Homestay with Fruit Orchard
Ten years ago, we made a bold and necessary change—we stopped using all synthetic chemicals in our orchard. No pesticides, no artificial fertilizers, no fungicides. At the time, it felt risky. But looking back, it was one of the most rewarding decisions we’ve ever made.
At our hillside homestay in Uttarakhand, every meal begins long before it reaches the plate. It starts in the spice plantations of Kerala and the coffee estates of Karnataka—regions renowned for producing some of the world’s finest ingredients. We take great pride in sourcing directly from these origins to bring authentic, rich flavors to our guests’ dining experience.
Engaging in the art of observing and photographing birds while maintaining a profound respect for both the subjects and their natural habitats requires a responsible approach. Despite the apparent simplicity of bird-watching, birding, or bird photography, ethical considerations may arise. What guidelines should enthusiasts adhere to in order to ensure that this captivating hobby remains both respectful and environmentally conscious? This is just a basic article to make my readers aware of some issues that may not be very obvious.
Green travel is all about being kind to our planet and the people who live on it. It means finding ways to travel and enjoy a vacation that don’t hurt the Earth. This can be done by using less energy and creating less waste. You can stay in places that care about the environment (similar to our homestay), or buy things from local shops to help the people who live there.
In this short article, we’re going to discover lots of ways to travel in a green and Earth-friendly way. It’s easier than you might think, and together, we can make a big difference!
Indulge in the sensation of vacationing in a charming abode, complete with top-tier amenities that surpass those found in typical hotels or resorts. This is precisely what we offer in our homestay. While it is our personal residence, it is also a space we happily share with select guests seeking a unique and luxurious vacation experience.
We love forests, and we take our guests to experience forests in a mindful way. Forest bathing is the practice of immersing yourself in nature, using your senses to experience all that you can from the forest. From smells, sounds, views, touch, and even the feel. This has immense health benefits too.
Winter brings the gift of snow, blessing the landscape with its presence. As the flakes gently fall, the world around us undergoes a remarkable transformation into a magical winter wonderland, adorned with glistening frost. The arrival of snow completes this wondrous change, as everything becomes adorned in a beautiful blanket of fresh, white snow, creating a picturesque scene that is truly delightful to behold.
Fungi, the often overlooked lifeforms, are rarely given the attention they deserve. Yet, these captivating organisms are intricately intertwined with our lives. We interact with these enchanting beings on a daily basis, benefiting from their magical properties. They not only aid us in gardening endeavors, but also contribute to our well-being by combating diseases, enhancing soil health, and performing countless other extraordinary feats.
(This article, originally published on my photography site, is now archived here; while some details may have lost their original context over time, it still offers an intriguing read.)
A few days ago, I had the opportunity to visit a small mountain stream near my home. A group of friends and I planned a picnic there. I’ve always been drawn to mountain streams with their rugged rocks and cascading waterfalls, and this one didn’t disappoint. It promised a day filled with picnicking by the stream, refreshing dips in the chilly water, and capturing some captivating motion blurs. It was shaping up to be a fantastic day.
The Trinetra Mahadeva Temples are located on a side of a cascading mountain stream. It is a wonderful place to spend some time. It’s about 37 KM from our place.
The monsoon season brings a captivating charm to the hills. It transforms the surroundings into a lush, vibrant green landscape. The water sources are replenished, and nature comes alive with new energy. The hills become enveloped in floating clouds, occasionally confining us indoors for days. During these moments, we find ourselves captivated, gazing at the mesmerizing display of clouds through the windows, appreciating the beauty they bring to our surroundings.
During the rainy season, when the skies are perpetually grey and clouds drift through the valley, there are moments when the cloud cover parts, revealing glimpses of the snow-covered Himalayan peaks.
From late spring to autumn, our region is blessed with a bounty of fruits. Wild Fruits can be found all around. From road-sides to deep inside forests. Apart from these delicious wild fruits, we maintain a fruit orchard too. Every day, we harvest these fruits. Fresh from the farm to the plate!
Our unwavering belief in preserving nature in its true form is at the heart of our rewilding philosophy. By allowing nature to take the reins, we have successfully transformed a small patch of land into a thriving mini-forest. This sanctuary is now a haven for a diverse range of plants, insects, birds, and animals.
We take pride in our efforts to promote biodiversity and restore the natural ecosystem. Through rewilding, we have created an environment that supports and sustains various forms of life, while also providing a serene and beautiful space for us to enjoy.
For our guests, I wanted to provide a place where the could relax. As I gazed upon the small piece of land in front, I divided between rewilding the place or making it into a lawn. The comfort of our guests won and it was then clear that transforming it into a lush, inviting lawn was the perfect choice. Vivid images swirled in my mind, depicting blissful moments spent reclining on the vibrant grass under a radiant sun. I could almost feel the cool touch of a bottle of beer in my hand, accompanied by soft, melodic tunes drifting through the air. The sky above me played host to graceful clouds, occasionally caressed by a refreshing mountain breeze.
