Colonial-style holiday spot in the mountains

Looking for a colonial-style holiday spot in the mountains? Nestled in Dhanachuli village, a few kilometres from Mukteshwar in Nainital, Uttarakhand, is the Te Aroha resort. The brainchild of Sumant Batra, a lawyer, writer and poet, this is a summerhouse converted into a boutique luxury hotel. Te Aroha offers its guests traditional architecture and contemporary comforts. The surroundings are breathtaking, thanks to snowcapped mountains and the serenity of the place. Explaining the meaning of the name, Batra said: "Te Aroha means ‘mountain of love' in the Maori language of New Zealand. The place completely justifies the name." Batra renovated the summerhouse but preserved its original charm. Huge decks and terraces, antique furniture, glass windows and the high-ceilinged lobby bring back the feel of the colonial era. "It is perhaps one of the few properties located in the wilderness that offer contemporary comforts of high standards and scale. The entire property has been done without the help of any architect, designer or industry expert," Batra said. All the rooms have a different ambience. The four spacious suites and six luxury rooms offer various landscape views. The menu is equally exotic. From a fine selection of Indian and continental to local cuisine, it has everything to whet your appetite. "The staff of the hotel is hired from the local village but are trained to deliver a high standard of service," said Batra, and added that the ideal time to visit the place is from October to July. A high point of the place is Cafe Flashback, a first museum café, and Bespoke Spa, a luxury spa. On can go for an evening stroll to the market, which has shops lined up on both sides of the street selling local food items. You can also enjoy a drive on the long, winding hilly road and visit popular tourist places such as Mukteshwar, Nainital, Bhimtal and Almora, with Te Aroha as a base. Resort details How far: Te Aroha is 340km from New Delhi. How to reach: By train or by car. Either way, it takes about eight hours from New Delhi. The nearest station is Bhimtal, from where you can take a local bus to the resort. Cost: From Rs3,500 (Dh232) per night for a single bedroom, rates go up to Rs9,900 for a master bedroom. mukteshwar, india FLY... Emirates From Dubai to Delhi Dh1,920 Or try Jet Airways, from Dubai to Delhi Dh1,920 Or Air India, from Dubai to Delhi Dh1,650 The closest international airport is Delhi. From here take a domestic flight to Pantnagar. — Information courtesy the Holiday Lounge by Dnata. Ph: 04 3492886