{"id":6645,"date":"2017-03-22T11:31:25","date_gmt":"2017-03-22T11:31:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/asoulwindow.com\/?p=6645"},"modified":"2019-12-05T19:21:00","modified_gmt":"2019-12-05T19:21:00","slug":"leela-orchards-home-stay-sonapani-at-mukteshwar-weekend-break-from-delhi-in-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asoulwindow.com\/leela-orchards-home-stay-sonapani-at-mukteshwar-weekend-break-from-delhi-in-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"LEELA ORCHARDS SONAPANI HOME-STAY, AT MUKTESHWAR: WEEKEND BREAK FROM DELHI IN BUDGET!"},"content":{"rendered":"

A VACATION AT LEELA ORCHARDS SONAPANI HOME-STAY<\/a> AT SONAPANI, MUKTESHWAR is a perfect weekend break from Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon. It is managed by the cheerful Manvendra<\/strong> Singh Barathokey and his mother. <\/strong>It was such a great last minute decision to stop at this lovely home-stay in Mukteshwar. On recommendation by a friend I stayed here for 2 days clubbed with a satisfying trip to Nainital<\/strong> and Ramgarh<\/strong>. It was drizzling when I reached. (I visited in 1st<\/sup> week of March.) The next day it was a pleasant sunny weather.<\/p>\n

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The 4 rooms of Leela Orchards Sonapani Home-Stay, Mukteshawar in Uttarakhand. You can view Almora and the snow capped mountains from here. If lucky then rainbow as well.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unfortunately I have stayed in only few home stays despite having traveling to more than 150 destinations since 2008. My lovely experience at Leela Orchards Sonapani is pushing me into trying more home stays in future. This wonderful property overlooks Himalayan range.<\/strong> It was such a memorable evening sitting with the family, sipping tea and talking about many interesting topics as bonfire warmed us. I learnt so much after this interaction. He educated me about the interesting details of local lifestyle and the centuries old temples in the vicinity.<\/p>\n

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The living room of my ground floor ‘suite’ at Leela Orchards Sonapani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar (Uttarakhand)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ACTIVITIES AT LEELA ORCHARDS SONAPANI HOME STAY, MUKTESHWAR:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The LEELA ORCHARDS SONAPANI HOME STAY makes you lazy. The nice weather, breath taking views<\/strong> right from the balcony of the room and the cozy rooms<\/strong> make you want to just sit and laze around. On the other hand, there are so many interesting things to do near the property that you will end up extracting yourself from the cozy bed. I spent much of the time exploring the pretty villages Peora, Nolikan<\/strong> and Kafura<\/strong>. The path to these villages was gorgeous. It was easy up and down hike lined with pine trees and white, pink and red flowers of fruits. I went in the month of March<\/strong> and in every direction I set my eyes there was a riot of color since it\u2019s the flowering season<\/strong>.  I also walked in the jungle area behind the home stay and met a brave spunky lady who lives all alone in the middle of the jungle.<\/p>\n

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Village walk in Kafura, Poera and Nolikan is possible near Leela Orchards Sona Pani Home-stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you choose you can cook your own food at “Heere ki khan<\/strong>\u201d using firewood and chulha (Traditional mud oven). Nature walk, birdwatching<\/strong> is also recommended here. You don\u2019t even need to go anywhere. Just keep your eyes peeled and you will see exotic birds right outside your room. I was amazed to see a flock of gorgeous White Crested Laughing Thrush<\/strong>. Himalayan Spangle, Wild cock, Grey Headed Canary Flycatcher, Blue Capped Redstart, Himalayan Bulbul, Green Backed Tit, Black headed Jay, Barn Swallow are some of the other birds I spotted.<\/p>\n

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This was my favourite part of the rooms at Leela Orchards Sona Pani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar. I would sit and eat Maggi here, looking at the misty mountains. Or read a book.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One can also visit NGO Chirag<\/strong> and NGO Aarohi<\/strong> in Peora village. If you are fit, I would recommend an 8 kms long trek from Leela Orchards Sonapani to Mukteshwar temple<\/strong>. Visit to ancient Kapeelshwar Temple<\/strong> on river bed side is also a must. It is near a primary school. You can donate money and books to the school, if you wish. Within 40 kms of range, you can visit Jageshwar Temple, Chitai Temple, Sun Temple<\/strong> (In Almora), Kasar Devi Temple and Binsar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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En route my walk to Kafura and Peora Village near Leela Orchards Sona Pani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

