I absolutely loved my experience at Chaukhamba Cradle Homestay, nestled in the Garhwal Himalayan hills with breathtaking views of Kedarnath and Chaukhamba mountains. It is a truly peaceful place for anyone looking to spend time away from the city and the more commercialized towns and villages of Uttarakhand. At night, there is absolute pin-drop silence — you hear only birds, insects, and the sounds of nature. The homestay is cozy, well maintained, and offers an authentic experience of living in a traditional Garhwali village cottage. The bathrooms, however, are modern and very well kept, which adds to the comfort. One can also experience a walk through the raw forest behind the homestay and trek uphill to Deoria Tal Lake, ideally always with a guide. The homestay owner, Shantanu, was extremely helpful, knowledgeable about the region, and warm. I also had the pleasure of enjoying delicious home-cooked meals prepared by their resident chef, Mahesh. A special mention to our trek guide, Nanda Devi, from the nearby village. She was kind, vivacious, and led us beautifully on the trek to Deoria Tal. I learned a lot from her about life in the hills and the local way of living. Overall, it was a very pleasant and memorable experience. I would highly recommend this place to anyone seeking peace, tranquility, serenity, mountain views, and a chance to experience a slower, more mindful lifestyle. I truly connected with my inner thoughts while I was there. Note: Basic fitness levels are required to reach the homestay, as one needs to walk approximately 500 meters uphill on an unpaved trail through hilly farms.

Chaukhamba cradle is a truly incredible place to spend a few days in dramatic Garhwal Himalayas, 6hrs drive from Rishikesh. We were struck by the feeling of peace, tranquility and friendliness while staying there, but first of all you’ll breath will be taken away by the achingly beautiful view up the valley towards a snow capped mountain range that extends from the mighty Chaukhamba, and pans back past the imposing Kedarnath and down into the terraced hills nearby – even sitting at 2000 metres you can’t help but be dwarfed by the surrounding mountains. You could literally stay there all day watching the light change behind the day going’s on of the local farmers, animals and birds. It’s so tranquil some people go there just to meditate, others use it as a stop off on the way to somewhere else. We used it as a base to do a few treks from and our host Shivam, was more than qualified to guide us. He also cooked great food with love and care, was an excellent conversationalist and most of all a really good guy. I can’t recommend going there enough. It’s worth the extra distance as you’re likely to gain an experience you’ll never forget.

Staff and property

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