The Kumaon Hotel

Uttarakhand, India

As you roam rhododendron forests between hidden waterfalls and rustic villages at the foot of the sacred Nanda Devi mountain range, you may stumble on the stone facade of The Kumaon. Though, in fact, this is a place worthy of the journey in itself. The ten-suite retreat combines the traditions of the Kumaoni people with elegance worthy of the rajas that once ruled this strip of the Indian Himalayas. Upper Chalets are clad in bamboo and copper, their minimalistic decor ensuring the focus is on mountain views from panoramic windows and private terraces, while the Lower Chalets’ stone walls reflect the design of village homes, warmed by wooden panels and bukhari stoves. Base camp sorted, leopard spotting at Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, a trek to Zero Point for 360-degree views and descent to the ancient Hindu temples of Jageshwar are a must. On your return, dine above the canopies at the hotel’s glass-and-steel cantilevered restaurant overlooking India’s second-highest peak. A menu of Kumaoni delicacies – hemp seed dips, roti breads and curry platters featuring foraged ingredients – is rounded off nicely by a champi head massage at the spa.

Suites from £200. 00 91 7579 44 9994, thekumaon.com

Words by Jasmina Matulewicz