Escape to Kumaon

any idea where he is? havent heard from him for a long time.

Yes Piyush I remember that and also remember our long discussion about beauties/culture of Kumaon in that thread.
Actually if you travel with open mind, you are bound to develop some contacts/friendship/close associates. During my travel to Kumaon, I also could develop contacts with some of them. They are really very good people by heart. I normally get some feedbacks about something related to Kumaon travel in addition to their well being/problems etc.
Nevertheless I know Kumaon is your HOME PLACE and we being a Kumaon lover appreciate your dedication to IM.
Shyamal

Hi Friends,

I was thinking of booking KMVN rest houses through their website. However, wanted to check how the experience is? Does it give any vouchers? And have there been any instances of botched up reservations.

My concern stems from the fact that the website is sometimes off (suspiciously it was off last sunday - maybe their servers were on holiday!)

And the fact that they ask almost all personal details while registering - the bank account no. and branch too! I thought the booking will happen through credit cards.

I would be grateful if someone can share their experience.

Thx, Zany.

There is a slight modification in the itenerary. The changed plan is as follows:
Dec 24- Leave for Kathgodam/Haldwani from Delhi by night train
Dec 25- Reach Kathgodam in the morning. Leave for Chaukori. Night stay at Chaukori.
Dec 26- Chaukori to Munsyari. NS at Munsyari
Dec 27- Munsyari to Kausani. NS at Kausani.
Dec 28- Kausani to Nainital. NS at Nainital
Dec 29 - Spend the day at Nainital. Leave Nainital by afternoon for Kathgodam. Catch night train for Delhi.
Dec 30 - Arrive Delhi.

I know that I am trying a little too much, and squeezing a lot of places...however, I would like to do this this since I want to cover maximum number of places. As suggested by other IMers I am not doing Munsyari-Kathgodam on a single day. No, my questions are:
1. What are the staying options in thse places (I know there are many hotels in Nainoital, but what about Kausani/Munsyari/Chaukori?). I have looked up the internet, and all the hotels in that area seem to be prohibitively expensive! Is there any options of a budget hotel there (my budget is approx. Rs 700-800 per day exclusive of food, which I think is a good enough budget for a decent accomodation during the off season). Can anyone suggest any budget hotel in that area?
2. I know this question has been answered before, howver, I am repeating this question - any suggestion for a reliable car driver in Kathgodam/Haldwani? Can I hire an Alto/Indica for Rs 1000-1200 per day inclusive of all costs?( the driver's food+acco. costs). Does anyone have the contact number of good driver?
Regards,
Sagarneel.

Just trying to answer to your queries as per your modified plan.
It is not clear to me whether you will be travelling with your family members or not, still if travelling without family members what I presume, then also the travel plan looks somewhat hectic. In fact Chaukori and Munsiary -- both require two sunrise and two sunsets(For Munsyari) in principle. Specially the sunset at Munsyari over Panchchuli. However your programme is doable if you hire a car at Kathgodam, keep it with you througout and make the driver clear about your travel programme. Now about the queries to answer pointwise;
1. About decent hotels in those places within your budget as you mentioned --- KMVNs give some discount during off season but the definition of the off season is getting changed. Dec end is not the off season at least for the drivers-- still KMVNs are the best reasonable accomodations. But at Kausani you may think for hotel Saagar/hotel Prashant instead of KMVN because of the proximity to Gandhi Ashram/locality etc.
2. There are lots. Yesterday I was covering my backlogs. I found one member mentioning the contact numbers of the recommended drivers in those area. All are good. Still my favaourite is Anil Bisht, not only because of my travel experience with him but also as per the feedbacks I received from lots of IMers who took his service. His contact no 09719276921. The price tag you mentioned 1000-1200/day (inclusive of all cost) for small car probably needs to be reviewed. It looks to me in a lower side. Just confirm .
Shyamal

I have planned to go to Binsar, Kausani and Chaukori in mid-Nov. Need guidance on the following;
1. Since I understand these places (especially Chaukori) is a lonely place, any safety precautions required?
2. In case of a snowfall (i know this is unlikely), will the roads be blocked and if yes, for how much time?

I have finalised a car booking from ktgdm for @ 6 days with Anand Goswami. I hope his services and the car are good.

Need an urgent feedback.

