Jeolikote - A Hidden Gem

Jeolikote or Jeolikot

Jeolikote or Jeolikot :-

There are times when you are so fatigued & burnt out of your monotonous and hectic city life that you want to run away from the maddening crowd and relax in a serene and secluded place. This is an ideal opportunity to visit Jeolikote. Jeolikote is an offbeat locale, in the lap of nature, devoid of the hustle bustle of the cities.

Jeolikote is a place surrounded by lush green forests and majestic mountains. Jeolikote is place where you can watch butterflies fluttering around, enjoy the chirping of the birds, indulge in horticulture/floriculture, relish the fresh honey collected from honey bee combs, do a bit of hiking, experience the village life, explore the river the jungle the streams & the wild life, submerge yourself into meditation & inner healing and do a bit of soul searching. The clock moves slowly here. The sense of peace & calmness prolongs your stay at Jeolikote and remains with you for a lifetime.

Jeolikote is a tinsel town on the Haldwani - Nainital route. It around 17 km from Kathgodam,,the nearest rail head and around 51 km from Pantnagar Airport. At an altitude of 1219m Jeolikote is a locale where tourists seldom stay. Most of the tourists flock to Nainital, a very popular hill station in Kumaon (Uttarakhand). We deem ourselves fortunate because we chose Jeolikote to re-energize and rejuvenate our mind and soul. 

The Cottage Jeolikot  or  Bara Bungalow Jeolikote :-
Actually Jeolikote was a recommended destination from one of our known families, who had visited the place and loved it to the core. For our stay they had also recommended a vintage British Raj-era cottage/bungalow. The cottage is sometimes also referred to as “The Cottage Jeolikot” or “Bara Bungalow Jeolikote”. The cottage is a hidden gem which has the old world charm and instantaneously transports you to the bygone era. The heritage rooms here are well equipped with all the modern amenities and comfort. Conforming to the architectural style of cottages in the hills, this cottage also has a stony exterior, wooden flooring and slanting roof. In all there are 6 rooms few rooms have private sit outs. Normally breakfast is included in the tariff. The food is suited according to the palate of the visitors. Every meal is a mini feast of local, traditional and Indian delicacies.

The place is owned by Bhuvan Kumari Ji, a dynamic lady, who nobles from Bundelkhand. She has been living here for decades now. She has an artistic mindset and an eye for detail. The Cottage and Bhuvan Ji have featured in various documentaries and programs on television and in print media too.

She has a passion for restoring and reinstating the Kumaoni Culture.The exquisitely carved antique wooden windows, door frames, mirror frames and pillars showcase the authentic Kumaoni art and culture.

The waxed wooden floors, the wood & saw dust fired Bukhari in the drawing cum dining room, the metal made small outdoor Bukhari (for outdoor gatherings), the bathroom painted in floral patterns are features that you rarely see in any other cottage.

The rooms at this cottage are named after the color theme present in the rooms. We spoke to the owner and requested her for booking the “Blue Room”. We had researched and recommended the “Blue Room” as it was revered as the best room to stay in.
Bhuvan Ji was very kind to book us the “Blue Room” and also facilitate our Hiking, the Jungle Walk and a Taxi to Nainital where we headed after our Jeolikote stay.

Jeolikote Day1:-

We started our Journey by boarding the Kathgodam Shatabdi from Delhi in the morning. Deboarded the train at Haldwani although the train runs till Kathgodam which a few kilometers from Haldwani. Getting down at Haldwani was a conscious decision as we felt; we could get better conveyance and food at Haldwani. Anyways after having a meal at Haldwani we boarded a bus towards Nainital. Jeolikote is around 24 km from Haldwani on the Haldwani - Nainital route.. You can get down at the Bank/ Bus stop at Jeolikote. The cottage is a walking distance away from the main road.

