Homestay in Bhimtal Near Lake

Day 1
We started our journey at 5 AM from Delhi to Bhimtal in our Maruti Ertiga with our driver. There were five family members in total. We had seen a video about Himnandi Homestay, and we found it to be a wonderful place, so we decided to visit and experience it ourselves.

As we began our journey, it started raining in Delhi. We stopped for a tea break, and our driver, Naveen, recommended a great tea shop on the highway – Ram Singh Tea Stall. Despite its name, it is more like a fully-fledged 3-star hotel. We enjoyed some special tea and bun maska toast, and Naveen even asked for parathas.

After about three hours of driving, we stopped for a break at a lovely place in Pant Nagar. We decided to have breakfast at a neat and clean restaurant, which also catered to foreign tourists, since it was near the airport. We took some pictures for memories and, of course, for social media.

After another two hours of driving, we reached Kathgodam, and the mountains started becoming visible. The road was incredibly scenic, and as we finally reached Himnandi Homestay in Bhimtal, we were warmly welcomed by Parkash Joshi. After a welcome drink, he showed us to our rooms, which were spacious and beautifully decorated, with a large sofa and a huge TV in the drawing room. After talking with Parkash, we learned that he is a local from Bhimtal.

We decided to visit Neem Karoli Dham for a darshan. After some refreshments, we headed to the ashram, which is about 14 kilometers from the homestay. When we arrived, the ashram was very crowded. After waiting in line for about two hours, we finally entered the ashram. Once inside, it was peaceful and quiet. The ashram is dedicated to Neem Karoli Baba, a great devotee of Lord Hanuman.

We thought we would return around 4-5 PM, but we actually reached around 7 PM. By then, we were very hungry. When we arrived at the homestay, Prakash was ready to serve us dinner. The aroma of the local dishes was wonderful. We had two types of vegetable dishes, pulses, rice, chapati, and local achar, all with a distinct taste. After dinner, Prakash served us Buransh juice, made from a local flower. He packed some extra bottles of juice for us to take home. Prakash is very kind and, like other Pahadi people, very humble and an excellent cook.

Day 2
We had already decided to go paragliding after seeing the take-off point from the homestay balcony. Around 9 AM, we had breakfast. Some of us had sandwiches, and Naveen and I enjoyed methi paranthas, which were amazing — something we’d never tasted in Delhi. Prakash advised us not to take the car due to traffic jams in the market. We reached the paragliding location, where a 20–30 minute flight cost INR 2,000 per person. We had a terrific experience.

After that, we spent some time at Bhimtal Lake, which is just 300 meters from Himnandi Homestay. My younger son, Sarthak, asked for a boating ride, and we all enjoyed it for almost an hour. There is a small temple near the lake, which is very peaceful. We visited the temple just as the evening aarti was taking place, so we attended the ceremony.

For lunch, we went to Bula Restaurant, where the food quality was excellent. Afterward, we took a stroll around the market and returned to the homestay. By 8 PM, we had dinner, and tonight, Prakash made some amazing local Pahadi dishes for us. Afterward, we enjoyed some cold coffee, and we thanked Prakash for his wonderful service, giving him a tip for all his hard work (though it was well-deserved!).

Luxury Homestay in Bhimtal
All the luxury facilities and the attentive staff helped make our trip memorable

Day 3
After our morning tea, we left for Delhi. It was a memorable trip, and by 5 PM, we reached Delhi.

Travel Options:

• By Plane: Delhi to Pant Nagar Airport.
• By Bus: Delhi to Bhimtal (Volvo).
• By Car: Direct from Delhi to Himnandi Homestay.

Facilities at the Homestay

• Spacious parking space.
• Kitchen available.
• Wifi (though we didn’t use it much since we were out exploring).

A huge thanks again to Prakash for his exceptional service. God bless you!