A Holiday In The Hills

Is the summer heat getting to you? Follow our member Madhu Gulati’s guide to a relaxing holiday in the lake district of Kumaon

We went to Sattal in the Kumaon region during the Dasara holidays in October 2021 with our grandchildren. Known as the lake district of India, Sattal translates to seven Tals or lakes namely Nal-Damyanti Tal, Hanuman Tal, Garud Tal, Sita Tal, Ram Tal, Laxman Tal and Purna Tal. The lakes are said to be interconnected freshwater lakes and fall in the Nainital district, Uttarakhand, the name we all know.

Over to our holiday now. We flew to Delhi and the next morning reached Kathgodam by train. From there it was a taxi ride to our cottage in the hills. The lake views were reserved for the next morning. A very beautiful and calm lake, the colorful boats at Sattal Lake make for a lovely way to experience the serene waters. There are accessible hiking trails, with a good mix of oak and pine forests for company. There are options for adventure sports too like a 3-in-1 Zipline that I did with my husband Ashok and granddaughter Rhea. It was fun even though we got wet and did not have clothes to change into. 

One day, we hired a taxi and went to Mukteshwar, Satkol, Sitla Estate, Chauli ki Jali and Bhimtal. According to folklore, during the Pandavas' 12th year of exile, they couldn't find a water body to quench their thirst. Legend has it that Lord Bhima hit the ground with his mace, due to which an underground source of water came out and formed a lake called Bhimtal. Naukuchia Tal or the lake of nine corners is only four km from Bhimtal. It is famous for a variety of lotuses.

Mukteshwar is famous for rock climbing, rappelling, and many other adventure sports. There are cliffs hanging out from the hill and overlooking the valley below. There is one cliff with a big hole and that is called Chauli ki Jali. Mountains are full of legends and this one says that women who are not able to conceive should pass through the hole on a full moon night to be able to conceive. There is a Shiva Temple which is 5500 years old and is said to have been built by the Pandavas. Our next stop was Sitla Estate which is a 150-year-old house with a warm kitchen and cottages overlooking the mountains.

The next day we went to a Himalayan Ashram in Satkol. It is in a beautiful golden valley among orange groves and whispering willows. Sheeba, our daughter Kanika’s friend has a home there and treated us to lunch.

Sheeba is involved in the conservation of forests in that region and her home was very beautiful in the middle of a forest. On our way back, we shopped for local fruits, spices, and Pahari Rajmah (Kidney beans), among other things. 

This was a holiday to soak in nature. Our cottage was on a hill and we could see the sunrise in the morning from the front and the sunset from the back. We loved walking around the area, taking in the calm, and listening to the birdsong.

Sattal, Bhimtal, and Naukuchiatal are not places with a big list of attractions. But it can be a great holiday destination as you find solitude walking on the serene and enchanting trails in the midst of nature. It can be a very relaxing and peaceful time spent with the family, just like it was for all of us.

Images courtesy: Wikimedia Commons and Silver Talkies Team

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