The Quaint Bungalow in the hills that'll totally make your day!
- Rewind Getaways
- Aug 7, 2020
- 2 min read
Just under 7 hours from Delhi, an imposing colonial-style bungalow nestles in acres of dense cypress and deodar forests, a short uphill drive from Bhimtal Lake. Welcome to Freddy's Bungalow - a peaceful haven where only the sounds of nature break the silence: the wake-up song of the resident Whistling Thrush, the sharp call of a Barking Deer in the distance; the hoot of a Spotted Owl signaling dusk.
The place takes pride in being cut off from civilisation so there’s fresh juice in the morning, yes, but no TV to plonk yourself in front of. Which is actually a good thing because it gives you the opportunity to play carom marathons or badminton.
There’s ample time to picnic by the secluded lake {the staff is happy to pack a basket of goodies} and watch the sun go down.
You can cool off at the large and airy lounge and experience the 300 year old architecture, especially the beautiful fireplace with Franklin stove. There is a cozy step-down den to satisfy young travelers with a number of board games and children’s books. And there is the stunning collection of butterflies that is enticing too (this actually comes from the owner of the house Fredrick Sr's love for these winged beauties as he spent his growing up years in the woods and once he moved out of India, he left the son to take care of the house which today is a piece of heritage).
The area makes for great walks too as this part of the Kumaon Lake Region is home to a large variety of flora, fauna and aquatic life. One of the nicer family walks is a mountain track that takes you all the way to Sattal Lake (20 minutes). Long walks from the bungalow take you to small villages with the smell of cooking and the sounds of children at play.
The four bedrooms are dreamy and cosy and the wooden veranda is for the times when booze takes over and family jokes begin doing the rounds. In keeping with the principles of sustainable development, they’ve ensured that the staff is mostly local and the foods are procured from the farms nearby. The local cuisine in this region is the distinct Kumaoni food which is mildly spiced, highly nutritious and very appealing to the palate, but other cuisines are on offer too.
Best time to visit: March- June and September- December
Cost approx: INR 6500 upwards
Current Status: Open Now, You can visit with a Covid negative test report
As it's popularly said, in the 'Butterfly Effect' -a concept invented by the American meteorologist Edward N. Lorenz that small causes may have momentous effects. Take a trip here and who knows what this could lead to!
PS: This isn't a promoted post. We are not paid and we don't sell. We are just a team of passionate travellers (an FMCG marketer turned hotelier, restauranteur and busy mamma & a three year old who is growing up to love travel & our super excited team) trying to unearth lesser known and exclusive getaways around Delhi NCR, places you can easily drive down to to 'rewind and renew you'.
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