2 cottages · set higher up
Valley-view cottages
Two separate cottages above the rest, with the whole valley in the window. Attached washroom, air conditioning, mini fridge.
Sleeps 2Rates on request
The quiet side of Kumaon.A boutique farmstay among orchards, farms and forest, 12 km from Kathgodam.
See the roomsThe Dale
Village Rausil, on Haidakhan Road
Ten rooms among mango orchards, farms and forest, with the valley in front and a lot of quiet. Every meal from our kitchen, water from our own spring, and nobody selling you a boat ride.
Same hills, none of the crowd
Six orchard rooms, two valley-view cottages and a garden suite, about 12 km from Kathgodam. Our road turns off at Ranibagh, before the Nainital and Kainchi Dham traffic begins. Easy to reach, and hard to leave.
Same hills, different pace
Skip the Mall Road. Keep the mountains.
| Time of day | Nainital in season | The Dale |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Traffic on the climb, paid parking | 12 km from Kathgodam, off the hill traffic |
| Morning | Horns and hawkers | Birdsong over the orchard, a walk to Maharaj-ji's ashram |
| Afternoon | Boat queue, shopping crowds | A picnic trail, the river with a fishing rod, the cave seat by the pond |
| Evening | Crowded Mall Road | Dinner on the farm-side deck, a film under the stars on the lawn |
| Night | Music from the next hotel | Crickets. That's it. |
Want to see Nainital anyway? It's an easy day trip. Then come back to the quiet.
We live here too. We built The Dale so others could have the quiet we wake up to, and the food we grow.
Stay
Ten rooms, every meal included
6 rooms
Orchard rooms
Step out into the mango trees. Stone feature walls, live-edge wood and warm lamps, with an attached washroom, air conditioning and a mini fridge.
Sleeps 2Rates on request
2 rooms + a private hall
Garden suite
The ground floor of the duplex: two bedrooms that share their own hall. For families and friends travelling together.
Sleeps 4Rates on request
10 rooms · up to 20 guests
The whole estate
Every room, the lawn, the hall and the restaurant, just for your group. For retreats, family gatherings and intimate weddings.
On requestPlan a gathering
In every room: attached washroom · air conditioning · mini fridge · modern furnishings · Wi-Fi · pets welcome
Room to breathe, all over the estate.
- 6,000+ sq ft
The lawn
Flat and open to the hills. Yoga at sunrise, cricket at four, a long table at night.
- 1,000sq ft
The hall
A guest lounge with reading corners, a pool table, a projector and Wi-Fi, for slow afternoons and rainy days.
- 52seats
Three places to eat
A 36-seat restaurant, an 8-seat balcony over the valley and an 8-seat table by the farm.
Pond, cave seat and movie nights
A small natural pond with a stone cave to sit in, and a screen on the lawn under the open sky.
Nothing to rush for.
Early morning
- 6:00Birdsong over the orchard. Mist in the valley below the cottages.
- 6:30Walk 500 m to the Neem Karoli Baba ashram, or yoga on the lawn.
- 8:30Breakfast on the balcony, with water from our own spring.
Late morning
- 10:30A farm and village tour, or a forest trail with a picnic basket.
- 13:30Lunch at the farm-side table.
Afternoon
- 15:00The river: a dip, or an afternoon of angling.
Golden hour
- 16:30The swing by the window, a book, or a game of pool in the hall.
- 17:30Sunset from the cave seat by the pond.
Night
- 20:00Dinner in the restaurant.
- 21:00A film on the lawn, then stars.
An organic farm and orchard, by season.
March to April
Spring flowers फूलदेई
The garden comes into flower. Help with the spring sowing, and join the village children for Phool Dei, when they leave flowers on every doorstep.
May to July
Mango season आम
Rausil is known for its mangoes. Pick them in the orchard, along with bananas and wild berries from the forest edge, and turn the surplus into chutney.
July to September
Harela and the green हरेला
At Harela, Kumaon's festival of green, everyone plants a tree. The ferns unroll, the fields fill, and the fireflies come out at night.
October to February
Spice and harvest तेजपत्ता
Dry the tej patta from our own trees, bring in the millet, make pickles, and sit in the winter sun on the lawn.
Out on the land.
