The Orchard at Peora Estates, north of Nainital, is the perfect boutique getaway complete with all the modern amenities, organic home-cooked food and plenty of excursion opportunities around.
I stayed here for three nights with my wife and there’s only one word to describe it – blissful. Let’s begin with their concept – all the food is authentic farm to table that is grown in their own orchard. The food is delicious and healthy and they’ve got everything from kale to asparagus to figs growing at the back. From soaking almonds for you at night to the healthy juices (wheatgrass) to begin the day, The Orchard's attention to detail is phenomenal.
The Orchard's rooms are absolutely perfect. Large and spacious, they even have heated floors, although in summers you wouldn't really need it. The walk-in closet is huge and the bathrooms have rain showers. You never need to worry about turning on the geyser here as they have solar heating. Very impressive and it builds into their ethos here. The best part is – the view. You wake up to a view of the Himalayan range.
Looking for things to do around? The best excursion was to Kasar Devi temple. It’s an hour away by car but the drive is gorgeous and it’s like driving through the clouds. Apparently, you can go leopard spotting here however the weather was a bit spotty (pun intended) so we weren’t able to go this time. Oh well, an excuse to go back.
I will definitely recommend making this your go-to spot when you need a quick break from Delhi. Tariffs at The Orchard start at INR 15,500 per night (inclusive of breakfast and dinner).