At the cottage we were greeted by Bhuvan Ji herself. She offered some fresh juices and some delicious freshly baked Banana Walnut cake. It was such a nice gesture. We were just over whelmed by the persona of our host. Bhuvan Ji had many anecdotes to share. She told us that she takes special interest in saving the local Kumaoni Culture and Tradition. Hence she has painstakingly adorned the wooden doors and the windows of the rooms’ traditional Kumaoni style carvings. She also told us that her daughter-in-law has herself painted various splendid floral patterns in the rooms and the washrooms. All of it was just amazing to witness.

You can find old styled fireplaces and traditional room heating mechanism which runs on wood and sawdust fire. We were just spellbound to see such kind of fire heating mechanism, this was unique and one of its own kind which we had not seen ever before anywhere in the world. We decided to relax in the well decorated and painted rooms, admire the place and the surrounding for the rest of the day.

Bhuvan Ji facilitated a local guide, who would take us around for hiking, experiencing the village life, explore the river the jungle the streams & the wild life and also take us to some places of interest in Jeolikote the next day.

For the day we relaxed in the cottage and explored the nearby places. The atmosphere and the air is so very soothing that you just fall in love with the place and wish you could stay here forever. It is no wonder that Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo had chosen Jeolikote and the hills around Jeolikote for meditating.

In the evening we had evening tea and then a delicious dinner. Every meal is a mini feast of local, traditional and Indian delicacies. You can gel-up and mingle with other residents residing in different rooms of the cottage over tea and supper. We had a peaceful sleep which was sought after for a long time.

Jeolikote Day2:-

In the morning we had Tea and Breakfast. Bhuvan Ji introduced us to our guide who would take us for Hiking, help us explore Village Life, take us through the Jungle for the Jungle Walk towards the River, witness the wildlife and explore other places to visit in Jeolikote. She also arranged for some “Parathas” which we could enjoy as meals in the afternoon.

Hiking in Jeolikote: -

Hiking through the rustic roads of Jeolikote towards the villages was such mesmerizing. The air had a bit of chill, but was so soothing. Walking through the lanes was both fun and full of amusement. Our guide met his friend who came along. Both were very friendly to us. It’s so very amazing to witness that people in the villages are so very noble and gentle that they take pride to spare time for taking city dwellers like us around their villages, so eager to share their showcasing life and lifestyle with us. . Life is still so very simple and pure in small towns and villages.

We started interacting with them. Our guide was a Yoga Instructor and also taught Meditation. His friend was trekker and mountaineer and had accompanied tourist and mountaineering enthusiast on various treks and expeditions. They knew each and every crevice of the place. They planned our day to perfection and insisted to discover the village life, walk through the Jungle towards the River, explore the wildlife in their natural habitat and finally end the day with explore other places in and around Jeolikote. We kept hiking, listening to the local tales and stories until we reached the nearby village, our first halt.

Hiking in the mountains with meadows and lush green fauna all around feels just out of the world. If you get a chance to hike in the mountains, never miss it, I bet it would be a memory that you would relish your life time.

Hiking - Jeolikote

Hiking - Jeolikote

Hiking - Jeolikote

Village Life at Jeolikote :- 

We halted in a near-by village. The villagers are innocent people. They are very curious to interact with travelers and city dwellers. Most of the villagers are farmers and work on farms for their livelihood. They also rear domestic animals like cows, buffaloes, goats, hens, dogs etc. They speak local language, largely Kumauni which has numerous dialects.

The villagers and our guide told us that a large number of young people leave their villages due to lack of employment opportunities in the villages. Some time there are mass exoduses. The youth who flock to cities and metros rarely return. Our guide’s friend was a rare example who returned back to his village after working for around 10 years in a Metro. He told us he never liked the life of the metro and always wanted to return, but due to lack of employment opportunities and poverty was unable to return. He came back to his village on first opportunity and now makes his living by accompanying tourists and trekkers on paid expeditions and treks.

Interacting with the villagers we came to know that yesterday night, the mountain leopard was seen in the village. The leopard killed a goat and took his prey with him. Villagers told us that leopard visits the village quite often and takes away their domestic animals leading to Man-Leopard conflict and clashes. Actually such incidents are quite prevalent in hilly regions of Uttarakhand.

