JILLING TERRACES in UTTARAKHAND

the main building at sundown

Three years back while hiking to Mt. Everest base camp in Nepal, inhaling in its thin but pollution free, fresh and healthy air I was wondering whether India being much bigger in size and with wider spread of Himalayas has such unadulterated place to offer? And three years later this April, I found my answer in Jilling Terraces, Uttarakhand.

Meditating in nature's lap

the Jilling trail

Nestled aloof on a hill in Uttarakhand, Jilling Terraces is not easy to reach. Nothing compared to Everest trek though but still a nice steep 45mins hike to reach this heaven. But I believe good things in life should never be easy, that way they are valued and cherished more.





Once you are up there, your mind goes to a self cleansing mode. No worries, no stress, no past and no future. Time literally freezes. But mind you, it's not just the pretty location that enchants you to this place. It is as beautifully done inside by its architect duo owners as outside by nature. Every furniture piece, cutlery and crockery, fabric, artifact and lamp is an art piece not just tastefully collected but carefully carried over shoulders to this height.

valley view from the rooms

dining lounge

And home stays are worthy of visit if you feel mother care in the hands of your hosts. The caretakers are friendly, helping and ready to go an extra mile for your comfort with a big smile. Fresh Rhododendron juice, omelettes and parathas for breakfast, authentic kumaoni meals of pahadi dals, mutton, achaar with phulkas along with the pure air to breathe in; takes care of your health all the while you are there.


On reaching, it took us an hour to calm down the excitement of being there. After which we had lunch and a nap to rise up to a setting sun, enjoying it's beauty with a cup of tea in the verandah. We took a walk around and went to playing board games in the dining lounge over snacks and rounds of drinks followed by scrumptious dinner. The food made us edacious and we ate too much to initiate a round of story telling session near the chimney till we felt the need to retire for the day so that we can begin the next day hand in hand with the rising sun.
Second day began with yoga in the open. After breakfast we went for a long trek; up to the edge of the hill to the village at the foot of the hill and back to our little heaven. Then exhausted, we lazed around the rest of the day chit-chatting, napping and reading books from their wide collection.
We regretted to leave on the third day and so I would recommend 3 days and 3 nights minimum stay to explore and experience and a day or two more to relax and replenish your energies after all the jumping around.

But all in all, it's a place that you visit and never leave instead you leave a part of you at the window sill, on the deck or at the dinner table and lock up its beauty in your memory so that you can revisit it every time your busy life takes over, at least till you plan to come back, which we certainly are.

              

Ringol cottage

    

Padam and Kafal



Uttish and Buransh

• Location - Bhimtal Road, Uttarakhand
• Commute by air - nearest domestic airport @ Phoolbagh, Pantnagar is around 50kms away. nearest international airport @ Delhi is around 295kms away.
• Commute by rail -  nearest railway station @ Kathgodam is around 44kms with Shatabdi running every day to and fro.
• Commute by road - nearest hotspot Nainital is some 30kms away and you need taxi in any of the above cases. Call for Jitin Bhai's taxi service @ 9412039589, it's very prompt with decent drivers.
• Commute on foot - from matial village (at the foot of Jilling) to Jilling Terraces, the hike is 2kms (nearly 45mins). They send portars for luggage but carry rucksack (that would be better for porters to carry). Wear proper shoes (climbing ones, if you have or shoes with good grip will do) and comfortable clothing for the hike.
• Stay details - the rooms are named after endemic trees of the region. Buransh and Utish on the ground floor with common verandah, an extra room with single bed and chimney; Padam and Kafal on the first floor with a wide window framing nature by the bed and the cottage Ringol with a living and dining space, a double height toilet (too sexy), verandah and terrace overlooking the valley.
• In and around - trek to nearby two villages Paniali and Kanarkha or the Gaula river. Play board games in the lounge, read books or just sit around watching birds glide and chirp and the play of sun and shade over the mountains.
• Seasons - Summers are pleasant in day time and
  cooler in nights, rains are dramatic to visit and winters would be chilling with snow mountian views.(chimneys and electric bed warmers would take care of your sleeps)

during nights