We visited Patlidun, in the month of January. The truly Indian welcome, with the tikka and the drink; hot ginger honey water at the Patlidun Safari Lodge, leaves you curious for more.
Each corner of the property has been thoughtfully built, with a story to tell. Let's start with name 'Patli- Dun', meaning Narrow (Patli) and Valley (Dun). You arrive at the property in a 4by4, with tall Sal trees around you, which is an experience in itself. The first thing you notice is the beautifully painted wall of the sitting area. The drawing is called 'Aipan', a traditional art of Kumaon. It is a 'Rangoli' like painting, which is considered to be auspicious for wealth and power. The locals, also, paint these 'Aipans' on cloth and and on the floor at their house entrances.
The stones used to build the rooms at Patlidun, have been procured from old houses as the stone mines producing Uttarakhand Stones, were shut down in 1982. There is also 'Italian' marble used, which is approximately 200 years old. All rooms have paintings depicting the Kumaoni festivals, which gives a local and welcoming touch.
We checked in to the property at late evening hours, where a bon fire was arranged with a classy bar on the side and an array of hot exotic snacks, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. High chairs for the kids let you enjoy the drinks, without worrying about them. The evening session was followed by Chinese dinner in our rooms. The first sight of the cottages as you open the door, is nothing but pure luxury. There is a sitting area with all amenities and a bathroom and then as you enter the room, you see fine pieces of furniture, hand picked by the owners themselves from various parts of the country, mainly Jodhpur. The cottages are huge, and also have an open area to sit and admire the beauty of the jungle and the hills. As you move further, you see another big room with bathing and the wash. The bathtub with the wild look, adds on to the beauty of the cottage. The most fascinating part, was the 'Star Window', you can lie down on the bed and keep gazing at the stars, till you go off to sleep.
The private pool, along with all cottages is enough to lure you for a dip.
A very interesting place that caught our attention was the dhaba, which opens only in the evening for 2 hours. You can sit back and relax, with Masala Chai being made and served the Dhaba way. Also, the containers and accompaniments and the whole decor gives you a rustic but a cozy feel.
The restaurant is big enough to accommodate a large number of people, with an option to sit in the open area. Also, the food served is extremely well made and delectable to all palettes.
Next to the restaurant, a TV room lets you chill after an early long day with nature. The big screen with projector, adds on to the whole experience.
The safari and other activities, which are provided by the resort are highly recommended. The minutest of the requirement is taken care of. Even if you skip your tea, while rushing for the morning safari, a hot cup of ginger tea awaits you, right before you hop on the jeep. The courteous staff, also arranges for a blanket and hot water bottle for one to enjoy the drive amidst the jungle, while spotting some wild animals. If luck favours you, a tiger can be spotted too. The morning hunger pangs are also taken care off, with the packed breakfast and hot tea. Having breakfast in a jungle, can be well imagined as adventurous and exciting.
As souvenirs, the gift shop, has a large variety of items to choose from at a decent price.
'Patlidun' is not just another resort, it is an experience to remember.
Each corner of the property has been thoughtfully built, with a story to tell. Let's start with name 'Patli- Dun', meaning Narrow (Patli) and Valley (Dun). You arrive at the property in a 4by4, with tall Sal trees around you, which is an experience in itself. The first thing you notice is the beautifully painted wall of the sitting area. The drawing is called 'Aipan', a traditional art of Kumaon. It is a 'Rangoli' like painting, which is considered to be auspicious for wealth and power. The locals, also, paint these 'Aipans' on cloth and and on the floor at their house entrances.
The stones used to build the rooms at Patlidun, have been procured from old houses as the stone mines producing Uttarakhand Stones, were shut down in 1982. There is also 'Italian' marble used, which is approximately 200 years old. All rooms have paintings depicting the Kumaoni festivals, which gives a local and welcoming touch.
We checked in to the property at late evening hours, where a bon fire was arranged with a classy bar on the side and an array of hot exotic snacks, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. High chairs for the kids let you enjoy the drinks, without worrying about them. The evening session was followed by Chinese dinner in our rooms. The first sight of the cottages as you open the door, is nothing but pure luxury. There is a sitting area with all amenities and a bathroom and then as you enter the room, you see fine pieces of furniture, hand picked by the owners themselves from various parts of the country, mainly Jodhpur. The cottages are huge, and also have an open area to sit and admire the beauty of the jungle and the hills. As you move further, you see another big room with bathing and the wash. The bathtub with the wild look, adds on to the beauty of the cottage. The most fascinating part, was the 'Star Window', you can lie down on the bed and keep gazing at the stars, till you go off to sleep.
The private pool, along with all cottages is enough to lure you for a dip.
A very interesting place that caught our attention was the dhaba, which opens only in the evening for 2 hours. You can sit back and relax, with Masala Chai being made and served the Dhaba way. Also, the containers and accompaniments and the whole decor gives you a rustic but a cozy feel.
The restaurant is big enough to accommodate a large number of people, with an option to sit in the open area. Also, the food served is extremely well made and delectable to all palettes.
Next to the restaurant, a TV room lets you chill after an early long day with nature. The big screen with projector, adds on to the whole experience.
The safari and other activities, which are provided by the resort are highly recommended. The minutest of the requirement is taken care of. Even if you skip your tea, while rushing for the morning safari, a hot cup of ginger tea awaits you, right before you hop on the jeep. The courteous staff, also arranges for a blanket and hot water bottle for one to enjoy the drive amidst the jungle, while spotting some wild animals. If luck favours you, a tiger can be spotted too. The morning hunger pangs are also taken care off, with the packed breakfast and hot tea. Having breakfast in a jungle, can be well imagined as adventurous and exciting.
As souvenirs, the gift shop, has a large variety of items to choose from at a decent price.
'Patlidun' is not just another resort, it is an experience to remember.
Hey keep posting such good and meaningful articles.
ReplyDeleteAmazing blog and very interesting stuff you got here! I definitely learned a lot from reading through some of your earlier posts as well and decided to drop a comment on this one!
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