Our guide told us that the Leopard should be still around the village so we might encounter one in the Jungle or at the River, so we need to be extra vigilant and cautious. Any ways after spending some more time in the Village we made our way to towards the Jungle.

Nature Walk/Jungle -Walk in Jeolikote: -

We entered the Jungle near the village periphery. Slowly as we moved along the Jungle route the Jungle became dense. We could hear a lot birds chirping. Our guide use to tell us about the birds and its species etc whenever we heard chirping. Jeolikote is a place where you can enjoy bird watching as well.

Sometimes we also heard the screams and chatters of the monkeys. Our guide told us that in the Jungle the monkeys, langurs, baboons etc normally caution the wild animals of the movement of the carnivorous animals like Lions, Tigers, Leopards etc. So if we hear the monkeys screaming and chattering continuously we should be very careful and cautious. Fortunately we did not hear any continuous screams and chatters.

As we explored and traveled through the Jungle we witnesses unparalleled beauty all around. Soon we came to a stream that was flowing through the Jungle. The sight was just mesmerizing. It all felt like a painting. To explain the beauty of the place in words would just be a futile effort, it just can’t be explained in words.

Nature Walk/Jungle Walk - Jeolikote

The River, the Streams and the Jungle Jeolikote:-

It was already afternoon, we decided to have our meals on the banks of the small stream. Our guide and his friend gathered some broad leaves and washed them in the stream. They suggested that these broad leaves are used by locals to make “Pattals” and “Donas” (i.e. plates and bowls made of leaves). They had also collected some edible fruits along the way. We enjoyed the “Parathas” on the “Pattals” and “Donas”. I swear the food we enjoyed on the Pattals” and “Donas” was any day better than food served in silver cutlery. 

Our guide and his friend told us that the water flowing in the streams is rich in minerals and has medicinal properties. We also drank the stream water; probably it was way better than any packaged mineral water. As we crossed the Jungle we reached the River Bed. This was a shallow but fast flowing river. Normally the rivers in the hill are shallow and fast flowing. Our guide told us that wild animals come to this river to quench their thirst. We spent some time on the banks of the river. Trekked along the banks of the river, relaxed and meditated a bit hearing the soothing burbles of the river. We enjoyed some fruits sitting on the river beds and finally made our way back.

Wildlife in Jeolikote:-

As we trekked along the river bed, we saw paw marks of the Leopard on the silt/damp-soil of the river bed. Our guide told us that as the paw marks were pretty evident on the silt, these were paw marks made recently. He said that sometime back i.e. not more than 3-4 hours the Leopard had visited the river to drink water.We got goosebumps when we realized that the Leopard was still around. Our guide suggested that he could distinguish different kinds of paw marks, one of the bigger paw marks belonged to a female leopard (leopardess) and smaller paw marks suggested that the leopardess was accompanied by her 3 cubs.

Anyways we started our journey back on our way back we saws deers in the Jungle. We rarely see deer herds roaming freely. It was such a fabulous experience to see wild animals in their own habitat.

Meditation at Jeolikote:-

Jeolikote is a calm and serene place ideal for Meditation and Yoga.It is no wonder that Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo had chosen Jeolikote and the hills around Jeolikote for meditating. They spend a lot of time meditating here.

Our guide was himself a Yoga and Meditation Instructor. He taught us how to meditate which we practiced in midst of  Jungle and the burbles of the river. It was an elevating experience.

Meditation - Jeolikote

Bee-Keeping /Bee-Rearing Center Jeolikote:-

Jeolikote has a rich legacy in Bee-Keeping/Bee-Rearing. The Honey Bee Center at Jeolikote was established way back in 1938. The horticulture department has set up a honey testing lab at Jeolikote, this lab checks the purity of harvested honey. Quality control testing labs ensures the quality of the honey produced in Uttarakhand and helps in building a brand value for Uttarakhand’s Himalayan honey. One can buy pure honey from the Honey Bee Center.

