The winding roads in the hills, rustling of dry leaves, cold breeze and the sun-kissed mornings. I can never run out of reasons to visit the hill stations. The art of doing nothing is what I love the most when it comes to vacation, especially in my favorite state, Uttarakhand. Given a choice, I would never leave an opportunity to spend a few days in the most tranquil land, surrounded by the Deodar and Pine forest, majestic Himalayan range and of course the humble Pahadi people.

My sleep deprived eyes were shutting down as soon as I boarded the train. Within a few hours of my last visit to Gulmarg, Kashmir, I was travelling to Uttarakhand. It is always about the new destination that excites me the most. Even though I have been to places like Mukteshwar, Almora, Ranikhet, Bhimtal, etc., in Uttarakhand, Shitlakhet was new to the list.

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Located at an hour’s drive away from the popular Ranikhet, Shitlakhet is the peaceful corner up in the hills that promises fresh air, breath-taking views of the Himalayan ranges, and thick forest of Deodar and Pine trees. My favorite part of Shitlakhet was the drive on the twisted road among the tall Pine tree forest and eye-catching greenery it offered throughout the journey. It took around 4 hour drive to reach Anant Rasa by Aamod in Shitlakhet. By the time we reached the resort, darkness had fallen in the valley.

About Anant Rasa by Aamod

Nestled on the top of the Syahi Devi Estate, Anant Rasa by Aamod is the perfect abode for peace loving travelers. Encircled by the thick forest and the spectacular views of Himalayan ranges, the resort offers the luxury of nature with modern amenities. The best part of Anant Rasa by Aamod is its exclusive location, far away from the maddening touristy town, no chaos and no hassles. You are actually in the middle of nowhere.

A few scattered houses in the valley which you can spot only if you take a stroll down the muddy path. Absolute silence all around the property was quite blissful.

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By the time I reached Anant Rasa by Aamod, night had fallen. The shimmering lights in the valley from far were visible. After negotiating an unpaved road of about 2.5 km from the main Shitlakhet market, we finally reached the luxury resort. The temperature dipped drastically. As I stepped out of the car, I received a warm welcome by the resort staff and soon I was escorted to my designated cottage.

After a long drive, all I needed was a bonfire in that freezing night in Shitlakhet. The delectable snacks were placed and the bonfire was set. The starry night, laughter riot and amazing food; I indulged in the luxury quite un-apologetically.

Rooms and View

The very first look of the room was extremely appealing. Aesthetically designed rooms at the resort are spacious and are well-equipped with all the modern amenities. It provides the most comfortable stay with the scenic views of the surrounding valleys. What makes the resort stand out is the location.

Imagine holding your hot cup of tea when you stand on the balcony, the immaculate and wide-ranging view of the majestic snow peaks just welcomes you with open arms. The sun-drenched balcony becomes the most favorite corner to unwind.

The sound of chirping birds, wind and flickering sun-rays through the branch of Pine trees make you appreciate nature in the most beautiful way.The spellbinding view of the snow clad peaks of these mountains was like an icing on the cake.

The Food 

Apart from the secluded location of Anant Rasa by Aamod, another highlight of the luxury resort is its palatable food. Whether it is the delectable breakfast, mouth-watering continental lunch or authentic Kumaoni local dishes for dinner, you can surely come back with the most gastronomically satisfying experience.

What I loved the most was their Kumaoni food which consisted of Gahat Ke daal, Aalu Gutuke, Kumaoni Raita, Bhaang (An edible preparation of Cannabis) Ki Chutney, and many more dishes. Their Ghiye (Bottle Gourd) Ka Halwa will definitely satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

What I loved Most About Anant Rasa by Aamod

It was not the first time I had experienced the Aamod hospitality. I have been visiting Aamod properties in various locations. My last visit to Uttarakhand was to Junoon in the Hills in Darmani village near Ranikhet. What makes Aamod stand out in the hospitality industry are their excellent guest services and efforts to go extra miles to make your vacation at their property a memorable one.

Anant Rasa by Aamod has managed to exceed my expectations. What I loved most about this gorgeous abode in the middle of the forest is the quiet location. It felt like as if I was vacationing in a secluded haven, far away from the reality. The place is meant for creative souls who prefer to be away from the routine life in the cities, find peace in the lap of nature that provides inspiration to create their piece of art.

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Basking in the glory of sunshine, in the large garden area, one could just sit back and relax for hours. The resort has a very calming effect on its guests. You can literally slow down there and unwind. The colorful flowers and the manicured lawn at the resort also add happiness to the aura.

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The resort staff also need special mention. The generous and hospitable staff at the resort make sure that you have the most comfortable stay at their luxury resort and you create beautiful memories. The efforts like taking care of your needs, delivering your demands, respecting your privacy or preparing a special meal, the guest service at Anant Rasa was commendable.

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Top Places to Visit in Ranikhet & Around

Syahi Devi Temple

We got up quite early and decided to trek all the way up to visit the Syahi Devi Temple. The trek to the Syahi Devi temple is a trekker’s delight. Prakash, the naturalist, was an excellent guide for the trek. The path invades through the dense forest area which houses a few wild animals including the occasional leopard though we did not spot any during the trek. It took us about 1.5 hours to reach the Temple.

The view from the Top where the Temple is situated is simply mesmerizing. We decided to have an early morning Tea and soak in the ambiance of the place.

This Temple has the Syahi Devi statue along with a Kali idol by its side. Just behind the temple there is a door that opens into the wilderness. Swami Vivekananda was supposed to have spent a few days here in solitude.

Chaubatia

This is a beautiful landscaped garden in Ranikhet, which has a great view of the valley below. This place is famous for varieties of apples, apricots, peaches, and chestnuts. We spent close to an hour enjoying the silence all around.

Golf Course, Ranikhet

The Golf Ground is situated on the outskirts of Ranikhet and is a good place to spend some time and one of the highest golf courses in Asia.All you will find here is peace, a pleasant temperature and a magical aura.

Jhula Devi Temple

This is actually a small temple maintained by the Army and is famous for the vast number of hanging bells.

Sadar Bazar, Ranikhet

No trip can be complete if you don’t visit the local markets. We visited the Sadar Bazar which is the main marked in Ranikhet. The Bazar comprises of small and big shops and one can buy some traditional stuff including sweets like Baal Mithai and Singodi, which are very famous in whole of Uttarakhand. Once can buy some Woollen clothes and also traditional marriage stuff like dupatta called the Pichora. It is orange in colour and has Maroon dots on it.There are also some good, budget restaurants which serve traditional food.

If you are looking for some quiet and wondrous moments, away from the hullabaloo of city life, Anant Rasa by Aamod is the perfect place to be.

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How to Reach:

Train: The most convenient way to reach Shitlakhet is to take the early morning Shatabdi Express and reach Kathgodam Station. The journey will take about 5 and half hours. From Kathgodam Station, you can hire a private cab which will take another 4 hours to reach the resort.

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