The Golden Triangle & the Himalayas
An adventure from Rajasthan to the Himalayas. The off-the-beaten-track Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, tigers in Corbett, crafts in Jaipur and the Taj Mahal.
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Originally built in 1876, this heritage hotel is a classic colonial hill station mountain house with a rich history, lovely views, and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
The homestay comprises three buildings separated by a manicured lawn and surrounded by mountains and forests on one side and the town just below. The Apsley House and Wordsworth Cottage buildings have just five guestrooms, while the oldest wing, Abbotsford House, is home to the Prasada family and the main restaurant area. The guestrooms are comfortable and homely, with a strong heritage feel.
Dining is usually a communal affair, taking place either in the main house or on the outside lawn, which becomes ‘Chica Café’ during the day. Food is taken seriously, with a farm-to-table approach. Much of the menu is seasonal and made from locally grown produce, emphasising Kumaon cuisine. However, expect family recipes from other regions and the option of Western (or 'Continental') dishes, too.
The homestay’s charm and character come from its history, which guests can discover from the owner and host, Janhavi Prasada.The house has been in the Prasada family since 1903, and she has a wealth of information and stories about the local area, Indian politics, the culinary arts, literature, and many other subjects. The family has an evident love of literature, and books on diverse subjects are found all over the house, where the ‘Himalayan Echoes’ literature festival is hosted (organised by the indefatigable Janhavi).
For guests who want to explore outside the grounds, there are a host of excursions available from Abbotsford, including a culinary walk to a local market, a historical tour of Jim Corbett’s house, a round of golf at a unique course (watch out for leopards!), and a guided bird-watching trip into the Nanda Devi Bird Reserve – home to over 400 species of birds.
Abbotsford is a homestay full of charm and character. We’d recommend it to anyone interested in nature, history, literature, or just a welcoming atmosphere and fantastic food.
Homestay - What we mean by 'Homestay' is generally a large family owned house, still occupied by at least some members of the family. Interaction with guests is encouraged and is in fact unlikely to be avoided! These places always have bags of character are usually highly charming and can provide a fascinating shortcut towards understanding local life a little better. Facilities can range from the luxurious, to pretty basic and meals are generally taken as a group and served in the local style rather than from a menu. The service is almost always fairly quirky and idiosyncratic. Great fun.
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Map centered on Abbotsford Heritage Homestay. Zoom out to view other hotels (H) and experiences (E) in the area.