Other attractions in Jeolikote :-

Jeolikote is an ideal place for people who are interested in floriculture and butterfly watching/catching. People come here to see the flowers bloom.
Other attractions visited by visitors in Jeolikote include the house of a retired British Army Major Warwick Sahib and a bungalow of woman believed to be Napolean Bonaparte’s direct descendant.

Jeolikote Day3:-

After spending the previous day exploring the rich and diverse treasures of Jeolikote and taking a good sleep we were ready on Day 3 to continue our Journey to Nainital. Bhuvan Ji arranged a Cab for Nainital and we said Bid Adieu to Jeolikote. We had enjoyed every second of the time we spent in Jeolikote. We would cherish and remember the time spent here for our lifetime.

Best time/ Best season to Visit Jeolikote:- 

Jeolikote can be visited all round the year. Some visitors find May-September to be the best  time to visit Jeolikote as these are the months when the weather is moderately cold.

Jeolikote Temprature / Jeolikote Weather :- 

May to September :-  Moderately Cold.
October to November & March to April :- Very Cold.
December to February :-  Freezing Cold.

Clothing for Jeolikote: May to September: Light Woolens, Rain cover in Months of July and August.
                                      October to November & March to April: Heavy Woolens.
                                      December to February :-  Very Heavy Woolens.

** Carry Vaseline and Sunscreens to save yourself from Sunburns and charred lips & cheeks. Also when you are travelling by road during rainy season in India carry heavy duty rain coats, rain paints, wind cheaters, rain resistant boots etc as there is heavy rain pour and only heavy duty rain resistance/cover will last. Carry clothes that dry soon so even if they get wet they dry quickly.

How to Reach Jeolikote from Delhi:-

Road Route– Delhi/Gurgaon--Ghaziabad--Rampur--Rudrapur--Haldwani--Kathgodam--Jeolikote                   

Train Route– Delhi--Haldwani  then by road further.

                      Delhi--Kathgodam then by road further.

                      

Flight Route– Delhi--Pantnagar then by road to Jeolikote. No flight route ahead of Pantnagar. Pantnagar is around 51 km from Jeolikote.

There are regular Buses for Haldwani from Delhi.You get on to a bus, a shared jeep or a pre-booked cab to reach Jeolikote from Haldwani.
Personal Cars and Bikes ply quite often.

Distances:- 

                    Delhi to Badrinath: 313 km

                    Delhi to Ghaziabad: 45 km
                    Ghaziabad to Rampur: 167 km
                    Rampur to Rudrapur : 48 km
                    Rudrapur to Haldwani : 32 km
                    Haldwani to Kathgodam: 7 km
                    Kathgodam to Jeolikote :  17 km
                     

Other Important Information about Jeolikote:

Jeolikote Altitude / Jeolikote Height: 1219 m

Fooding /Lodging/Hotels on Jeolikote route : Meals and Hotels available at Gahaziabad, Rampur Haldwani, Nainital etc. Hotels need to be pre-booked during  peak season. Variety of foods option available on the route and in Jeolikote,

Petrol Pumps on Jeolikote route: Ghaziabad, Rampur Haldwani etc.
Last Petrol Pump on Jeolikote route: Haldwani.
ATMs on Jeolikote route available at: Ghaziabad, Rampur Haldwani etc.
Last ATM on Jeolikote route available at: Haldwani
Bike Repair Mechanics on Jeolikote route available at : Ghaziabad, Rampur Haldwani etc.
Car Repair Mechanics on Jeolikote route available at: Ghaziabad, Rampur Haldwani etc.

Phone Network Connectivity: Phone Network is available.

Medical Care: Hospitals available at Ghaziabad, Rampur Haldwani etc.

Any Special Permission Needed by Indian Citizen to Visit Jeolikote: No.

Places to Visit near Jeolikote: Nainital, Bhimtal,Almora etc.

+ Disclaimer: Information provided above is based on self experience and collected from various other sources.

Jeolikote