It's been more than 2 years that I visited Firdaus in Naukuchiatal and now that summers are here, I am craving a visit to this beautiful place in the hills. Recently I have shared about some of the offbeat hill stations in North India and in Kumaon region, I like Naukuchiatal the best. And Firdaus is one of the main reasons why I love this hill station so much. This Photo Journey shares more about the place and interesting things to do/explore around it.
Thapalia Mehra Gaon (village) is located around the Lake and this cottage, a homestay called Firdaus, is beautifully located on a peaceful hill in this village. The homestay is very well maintained and is a great place to spend summers with family or friends.
Naukuchitaal is a small town around a beautiful lake. You can enjoy boating & kayaking in this lake. There are some opportunities for hiking or paragliding around this place. The town has two beautiful resorts, which are usually preferred by folks in larger groups.
When Nandan (Ghumakkar) visited this region of Uttrakhand, he dreamt of having a nice home in these hills. He has visited SaatTal and Naukuchiatal many times. Over a period of time he found a piece of land around the lake. It took good amount of time to build this dream house. Nandan, Smita, and Pihu love to visit Firdaus at least every alternate weekend :). They drive from Delhi to Naukuchitaal.
When I visited Firdaus, we started early in the morning(5:30am) and reached by 12:30pm. The drive from Kathgodam till Nauuchitaal is awesome and if you are lucky clouds would play hide-n-seek with you on the way. Don't worry, if you don't experience that on the way because Naukuchitaal would offer many such surprises to you.
One big reason for anyone to visit this town is the greenery. While it is pretty almost the entire year, in the monsoons it is heaven. If you love trees, shrubs, grass, and all things green, this is the place to be.
Firdaus itself is very thoughtfully done up by Nandan and Smita. The little garden is full of surprises like this cute little toad you are likely to run into while taking a casual stroll.
Plants have been carefully chosen and a mix of flowering and foliage plants have been used to create the right mood.
Interiors are bright and colourful, so your holidays are sure to be a cheerful affair. Minimal, yet tastefully selected furniture helps take your mind off the clutter.
Simple and cozy, it is comfortable in its skin and doesn't try to be anything else. Stay there if you are not too worried about luxury and are comfortable as long as your necessities are taken care of.
And of course there is enough drama outside!
Warm, comforting, and soothing - It feels like home. The space is ideal for artists and writers who wish to be away from the crowd and concentrate on their work.
The cottage stands amidst breathtaking landscapes. Clouds are frequent visitors and in spite of being alone, you will never feel lonely.
And the drama outside continues
The proud owners, Nandan and Smita, with the caretaker of Firdaus, admiring the view of the lake.
If you are looking for a peaceful place to stay, away from all the touristy stuff, I would strongly recommend a visit to Firdaus. The place will charm you and make for a memorable stay. You will want to go back there again and again.
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