Coniferous trees (Deodars, Pines, Spruce etc.) thrive abundantly in various locations throughout my region. Having spent extensive time among villagers and foresters, I have come to comprehend the complex sentiments surrounding these. Interestingly, these trees evoke a dual response of both adoration and disdain among the majority of individuals I have encountered.
Winters can be incredibly harsh in the hills, as temperatures that may be tolerable in the plains feel considerably colder in hilly regions. The wind factor and the reduced hours of sunlight play a significant role in intensifying the cold. However, with the passage of time, I have acquired the skills to keep myself warm. I have mastered numerous simple techniques and discovered effective strategies that have proven invaluable. Allow me to share this comprehensive list with you, in the hopes that it will assist others in embracing the winter season while staying warm. Whether you reside in a region where winter has already passed or is yet to arrive, I encourage you to bookmark this article and revisit it whenever you feel the chill creeping in.
Ramlila is one of the biggest annual events in Natadol – a dramatic reenactment of the Ramayana staged over ten days. The festival offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the religious traditions, cultural heritage, and vibrant community spirit of the region.
(In the role of Hanuman!)
Continue reading Ramlila at NatadolEvery place turns beautiful with colorful sunsets. However, when it comes to Natadol, the place simply turns magical.
What is it that makes us want to sit out at night? What is so exciting standing out at night, with all the lights dimmed or switched off?
This evening, as I wrapped up my work, the sky was blanketed with clouds, and a light fog had settled in. I had completed all my farming and gardening tasks for the day. The rain had come and gone in bursts throughout, leaving the atmosphere heavy and overcast.
Terrace farming or step-farming is a way of life in the hills. In the region around our cottages, agriculture is the main occupation. Villagers toil hard to produce some of the tastiest fruits and vegetables in the region.
How do we ensure that our family, friends, and guests keep praising our food? What invites them back to us again and again, even in seasons when people don’t visit the hills?
The lock-down has been going on. So, I have started off with various tasks to keep me busy. Most of them were the tasks that I had been postponing for a long time. Creating Back-Ups, cleaning up the storage, post-processing some old files again, polishing my photo-editing skills, and catching up on lots of reading. Still, there are times when I miss going out and photographing. Today, I took out my camera and started clicking whatever I could.
Walking is man’s best medicine – Hippocrates.
Fancy your daily dose of 10,000 steps? How about that in the lap of nature? Read on and learn why we love our walks in the forests.
Hills have always drawn me in, but there’s something especially captivating about the sight of distant snow-covered peaks. Every winter, these glimmering white summits become my favorite photography subjects. With each peak, varying weather conditions, and different times of day, the landscape is constantly changing. Every day offers a fresh perspective and a new subject to capture.
(Is that an early morning snow storm on the peak that I just captured?)
Continue reading On trail of snow-capped peaksNatadol is an unexplored region when it comes to birding. Dense forests, some amount of agricultural activities, fruit trees, and scattered natural water springs, makes this an ideal location for the birds to thrive.
Have you seen how beautifully the fruit trees blossom in the spring season? This a sight to behold and treasure. No photographs can do justice to what can be seen in reality during the flowering time.
With the onset of autumn or fall, as it is lovingly called, the trees all around us start to play with colors. The leaves turn yellow and go through various shades of reds and brown before falling on the ground.
As the monsoons blanket the Kumaon hills, nature’s enchantment unfolds, painting the landscape with a tapestry of small cascades and waterfalls. Amidst this symphony of rain, the gurgling, crystal-clear water gracefully meanders over the rugged rocks, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that truly captivates the senses.
White Dutch Clover is a wonderful cover crop that we use in our orchard. Apart from making the ground look green and beautiful, it has its benefits. Ladybirds, which are also some of the most beautiful insects in nature also love to make these clover patches their homes. Various other insects also love these patches of white clover.
With the end of summer season round the corner, our laid-back village in Kumaon organized a summer festival. The people of Kumaon are very proud of their heritage and culture and this event was an ideal platform to showcase that. The three day festival had all the villagers coming together, participating and putting forth three days of simple yet engaging performances.
Once you have savored these fruits, an insatiable craving for them will take hold, compelling you to indulge in their delightful flavors year after year.
Summers brings with itself all the colors of mother nature. Leaves cover the trees, fruits start to form. The flowers start to blossom everywhere. Every nook and corner has different types of flowers peeking out.
Does the idea of driving on hill roads excite you? Are you still not confident in the driving skills required?
With the onset of winters, frost starts to set in. Every night, the temperature goes below zero and on the following mornings, nature shows itself in a wonderful way.
The Himalayas consist of various ranges. Students of geography divide them into three major ranges. The lowest range is the one that is present in the Kumaon region. For many others, Himalayas is synonymous with snow-covered peaks of the other two ranges in the north. On a clear day, these snow-covered peaks can be viewed from our cottages itself.
Lichens, nature’s wonders, stand as a testament to the resilience of life. Among the oldest living organisms, they offer a unique perspective on the quality of the air enveloping our tranquil cottages. Amidst the serene hills, we contemplate whether the air is truly as pure as our hopeful hearts desire. And it is through the lichens that we gain insight into this vital question.
