The Himalayan Village, Sonapani

The Himalayan Village, Sonapani is located at Satoli, along the Nainital-Mukteshwar road. It is at a distance of just 55 Kms from the main town of Nainital and has a distinct serene environment that’s hard to find so close to the nearby towns. This makes it a perfect weekend getaway for people coming from New Delhi, Gurgaon, Jaipur and Chandigarh.

Sonapani has an old natural spring water that has medicinal properties and has been there since the British times.

Accommodation: The place offers 12 comfortable accommodation choices including 2 Family and 10 Standard Cottages. The spacious rooms are earthy and provide a unique feel. Each place offers a beautiful view of the surrounding hills, even from the comfort of your beds! It is indeed an ideal place to unwind, relax and rejuvenate.

Activities: Set on 20 acres of land, amidst the cool mountain breeze, the place has a rustic appeal to it. It has a humble yet has a unique charm to its setting. At the Himalayan Village, Sonapani you can indulge in Nature trails, rock climbing, Rappelling, River Crossing and other excursion trips. And what makes this place magical is the sunset with the views of the Himalayan range. While the elders snuggle up with a book or photography, the kids get to learn kite flying and painting.

There are also village walks that take you along the tiny villages spread on the mountain trail that lets you interact with the villagers and feel the village life.

Eating: They have their own orchard and organic farm, so the food available is fresh and cooked home-style. There is a choice of Indian, Chinese or Mughlai catering to all your taste buds. The Dining Hall is spacious and doubles up as a conference hall, so many corporates visit here for their offsite trips too. There’s even a bonfire for winter nights to keep you warm while you all relish in the delicious cuisine offered including their homemade apple pie, that’s quite popular.

Along with its Yoga Programs, this pleasant Eco-retreat is now also known for its music & theater festivals.

For details & tariffs please visit the official website

What to do

Kapileshwar Temple, Mukteshwar:

This ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and named after Sage Kapila, who is believed to have performed penance and attained enlightenment here.

To visit the temple, you can embark on a 10 km trek or take a road journey, which involves a 45-minute drive from Mukteshwar followed by a downhill trek of approximately one kilometer. Built by the Katyura Kings between the 8th and 10th centuries, the temple showcases stunning stone-carved architecture. It is located at the confluence of the Kumiya and Sakuni rivers, in a secluded and serene setting.

As an ASI-protected monument, the temple holds great significance for the surrounding villages. The route from Sonapani passes through the traditional village of Mona. The nearby small river makes it an ideal spot for a day picnic.

Bhalu Gaad Waterfalls

Bhalu Gaad is a 60-foot-high waterfall that forms a horseshoe shape as it plunges down. Perfect to visit in any season, this waterfall is a recent discovery. To reach it, drive 7 km from Mukteshwar to Dhari Village, where the trek begins. The trek is a beautiful 30-45 minute walk through dense forests and along mountain streams.

The hike is a scenic journey through dense jungle, marked by continuous ascents and descents. The river flows along the trail, accompanied by the constant chirping of birds, creating an idyllic ambiance. During the trek, you’ll cross three streams. At the end, you’ll encounter large rock boulders that you need to climb over to reach a natural, clear pool filled with chilled water.

Found this blog by Kacy McKinney and Sage Van Wing who stayed at Sonapani and have volunteered for quite some time. They pen down their thoughts about life in the village, its people and the peace they found living there.

Location and Distance Guide

By Road: Kathgodham is approx. 275 Kms from New Delhi.

Best Route: Ghaziabad-Hapur-Moradabad-Rampur-Bilaspur-Rudrapur-Haldwani-Kathgodham. From Kathgodham, Satoli is another 69 kms. You park your vehicles at Satoli and from there on, take a walk for 20-30 minutes to reach the Himalayan Village, Sonapani. As you walk, you move along meadows, a pine forest and of course, get a glimpse of the Himalayan Ranges. For your luggage and kids, there are ponies!

By Train: Take the Ranikhet Express, From Delhi (Train No: 5013) and From Kathgodham (Train No: 5014) which starts from New Delhi at 10:45 and reaches Kathgodham at 6:10 am next morning. The night journey is comfortable to make you feel energetic for the coming days. Visit www.irctc.co.in for train bookings

Transportation Options: The Himalayan Village, Sonapani  can help arrange transportation for you or a group with advance knowledge. This can be right from picking you up from New Delhi or from thew Railway station at Kathgodham.

All images copyright Himalayan Village Sonapani Official facebook page