Thanks so much for the prompt and very informative response! I will be travelling with my wife from Delhi, and fully agree with you that I am trying to do a little too much! I am now thinking of curtailing the plan for Nainital, and include an extra day in either Munyari or Chaukori!
I have looked up the KMVN website, and as per them the time when I will be travelling will be peak season with the lowest price of the TRHs (for a double bed room) being in a bracket of Rs 900-1200. I will try to find out the tarriffs of the other hotels you mentioned.
Regarding the driver, again I would agree with you, going thru all the threads I think Mr Anil Bisht is the best one in that region...thanks so much for his number, will definitely get in touch with him, as it is my plan to hire a car for my entire trip! However, as I came to know form this thread that a full Qualis is peak season (during Sept-Oct) costs around Rs 1500 per day. Considering the fact that I wont need a big car, and an Alto would suffice, Rs 1200 per day seems to be reasonable to me (Rs 1000 a day inclusive of everything is taxing the driver, I agree).
Regards,
Sagarneel.

My I know the price he is quoting and his contact details?

Regarding your oter queries:
1. If you are travelling in the Himalayas, the one thing you can be most sure about is safety...people of the hills are honest to the core of their heart, and there is no issue with safety in these regions.
2. Roads are unlikely to get blocked unless it snows abnormally.
Regards,
Sagarneel.

Thanks a lot Sagar. I am simply astonished by this blog. It offers an immense information on the region for the beginner tourists like me. I had visited Kausani about 8 years back and had vowed to visit here again. So am I. I was unmarried that time and I am going with my family now. I think things must have changed a bit since my last visit.

Anand Goswami is charging me Rs. 1200 per day for a petrol Indica cab including fuel for about 800 km. I think even if I include Bageshwar, P. Bhuvaneshwar and some other places on the way, I would be still left with some addl. km.

I had planned for Binsar, Kausani and Nainital earlier. But after seeing this blog, I have decided to drop Nainital and include Chaukori. I and my wife have independently seen Nanital before and anyways it can be done again with a small vacation.

I shall be booking in KMVN TRH. Not booked yet, since the availability on their website is pretty good. In fact, I would keep other options open in case I don't find the KMVN to be so good at any of these locations.

Anyone suggests any change in my plan? I am planning to spend 2 days each at Binsar, Chaukori and Kausani in that order.

Thanks for the info on the rate!
This is really a very useful website, with lots of information! Even I am planning the same circuit around mid December, and like you, I too, havent made any bookings. I would strongly suggest that you keep other options open, as I think the price KMVN is quoting (as per their website)is pretty high and you can get equally good accomodations at a lesser price. I can suggest you to plan for Munsyari in addition to the places you mentioned. However, I dont think there are enough options to stay at Binsar, so probably, KMVN would the best place to stay here!
Regards,
Sagarneel.
PS- May I have the contact details of Mr Goswami?

Anand Goswami - 9568274128

You may give him my reference if he quotes higher rate. I have not met him yet and not aware of his services and the condition of the cab.

I would have loved to be at Munsiyari. But I think it's @ 120 km from Chaukori which would be about 7 hrs. journey I suppose. I will be in Kumaon for 7 days dot and if I want to visit Munsiyari, I will have to drop Kausani, otherwise it would be too much of a travel. Plus I have my son with me who is just 3 years old. So I would like to stay at one place for @ 1.5-2 days and travel on the 2nd or 3rd day. Would anyone suggest whether it is worth to include Munsiyari at the expense of Kausani?

What are the reasonable options at Chaukori and Kausani/Munsiyari for staying other than KMVN?

Yogesh

Thanks again Yogesh for the response...even I would suggest you not to squeeze in too much as you will be travelling with your son (however, today's kids are amazing, they are more pinstaking than adults )...since I am travelling for the first time too, I wont be the best person to judge between the beauties of Kausani and Munsyari, however, having read so much about Munsyari, I think it is more than worth a visit!!
For hotel options in Kausani and Chaukori you can see the following:
http://www.almoraonline.com/


http://www.uttaranchalonline.info/Ku...a/Chokori.html

I chanced upon thse sites just now, as I have the same questions as you and was trying to google the answers. Hope these will be of help, as they contain info on quite a number of hotels.

Fo Munsyari, you can try the link of of a hotel called Pandey lodge (just type pandey lodge in google, you will get the results).
Regards,
Sagarneel.

Can any one let me know what is the way to book the forest rest house in Shitlakhet just beside the KMVN.I am planning to go there by the 3rd week of December.

In Binsar, Kausani and Chaukori, is the mobile phone network available? I have AirTel as well as Vodafone. If no, at least the STD is available?

Secondly, how shall I get warm water to drink for my son especially at all these places? If I stay at KMVN TRH, are they kind enough to provide me this?

I am looking forward to a great trip to these places and really excited about it.

Anirban,

You may try calling Sh. Manoj, Forest Officer of Almora at 09412097050