THE ROOMS AT LEELA ORCHARDS SONAPANI HOME STAY, MUKTESHWAR:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The rooms are large and cozy<\/strong>. True to its genre, the rooms exude a home like warmth. I told them it is like staying at a relative\u2019s house. The wood paneling<\/strong> was soothing to the eyes. There are a total of 4 rooms<\/strong> in the home stay. 2 rooms are on the first floor while 2 rooms are in the ground floor. I stayed in the ground floor. The moment I entered the room, I took a pause in the drawing room before rushing to see the bed room. The drawing room delights with its thoughtfully done up furniture placement. 3 large windows<\/strong> overlooked the verdant valley and the distant mountains of Almora<\/strong> and others. Cushioned seats lined the windows. I would fold my legs on the couch, pull a blanket, slurp on my Maggi Noodles and hot tea while enjoying the misty views from the<\/strong> comfort of my room. It sure felt like home, though in an exotic location. At other times, I would sit by the window and read one of the many travel magazines so thoughtfully kept by the owners on a writing table nearby.<\/p>\n

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Manvendra Singh Barathokey and his mother at Leela Orchards Sonapani Home-stay, Mukteshwar. In far distance is their ancestral home. (Pic: Leela Orchards)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The attached bedroom is large<\/strong>. The bed is King Size and is cozy. It has large windows and wood paneling. The charging points are next to the table. There is no dearth of cupboards and almirahs in the drawing room as well as the bedroom. When I entered the door of the attached bathroom, I was dumbfounded for 2 minutes. It was so huge that I was comparing its size to my first flat in Mumbai (I stayed in Mumbai from 2008 to 2015). Manvendra told me the same, \u201cTravelers from Mumbai often tell me my entire flat is the size of this washroom.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Views of Almora during my village walk\/trek in Poera and Nolikan near Leela Orchards Sona Pani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When I checked out the upper rooms<\/strong>, I found them equally good if a bit smaller. The drawing room disappeared. The size of room and washroom was a bit smaller. But it\u2019s still great for 2-3 people. (Extra beds are available). The washroom has a back door about which Manvendra told me, \u201cGuests love to open this door while brushing their teeth and shaving. It offers them views of the mountains.\u201d The reduced indoor space is compensated with even more grander views of the valley<\/strong> below. There is ample space in the large terrace and I am sure it serves as a perfect private space for families and friends. I also took the stairs to the rooftop in the night. Almora city was all lit. The lights made the city look like a giant glittery fish<\/strong>. As if the construction on hills was done to make it look like a fish.<\/p>\n

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Manvendra at Leela Orchards Sona Pani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

HOW DID SONA PANI GET ITS NAME? THE FAMILY HAS AN INTERESTING TALE TO TELL:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leela Orchard Sonapani has an old natural spring in the middle of the property. The area is named Sona Pani<\/strong> (Literal meaning: Gold water) because of the perceived medicinal properties of the natural spring water. The folklore has it that during the British Raj era<\/strong>, some British army officers from a cantonment nearby tasted the water while crossing the ridge. Impressed with the quality of the water, during much of the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century, ponies and horses were employed to supply the water from this natural spring to the British officers of the nearest army garrison which was Almora.<\/p>\n

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Captain Kushal Singh Barathokey. He gave Sona Pani its name. (Credit: Leela Orchards
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Captain Kushal Singh Barathokey<\/strong> was one of those officers. He was a much feted soldier of the 3rd Queen Alexandria’s Gurkha rifles<\/strong>. Upon his retirement, the British asked him to select land of his choice. Of all the land Captain Barathokey chose this particular land and christened it ‘Sonapani Estate’. The subsequent generations took care of the land. Manvendra sure is a deserving inheritor of the land.<\/p>\n

