Text credit: Aakash Mehrotra

A little over 3km from Mussourie, Landour is a town with an inescapable colonial aura, carpeted with Himalayan flora and carrying an enticing fragrance of wilderness.

As we drove through the circular bridled paths, called the ‘Gol Chakkar’ to reach our destination – Rokeby Manor, it felt like turning back the pages of history. The expansive views of the Himalayas, quaint colonial bungalows, a surreal charm in the air, and deserted wooded paths calling for long walks and friendly chats, have made Landour an artists’ getaway.

Rokeby Manor – an English retreat, dating back to the 1840s, is a prominent landmark in this hilltop oasis. The manor stands as a symbol of the vintage colonial charm of Landour and still holds the glory of that bygone era profoundly in every nook and corner. The stoned walls, tall arches, thatched roofs, an endearing garden overlooking the Doon Valley, fireplaces, wooden staircases, furniture wearing the colonial look, and aesthetically designed bookshelves impart Rokeby the quintessential heritage look.

A small intimate door leads you to the great room, doubled up as reception and a resting place, with its log fire and extravagant furnishings, reminiscent of its colonial legacy, while the rest of the manor draws on contemporary trends. Rokeby stands in perfect harmony with its surroundings, be it the interiors of the room or the common room by the reception, it conveys the typical hillside touch. The rooms are set within a wooded landscape, fusing rustic luxe with contemporary design, designed to give an earthy touch through the use of natural materials and harmonious architectural style.

Make history your companion

A property dating back to 1840s is meant to be steeped in history and tales. Rokeby was a house built by  Captain GN Cauthy on a two-acre plot of land and named after one of Sir Walter Scott’s poems, which mentions the Rokeby Castle in England.

“I saw his melancholy smile,
When, full opposed in front, he knew,
Where Rokeby’s kindred banner flew…” – Wilter Scott

Rokeby has passed many hands before coming to Sanjay Narang, who moved to Landour and came across Rokeby in 201. He began working on restoring the property to its original design, extracting the history, and almost creating a tale to fall in love with. But beyond the facade of old world, Rokeby has all the amenities of the contemporary world, with an addition of mountain bikes and scooter rentals to set off and explore the dramatic landscape of Landour, which the British fondly called ‘Hamlet in the hills’.

Breakfast at Emily’s

The wooden stairs take you to one of the most celebrated places to eat in Landour – Emily’s café, named after one of Landour’s most famous literary affairs with Emily Aden, sister of Governor-General Lord George Eden, who wrote extensively on British racist attitude towards Indians. The intimately decored Emily kitchen brings back the British love for tea. The interiors are reminiscent of a ski chalet with fireplaces, cosy corners, brightly coloured walls, lanterns, and a lot of literature. The breakfast spread is welcoming and homely. Relish on their tea collection which is surely a steal. One look out of the windows at the cedar covered hills and it’s clear that this place is a prize. The witty quotes on the walls are unmissable, making you halt, read, and ponder.

Rokeby is for book lovers, and Wilson’s chamber, where the breakfast is spread is notably the favourite corner of any bibliophile where you can spend hours going through the collection of books. This love is reflected in the wide spread of magazines in the common room, and is exemplary of the literary affair Landour is known for.

Landour Bakehouse

At a stone’s throw away is tucked another gem, the Landour Bakehouse, nestled among the pines at the edge of a winding road. The green panelled door transporst you back to the 1940s to the world of the elites of Landour, who would meet every week to discuss social affairs, do proceedings of their reading club, and exchange age old recipes. That goodness still remains. The recipes used here are taken from Landour Cookbook curated by Ruskin Bond. A small and charming place housing some of the best baking secrets, doles of cake, some gooey chocolate goodness, and a hot sipping coffee, doubled up with a great view to furnish a happy touch to your vacation. Though the place only opened a couple of years ago, its vintage look, antique portraits, and some old Landour culinary secrets make you believe that the place has been existing forever. One of the boards here says “We Do Not Have Wi-Fi….Talk To Each Other. Pretend it’s 1895’’. It doesn’t seem so difficult in the Landour Bakehouse.

The special moments

Being a boutique property, Rokeby is a choice for an eclectic traveller. Small, cosy, and uniquely located, Rokeby ticks all check-boxes of a luxury hotel but it is the special moments staying in the manor that make you reconstruct the definition of luxury. While Rokeby may not offer you creature comforts, what it does is offer is unforgettable moments. These are moments of doing absolutely nothing, lost in thoughts, just sipping your tea and looking down the valley, breathing in the moments, letting the chill mountain air embrace you, enjoying the unique experiences Rokeby Manor lets you soak in. These experiences emanate from the tales Landour unpacks for the travellers. Rokeby seems like an attempt to make your vacations more personal and just perfect.

