Ever imagined what it would like to sleep in a four-poster bed, feeling like a duchess or a queen? Or have tea sitting in a bay window seat and peeping out of net curtains? Or enjoy a game of chess on the balcony of a building dating to 1860? That’s the world of WelcomHeritage Ashdale. The warmth of sitting in the drawing room settles ruffled feathers on arrival. There is no traditional lobby here and the fireplace provides comfort and has flowers that brighten up every corner. This is where the heart forgets that it’s come to an impersonal space. Welcome Heritage Ashdale is a hotel where the character of its creator is predominant.
Owned and designed by Reena Kumari, who comes from the royal lineage of Sahaspur Bilari {Uttar Pradesh}, each of the 24 rooms of the hotel has a unique character. What you see is a mix of British and royal Indian influence and the result is a pleasant and welcoming feel. While one room has a four-poster bed with net curtains, another has the high-backed king-sized ones. Then there are twin beds, coverlets of different colours and furniture in different shades and designs that are the hallmark of this boutique property. While one room will transport you to the Victorian times, you might find another to have a regal interior. My advice to everyone would be that they stay in a different room during different visits. You might also like to walk around and see the photographs of the family’s royal life.
You will also find some old furniture there as the lady [owner} has spent her childhood here. You might hear some stories if you find her around. Green Oak, the fine-dining restaurant in the hotel offers multi-cuisine dining options. The chef makes delectable dosas, rasam, cutlets, spring rolls and more.
You might like to dine in the area where the seat covers are blue and sunshine filters in through the glass. Be sure to have your breakfast here for it faces the mountains and the tall deodars swaying in the breeze are so hypnotic. Walk around in the morning and listen to the birds chirping or sit and hear the music that plays in the garden. In the evening, you might like to enjoy your drinks by the open fireside and watch the stars shine.
The building, dating to1860, was bought by Raja Bahadur of Sahaspur Bilari from Captain George Rowels of the British East India company in 1871. This was his summer home in stone and wood. As the British man sailed homewards, the Raja bought Ashdale. In 1980, the Rani of Sahaspur Bilari Indra Mohini gifted it to her daughter Rajkumari Reena Kumari, who is married to the Raja of Labhowa.
The hotel is located next to the Nainital High Court, and the famous St John’s in the Wilderness Church is right behind it. And the famous tal is barely a 10-minute walk away. There are plenty of regular tourist spots here such as Himalaya Darshan, Eco Cave Gardens, Cheena Peak, Pangot and Kilsbury Bird Sanctuaries and even the cable car. But it’s the drive in the Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve area that is exhilarating. If you are lucky, you might see some deer scampering on the path. The road is lined with temples. It’s where nature speaks a thousand words without saying a word. And not to miss is a visit to Gurney House, which is the erstwhile home of Jim Corbett. You could take back some flowery candles from Nainital as well. There are plenty of shops in Bara Bazaar but I bought some aromatic ones from Mehrotra stores. The range goes from INR 10 to INR 20,000.
Owned and designed by Reena Kumari, who comes from the royal lineage of Sahaspur Bilari {Uttar Pradesh}, each of the 24 rooms of the hotel has a unique character. What you see is a mix of British and royal Indian influence and the result is a pleasant and welcoming feel. While one room has a four-poster bed with net curtains, another has the high-backed king-sized ones. Then there are twin beds, coverlets of different colours and furniture in different shades and designs that are the hallmark of this boutique property. While one room will transport you to the Victorian times, you might find another to have a regal interior. My advice to everyone would be that they stay in a different room during different visits. You might also like to walk around and see the photographs of the family’s royal life.
You will also find some old furniture there as the lady [owner} has spent her childhood here. You might hear some stories if you find her around. Green Oak, the fine-dining restaurant in the hotel offers multi-cuisine dining options. The chef makes delectable dosas, rasam, cutlets, spring rolls and more.
You might like to dine in the area where the seat covers are blue and sunshine filters in through the glass. Be sure to have your breakfast here for it faces the mountains and the tall deodars swaying in the breeze are so hypnotic. Walk around in the morning and listen to the birds chirping or sit and hear the music that plays in the garden. In the evening, you might like to enjoy your drinks by the open fireside and watch the stars shine.
The building, dating to1860, was bought by Raja Bahadur of Sahaspur Bilari from Captain George Rowels of the British East India company in 1871. This was his summer home in stone and wood. As the British man sailed homewards, the Raja bought Ashdale. In 1980, the Rani of Sahaspur Bilari Indra Mohini gifted it to her daughter Rajkumari Reena Kumari, who is married to the Raja of Labhowa.
The hotel is located next to the Nainital High Court, and the famous St John’s in the Wilderness Church is right behind it. And the famous tal is barely a 10-minute walk away. There are plenty of regular tourist spots here such as Himalaya Darshan, Eco Cave Gardens, Cheena Peak, Pangot and Kilsbury Bird Sanctuaries and even the cable car. But it’s the drive in the Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve area that is exhilarating. If you are lucky, you might see some deer scampering on the path. The road is lined with temples. It’s where nature speaks a thousand words without saying a word. And not to miss is a visit to Gurney House, which is the erstwhile home of Jim Corbett. You could take back some flowery candles from Nainital as well. There are plenty of shops in Bara Bazaar but I bought some aromatic ones from Mehrotra stores. The range goes from INR 10 to INR 20,000.