Itmenaan Estate, located near Binsar in Kumaon Himalayas is a 100-year-old cottage with mud floors and thatched roofs overlooking the gorgeous Himalayas. The perfect getaway for the ‘mountain head.’
Mornings at Itmenaan involve unlocking your cute wooden door, feasting your eyes on a spectacular view, stepping onto the porch, sipping on some aromatic filter coffee (or chai, if that’s more your cup of tea), sinking into a cushioned wooden chair, and waiting for breakfast.
If it gets too chilly, you can unwind in the small room stocked with books and magazines, low comfy seating and individual breakfast tables. Alternatively, in good weather, head upwards to a square enclosure complete with cushioned benches and a large table.
The evenings are equally beautiful with the hills completely lit up and glass lanterns adorning the walls of the porch. We’d recommend taking this in while you sip on a glass of red wine.
PS: We liked the bathroom with its wood and stone swag the most. However, we’re still undecided on whether we liked taking bucket baths with a brass lota.
Their restaurant is perfect if you are planning a family dinner or they even a dedicated section for books where you could laze around and read your favourite one. The kitchen focuses on nutritious home-style food. Opt for a Masala Cheese Omelette, fruits and fresh juices for breakfast; sabzis (we love their dry Bandh Gobhi and dal) and a stellar Pahadi Chicken with hot rotis and coriander rice for lunch and dinner. There’s no gourmet scene here, everything’s simple yet delicious.
It might be worth the effort to ask for a cream-infused dessert; we loved their fresh whipped cream. They also bake a pretty neat apple walnut Cake.
Itmenaans Estate’s entire agenda is to allow you to just relax and do nothing but breathe the fresh mountain air with a book in hand. However, you can also take short walks to the waterfall (20 minutes away) and the village. Or head to the nearby Jageshwar Temples and the town of Almora for a bout of mithai shopping (the singauri and baal mithai at Khem Singh Rautela are popular souvenirs) and lunch (Joshu’s Restaurant and Glory’s Restaurant are both safe bets).
Price of per night starts at INR 6,000.