Manvendra\u2019s grandmother, a housewife was a dynamic lady. There is an old family house near the Leela Orchards Sonapani home-stay. When this house was built, Sona Pani area was a dense forest frequented by fierce tigers. While the house was being built, she used to stand at the construction site, holding the rifle for the safety of workers. She used to say to workers, \u201cIf being a lady I can stand here with a rifle, what\u2019s making you so scared to build a house here?\u201d She used to come all the way from Almora to Sonapani on a horse for the construction of the house. <\/em><\/p>\n

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Great Grandmother of Manvendra from Nepal. Leela Orchards Sona Pani, Mukteshwar (Pic credit: Leela Orchards)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The dining room of Leela Orchards Sonapani is decorated with the many hats collected from India and other countries. It is the part of the collection of Manvendra\u2019s father. Manvendra\u2019s father Late Shri Dipendra Singh Barathokey was a businessman. The Leela Orchards was his brainchild. He may not be around but his legacy lives through the property. Manvendra\u2019s father was born around the same time the ancestral home opposite the home-stay was built. He later named the home-stay after the name of Manvendra\u2019s grandmother.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Delicious Steamed Rice, Bhat Ki Dal, Saag, Badi at Leela Orchards Sona Pani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand. I also ate maduwe ki roti with ghee and jaggery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

THE FOOD AT LEELA ORCHARDS SONAPANI HOME STAY, MUKTESHWAR: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Me along-with Manvendra, his mother and his cute cat sat together next to a bonfire<\/strong> in the<\/p>\n

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How about dining al fresco, next to an earthen oven. At Leela Orchards, Sonapani, Mukteshwar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

night. We talked for hours, losing track of time. Manvendra is the go to person if you want to learn about the local culture. Despite his young age, he had answers to all my questions. We sat at the canopied open area just outside the kitchen and the dining hall. The family, staff and the pet cat stay in this part of the resort. The conversations were followed by a delicious home cooked dinner including hot maduwe ki roti, smeared with ghee<\/strong> (Clarified butter) and jaggery. On the next day, I demanded to eat more local meals. I was served delicious bhat ki dal, mixed green leaves saag, home-made pickles, fruit chutney<\/strong> (I over ate) and badi<\/strong> in a mildly spicy curry. It was a very satisfying meal which left me begging for more. There is a large kitchen garden<\/strong> near the home-stay where the family grows vegetables, fruits and more. You feel the difference in the food since it is all organic. It’s enriching experiences such as these which keep me motivated to travel. The warmth of the family has made this trip special.<\/p>\n

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My room in Leela Orchards Sona Pani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AT LEELA ORCHARDS SONAPANI HOME-STAY, MUKTESHWAR: <\/strong><\/p>\n

The home-stay promotes treks, long walks and communing with nature<\/strong>, none of which makes you guilty of adding carbon footprints. I was also delighted to see bottles of filtered water<\/strong> and not mineral water bottles which generate plastic. All the food that you eat is pesticide food and organic<\/strong>. Little initiatives like these go a long way in creating a better planet. I request that if you go there, please pack all the plastic which you generated and bring it back to the city and dispose. I myself collected all the chips and wafers packets which I brought along and stashed them in my bag. It is always good to clean your own mess.<\/p>\n

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Late Shree Dipendra Singh Barathokey with his pet dogs at Leela Orchards, Sona Pani in Mukteshwar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BEST TIME TO VISIT LEELA ORCHARDS, SONA PANI, MUKTESHWAR:<\/strong><\/p>\n

March and April:<\/strong> I went in March and the entire area was a surreal landscape. It is the flowering season and I could see rows of red, pink, white, yellow flowers in whichever direction I set my eyes on.<\/p>\n

Mid May to July:<\/strong> It is fruit season. Expect trees laden with peach, apricots, apples and much more.<\/p>\n

July and August:<\/strong> Monsoon is a great time to explore the rich flora and fauna of the area. I was shown some monsoon pictures which made me think of planning a visit again in monsoon.
\nSeptember to January:<\/strong> Best season to see clear views of the Himalayan range is from<\/p>\n

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This old mansions is the ancestral property of the owners of Leela Orchards, Sona Pani, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

HOW TO REACH LEELA ORCHARDS HOME STAY, SONAPANI, MUKTESHWAR:<\/strong><\/p>\n