Retreats, small weddings, and the whole family.
Take the whole estate: ten rooms for up to 20 guests, a 6,000 sq ft lawn, a 1,000 sq ft hall and 52 seats across three dining spaces, in a quiet valley 12 km from the railhead.
Plan a gatheringWellness & yoga retreats
Lawn sessions at sunrise, the hall for workshops, the ashram 500 m away.
Intimate weddings
A ceremony on the lawn, dinner across the restaurant and decks.
Offsites & workshops
The hall with a projector and Wi-Fi, breakout space on the lawn.
Family gatherings
Birthdays and anniversaries, with every room for your family only.
| Space | Size | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn | 6,000+ sq ft, flat | Ceremonies, yoga, long-table dinners, movie nights |
| Hall | 1,000 sq ft, projector, Wi-Fi | Workshops, talks, a lounge, rainy-day events |
| Dining | 36 indoor + 8 balcony + 8 farm-side | Up to 52 seated |
| Rooms | 6 orchard rooms, 2 cottages, garden suite | Up to 20 staying guests |
Worth the trip. Then come back to the quiet.
Most guests leave the estate once in a stay, if at all. Here is what's near, and how busy it gets.
Walking distance
Neem Karoli Baba Ashram, Rausil
About 500 m from our gate. A small, quiet ashram of Maharaj-ji in the village. Walk over at sunrise, sit a while, come back for chai.
PeacefulVillage walks
Rausil's orchards and lanes, and tea at a village shop.
Peaceful
On Haidakhan Road and around
Haidakhan Ashram
Haidakhan Babaji's ashram on the Gautam Ganga, further up our road, or a 7 km river walk with 10–11 crossings.
PeacefulHarishtal Lake
A small, quiet lake in the hills for a half-day out.
PeacefulJamrani Dam
On the Gaula, where the river walk to Haidakhan begins.
QuietChota Kailash
A hilltop Shiva temple, a steep 3–4 km climb from Pinraun. Busy only on Mahashivratri.
Peaceful, with a climbRanibagh
Jiya Rani's cave and the Gaula ghat. The Uttarayani fair is on 13–14 January.
Busy 13–14 JanKalichaur Temple
A hilltop Kali shrine above the Gaula valley.
Peaceful
Day trips across Kumaon
Bhimtal · Sattal · Naukuchiatal
The lake country, an easy day out.
ModerateKainchi Dham
Go once for darshan, at dawn on a weekday.
Very busyNainital
The lake and Mall Road. Go early on a weekday.
BusyMukteshwar
Orchards and Himalayan views, a longer drive.
Moderate
Every meal, from the farm to three tables.
Welcome to The Dale
A few things we ask, with love.
Quiet hours. Music low, and silent after 10 pm. Events keep their own timings.
Spring water. Our water comes from a spring on the estate. Please use it gently.
All meals included. Tell us about any dietary needs when you book.
Pets welcome. Keep them with you, and off the beds.
The hall. Open to every guest: books, the pool table, the projector.
Power. We have backup, but the hills cut out sometimes.
The valley
Wake up above it.
Easy to reach. Hard to leave.
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Train to Kathgodam
We're about 12 km from the station and we'll pick you up. The Shatabdi leaves New Delhi at 06:20 and arrives at 11:40; the overnight Ranikhet Express arrives at 04:55.
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Up Haidakhan Road
By road, turn off at Ranibagh, before the hill traffic. Open in Google Maps
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Pantnagar airport
The nearest airport. We arrange the transfer.
Good to know
Are meals included?
Yes, all meals, cooked from our farm and orchard.
Will we get stuck in Kainchi Dham or Nainital traffic?
No. Our road leaves the highway at Ranibagh, at the foot of the hills.
Are the rooms air-conditioned?
Yes. Every room has AC, an attached washroom and a mini fridge.
Can we book the whole place?
Yes: ten rooms for up to 20 guests, with the lawn, the hall and the restaurant.
Can we bring our dog?
Yes. Tell us when you book.
Is there a Neem Karoli Baba ashram nearby?
Yes, about 500 m away in Rausil. Kainchi Dham is a longer drive; we can arrange an early car.
Enquire
Tell us what you're planning. We'll send rates and availability on WhatsApp.