Uttarakhand is a hub of hidden and undisclosed travel destinations you probably haven’t heard about. You all must have visited Nainital once in your life. Believe it or not, Nainital has now become an over-rated and over-crowded place. But do you know that just 48Km away from Nainital, there lies a secluded, sublime, and stunning town that will take your breath away. Hidden amid Garhwal Himalayan range, this town is far away from all the hustle-bustle of city life.
Both Garhwal and Kumaon region in Uttarakhand offers some of the most scenic and breathtaking destinations that are still unknown for travelers. One such place is Mukteshwar! Traveling to Mukteshwar was my first ever encounter with snow-covered mountains. As the place is still unexplored by vast tourists, so you get a load of the unbelievable scenic view of Himalayan Range.
How to Reach:
The distance from Nainital to Mukteshwar is 1Hr 46 Min depending on the season. If you are traveling in summers, then most probably you won’t get snow-filled roads. But if you are planning a trip to Mukteshwar in winters then be prepared for the heavy snowfall.
The roads are filled with heavy snow and it becomes quite difficult to drive. You can easily cover Mukteshwar in one day from Nainital.
Local Transportation:
Bus, cabs, and local taxis are available in Nainital and you can also take your vehicle. The excursion from Nainital is via Bhowali-Ramgarh-Mukteshwar Road. The distance from Delhi to Mukteshwar is of approx. 9 Hour of ride by road. If you don’t want to take a road trip, then you can take the train from Delhi to Kathgodam which is the nearest railway station to Mukteshwar and is only 50-65km away.The road trip from Delhi to Mukteshwar is full of greeneries as you will witness the beauty of Jim Corbett National Park in your way.
This small and hidden town is rich and loaded with panoramic and spectacular views of India’s second-highest peak Nanda Devi. The beautiful surroundings and abundant hilly topography make this unrevealed town one of the best places to visit for peace and calm. The magnificent views of apple terraces cut into the hillsides are filled with peacefulness.
Where to Stay:
First thing first if you want to visit a place for a self-discovery then dump your phone, take a break, wear off all your worries, and most importantly do not contact anyone for a few days. Mukteshwar is one such place in India where you can stay for the endless time that too with a minimum charge. There are few home stays and campsites that offer one of the most astonishing sketches of the Himalayan range.
The Secret Garden Camp:
The campsite I chose to stay here was The Secret Garden Camp. Situated amidst the bewitching Nanda Devi and Himalayas, this campsite has its apple orchard which gives it an unimaginable view. You might feel I am exaggerating about the place but believe me this place is no less than a heavenly feeling. Moreover, I was witnessing the spectacular Himalayan range for the first time in my life and I was overwhelmed by the whole surrounding around me. I might not find the right words to express what I witnessed there!
Anyways, reaching this campsite requires a small trek of half kilometres because it is centrally located at the mountain. If you are traveling with your vehicle, you need to park it on top of the mountain. Don’t worry about safety. That’s safe!
You can enjoy local cuisines like Garhwali Dal, Kumaoni and Pahadi Chicken, Allo ka Jhol, Kafuli, Kumaoni fish, Pahadi mutton, and many other scrumptious delicacies at this campsite. The interesting part is all the local dishes are cooked with antioxidant and organic ingredients grown on their farm.
They have their different packages based on Camp, things to do, and dining. You can opt based on your requirement. One thing which makes this Campsite different from other camps is that it is friendly for every type of group – Family, Friends, Couple anyone can visit this campsite.
The owner and caretaker of the secret garden camp are very friendly and supportive. They treat you like their own family and take care of even the smallest thing you need. You can even carry your pet. The camp also offers some of the outdoor activities including rock climbing, zip-lining, and repelling with some extra bucks.
Not only this campsite is isolated and away from the crowd, but it also gives you immense peace within yourself. The people hosting us at this campsite took us to a small tour of the jungle and explained about the cultural diversity, flora, and fauna about the surroundings. We enjoyed a bonfire with music at night with lots of Kumaoni Chicken and Fish.
Places to Visit:
There are few beautiful places nearby with breathtaking views including:
Chauli ki Jali
Bhalu Gaad Waterfalls
Mukteshwar Temple
Peora village
Mukteshwar Inspection Bungalow
My visit to Mukteshwar brought many magnificent and stunning landscapes, snow-covered mountains, and endless peace within me. And if ever in life I want to stay forever somewhere, then it's going to be the Himalayas!
Here's the link of the SecretGarden Camp, Mukteshwar -
' fill='%23359391'%3e %3cpath d='M46.1538462%2c43.5714286 L41.5%2c50 L36.8461538%2c43.5714286 L36.8670256%2c43.5714286 C36.3173077%2c42.7142857 36%2c41.6851429 36%2c40.5714286 C36%2c37.4854286 38.4535641%2c35 41.5%2c35 C44.5464359%2c35 47%2c37.4854286 47%2c40.5714286 C47%2c41.6851429 46.6826923%2c42.7142857 46.1329744%2c43.5714286 L46.1538462%2c43.5714286 Z M41.4294872%2c39 C40.6150641%2c39 39.9487179%2c39.675 39.9487179%2c40.5 C39.9487179%2c41.325 40.6150641%2c42 41.4294872%2c42 C42.2439103%2c42 42.9102564%2c41.325 42.9102564%2c40.5 C42.9102564%2c39.675 42.2439103%2c39 41.4294872%2c39 L41.4294872%2c39 Z' id='Location-white'%3e%3c/path%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
