A Sip of Nirvana in the Company of Man’s Best Friend
Nestled in the foothills of Himalayas about 6 hours drive from New Delhi is Naukuchiyatal, a small hilly town with all its lazy atmosphere and nuances. The drive from Delhi takes one through the Jim Corbett country and you can easily catch a glimpse of the beautiful and serene flora and fauna as you drive through the beautiful, comfortable road to
Naukuchiyatal. A welcoming peaceful hideaway conveniently nested in the green lush Himalayan foothills welcomes visitors to its supreme serene and beautiful atmosphere. The sweet chirping of the birds and their bird songs along the way are unavoidable and one can catch the full richness of the beautiful species of birds as one travels on the journey towards Naukuchiyatal. The drive to Naukuchiyatal is very peaceful, smooth and comfortable and is an excellent weekend getaway from the hustle bustle of the Metropolitan Delhi and surrounding cities. Naukuchiyatal lies at the foothills of the central Himalayan (Kumaon) region. Nainital the queen of Kumaon is about 1 hour journey by road and is much cooler place climatically. Jim Corbett the famous Tiger reserve is also close by. Guests can indulge themselves in activities like Skydiving, hot air balloon rides, kayaking and also take the pleasure of excellent bicycle rides in the meandering wooded hills. The word “Naukuchiyatal” literally means nine cornered lake. Local folklore has it that whoever sees all the nine corners of the Naukuchiyatal lake from a single point of view attains Nirvana.
The best part about the place is that a lot of hotels and small family run inns welcome pets like dogs, and cats with the guests in the hotel room. The staff at these hotels is very courteous and helpful and the mountain hospitality offered by the local folks makes city dwellers learn to revere them in humility and sheer respect. Although there are a number of good hotels and staying options with a variety of accommodation types along with world cuisines appealing to the taste buds of majority of visitors, my favourite is the Lake View Resort which is a multi-acre property situated right around the Naukuchiyatal lake. The staff at Lake View Resort is very helpful and courteous and the best part is that your pets are welcome along with you in the hotel. Mr. Varma who is the owner of the Lake view Resort is a very dear friend of mine and due to our common love for dogs.
My pet Labrador call name Sainik has been visiting Lake View Resort regularly for the last 5 years without fail. We have great fun taking long hikes with our dog around the lake and also in the surrounding wooded areas of the property. Mr Varma himself is a great dog lover and owns half a dozen Bhutias which are an offshoot breed of Tibetan Mastiffs. The Orchid Cafe restaurant at Lake View Resort offers Mughlai, Chinese & Continental Cuisines.
There is a Gymnasium & Sauna along with Pool Table to just chill out. Conference Halls are also available for corporate 
get together’s and off site. One can easily spend the weekend in the lap of luxury and serenity by doing Boating & Angling in the Lake. Other activities include horse rides for children and adults! Paragliding Trekking are some of the other options one can indulge in there. The surrounding area around Lake View Resort and especially the lake is excellent for bird watchers with a multitude of species of birds making the area as their home.
