A pristine corner of the lush green paradise in the Kumaon region of the Himalayan foothills in the state of Uttrakhand A family stays on the property and manage the place and other everyday farm activities. Manohar Uncle, an activist from the times of Uttrakhand state movement, a philosopher and a rebel in heart. Basanti Aunty, who just spreads magic with her smile & an epitome of simplicity. Sh
e has a pair of cows and takes care of the home with her simplicity and charm. Vikki, their son and my friend here, a naturalist/nature expert and a pure local who knows not just the locality but is a state guide too. Cafe Birds & Words, is a concept based resto-café, homestay standing amidst an estate in a part of an NGO called Pawalgarh Prakriti Prahari. Only twenty five kilometers away from the nearest railway station of Ramnagar and around forty kilometers from the Corbett National Reserve, our place is much more than the typical forest retreat. It a recreational arena, complete with many attractions and a true haven for bird watching enthusiasts, boasting over 50 different species of birds as it’s residents, one of them being the elusive Himalayan Hornbill. The forest groves are also home to 150 species of butterflies and the nearby jungle, an abode for the mysterious leopards and tigers, making it an ideal spot for our guests who are here to explore the abundant fauna. Star Birds that can be seen in our campus- Oriental Pied Hornbill, Hooded Pitta, Black-crested Bulbul, Oriental scop Owl, Brown hawk owl, Spangled Drongo, Asian paradise flycatcher, Stork-billed kingfisher etc. The idea is for visitors to cut off from the city and soak in nature in all its beauty and imperfections. You can help make wall art, lend a hand with the current farm events, plant and harvest in the field or just chill under the tree & make friends with the cats,dogs or indulge yourself in reading your favourite books/stories from the little library at the cafe. All this is over and above enjoying all the home cooked, wholesome food and lying in the grass obviously. If you’re going with children here, there’s definitely some adventure for them in the backyard and also they can learn about the medicinal plants that are plenty in number in our campus and not forgetting the bird watching sessions that Vikki takes for our guests too.(extra fees)
You will also find Prakash (our neighbour & my friend) riding in his bicycle in the campus sometimes. Always looking for some activity to get himself involved. He can take you out for fishing lessons & give you a tour of the village too. You can choose to walk around the village, observing the quintessential rural life. We also have a little set-up admist the mango trees for music gatherings in the winter sun or under the stars. The roster of magical experiences that lay in wait for all our guests ranges from liberating experiences at our eco-friendly home stays designed to provide you a close encounter with nature while participating in multiple exciting activities such as:
⦁ Nature walks
⦁ Organic farming expereince
⦁ Jungle Safari
⦁ Mountain trekking
⦁ Interaction with the locals
⦁ Yoga programmes & retreats(dates will be shared)
⦁ Music gatherings under the stars
⦁ Star gazing
⦁ Camping under the trees & sky full of stars
⦁ Bornfire
⦁ Work with our NGO. be a part of wildlife conservation, local employment
⦁ volunteer in our programs with the Waste Warriors in cleaning the village and do small cleanliness aware programs in the village schools here.
⦁ Waterfall visit
⦁ Learn to cook Kumauni cuisines, if that interests you.
⦁ Freedom to create your own art in this open space
And then of course, there is the ultimate experience of waking up each day in nature’s lap, surrounded by the echoes of beautiful birds, roaring rivers and refreshing winds of the mountains. TREKS THAT WE OFFER:
⦁ Roopkund
⦁ Tungnath Chandrashila
⦁ Kuari Pass
⦁ Milam glacier
other than the above trekks, there are other offbeat trekks which our experts can happily offer with all arrangements. Apart from this, the intention of this green open space is to get artists under one roof. We need more artists, when the world is collapsing & losing its soul. We need the poets, the writers, the painters, the musicians,anyone who has taken their talent to an elevated platform or looking for one for it to be called Art. We are creating this space for artists to get away from their routine lives, live in the midst of nature,with other artists & get inspired. This space is an open space with lots of greenery, positive vibes & the kind of serenity that can scare an average person. Come here to stay with us, play, work, collaborate , experience & get inspired! We have tried to capture the history of this divine landscape, fondly called the land of the Gods, inside an hourglass. We want you to be a part of our bliss as we continue to embrace the nature that surrounds us and discover the joie de vivre, hidden behind the incandescent sights and sounds of our ecosystem that unravel with each passing day, filling us with a renewed life and making us one with the earth.