Aakash Mehrotra blogs at Hand of Colors. He is also a published author of the book The Other Guy. You can also read his article on Pushkar. 

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Text Credits: Wilbin Eapen

People always love to explore and every traveller is looking for some kind of inspiration, when he is travelling.  It is a fact that there is no other place in this world as much diverse as India. This country has lot of places engulfed in nature which only a few get to experience. If you are a traveller who believes in taking the less travelled road and wishe to get lost in the wilderness of the woods, then we have something for you. Here’s the list of top 10 beautiful places in India which isn’t much crowded and exploited.

Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh)

Source: holidify

A smal town situated at an elevation of approximately 3,048 metres which is both historically and naturally endowed. Tawang is a small offbeat region where Dalai Lama was born and it has several abbeys and Buddhist monks which are really a charming view. Tawang is a place which will flatter you with its beauty wrapped in the scent of spirituality.

Tirthan Valley (Himachal Pradesh)

Source: thebetterindia

This valley really has something inside it for the ones who put their feet on its soil. The place can be said as a mysterious beauty which offers an adventure-centric getaway blessed with a wealth of nature’s treasures. Trekking, fishing, wildlife and unexplored hill areas, Tirthan is a complete package to elapse from a stressful life.  Even if you don’t want anything above mentioned, all those pine trees of this valley have the magic to make you chill by actually of doing nothing.

Spiti (Himachal Pradesh)

Source: tripdezire

A holiday in between simple, innocent people and virgin mountains, Spiti can be a perfect spot for offbeat adventure-seeking travellers. Being home to many Buddhist monasteries, Spiti fills visitors with awe at its majestic grandeur. Summer in this valley is cool and pleasant with green grass and alpine flowers but the winters are harsh and many-a-time unbearable and should be avoided.

Nubra Valley (Jammu & Kashmir)

Source: alzaintravels.com

A valley in the paradise of earth, which will leave you awestruck for sure.  The rivers Shyok and Nubra course through the Nubra valley, which keeps her even more beautiful. The pleasant autumn season lets you enjoy the beautiful sight of this unexploited paradise. The valley experiences extremely cold climate throughout the year. Winters are extremely harsh with unbearable conditions. The Valley is one of the last treasures of our planet, living in sheer isolation for most of the year in the heart of the great Himalayas. So Nubra will be a great choice if your bags are packed for an adventure.

Gokarna ( Karnataka )

Source: tripoto.com

Gokarna, the land of temples and unspoiled beaches. This relatively offbeat place is widely known as a temple town with pilgrimages and hippies all over, where the essence of the mantras and spiritual chants in air results in a calm atmosphere. Gokarna also has a lot of unspoiled beautiful beaches which welcomes every traveller, who seeks peace and relaxing holidays.

Ponmudi ( Kerala )

Source: SelfRoadiez

She rests at the lap of western ghats, with a lot of offbeat regions including several tea plantations, lush green hills, streams and waterfalls. How could it feel if you get a chance to trek one of the highest peaks in southern India, Agasthayarkoodam. The magnificent top view of sunrise and freshness of narrow streams will surely be an unforgettable experience in your travel diaries.

Bhedaghat (Madhya Pradesh)

Source: Campaigns of The World

A really mysterious place, where natives believe that those magical rocks are capable of taking forms and shapes. The marble rocks can simply fire your imagination and it will be a unique travel experience. Bhedagat is famous for such marble rocks and Dhuandar waterfalls which is one of the highest in India. November to May is the perfect time to visit this gorgeous offbeat destination.

Tadoba (Maharashtra)

Source: Tiger Nation

If you are a wildlife enthusiast, Tadoba tiger reserve will welcome you to enjoy the beauty of rare species of flora and fauna, Tigers and it is abode to a number of prominent wild denizens like Leopard, Wild dog, Sloth bear, Gaur, Sambar, Barking deer, Cheetal and so on. Apart from tourists, the place is not at all much crowded so it’s an ideal weekend gateway for wildlife and nature lovers for an enchanting wildlife experience.

Talasari Beach (Odisha )

Source: The Hans India

Ever wanted to experience the charm of secluded beaches? Talasari beach is one of the very few beaches in Odisha which doesn’t have any rush or people. It is a world that needs to be explored. This virgin beach has sand dunes, calmer waves amid several palm trees, coconut trees, cashew tree  and one can simply walk across the beach, river bed or enjoy boat rides and high tides

North Sikkim (Sikkim)

Source: www.spectraholidays.in

North Sikkim gives you a chance to explore the eastern mountain range of the Great Himalaya. It can be called as one of the most breathtaking panoramas in India, the region of the Northern part of the Sikkim state is the wonder of Mother Earth. Hiking and trekking are the much sought-after things to do here. May to September are ideal for a trip to this truly offbeat location.

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