on the road from Delhi-Haldwani- Almora to my parents.
always wanted to leave the wretched plains as all hill folks call it. The plains extend uptill haldwani-Kathgodam and then the hill road starts.
So the hills began, once hills started i wanted adecent place to break my journey . 22 km (30 min drive in hills)later you enter bhimtal the emerald green lake and you feel arrived home.
Always wanted to stop at Bhimtal but worried about unreasonable tariff from bad experiences of nainital. Never stopped for last 5 years untillsaw the place at vanvilas
website vanvilas.info.
This time i stopped and felt cheated for what they charged at Shimla a week before. Big Rooms lovely layout and VIEW of lake from everywhere..Though there was not much of a van the greenery was much more than you expected.
They treat you well without the artificial hospitality of city hotels and cook food the way you tell them to.
Pick of 2 beded/4 bedded cottages 2/4 bedded rooms and one 8 bedded dorm too.
Nice stopper on the main road and definitely better than much touted Nainital.
Thanks Bachan Singh Jee. Its actually Van Vilas Resort and not Hotel, as incorrectly reported by me.
This is digital age, I zoomed in the photograph and there is board along side lake which clearly says ‘Van Vilas Resort’ :).