Dive into Bliss at Soulitude by the Riverside
Dive into Bliss at Soulitude by the Riverside
Your Peaceful Abode in Uttarakhand
Are you longing for a vacation in the mountains? Situated in Nainital's scenic jungle valley of Chanfi, with crystal-clear emerald rock pools and bustling waterfalls, Soulitude by the Riverside mountain retreat promises solitude for your soul. Here, you can decompress and rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.
Chanfi Estate offers a peaceful retreat surrounded by lush greenery and serene lakes. It's a perfect getaway if you’re seeking a break from city life. With its spring-fed vegetation, accessible only by foot, Chanfi Estate provides a place where you can reconnect with nature and unwind from the rush of everyday life.
Unique Activities
Explore Chanfi on a Village Walk
Spend a day with the villagers of Chanfi village and witness the simple life of the locals. Stroll across the paddy fields and vegetable patches and explore how residents grow their food and sell it in the market.
Watch the workings of panchakki, a water mill used by villagers to make flour from grains, as a mill master explains how the water mechanises the rotation of the grindstone.
You will then be led through a cluster of Kumaoni homes by a guide. Discover the structural details of a typical Kumaoni home and the architectural best practices in the hills.
Visit a local household and enjoy their simple hospitality and heartwarming homemade tea. Purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from their evening mandi (market) to be cooked as a part of your dinner back at the retreat.
Visit Lake Parital
Parital, situated one kilometre from the property, is a scenic splendour you shouldn’t miss. The roundtrip to the lake takes about an hour.
The lake Pari (fairy) tal (tempo) was named based on the local folklore – at full moon, fairies descended and danced to nature's rhythm. The trek begins with a short, adventurous stroll over the village paths. This activity is highly recommended for trekkers and kids alike.
A glacial stream descends into the belly of the lake as a waterfall. Feel free to take a cold plunge in the rockpools here. Parital has a meditative nuance and a mesmerising effect on its spectators.
Learn the Art of Dhaba-Style Cooking
Learn exquisite dhaba-style recipes like paneer tikka, rajma chawal or aloo gobi from the chef de cuisine at Soulitude by the Riverside. Make a perfect cup of masala chai.
Brew tea with freshly handpicked and ground whole spices and herbs. Gain expert tips on proportionate mixing of ingredients in Indian cuisine. Experiment with cooking exquisite signature dishes of your liking.
Lodging
Stay in Luxury Suites
Soulitude by the Riverside is accessible by an iron suspension bridge from the 1900s — Jhoola Pul. Pause here to capture some breathtaking views of the valley. A 20-minute trek down the mountain over the pebbled rocks across the Kalsa River leads to your destination, where you are welcomed with cold towels and fresh lemon drinks.
The Prafful, Mukta, Poorna and Yukta suites comprise the four-bedroom octagonal cottage with red concrete floors and vibrant furnishings. Prafful and Mukta have covered balconies with a river view and a beautiful jhoola bed as the centrepiece, while Poorna and Yukta below, open to a garden view of the river.
These restored 1930s village homes have unique pastoral features – period furniture, rustic wood frames, mud-plastered walls, lantern lights and lavish skylights.
Dining
Relish Authentic Food
The menu at this retreat serves a simple, homemade farm-to-table menu of Indian and Continental cuisine. Only hand-picked organic vegetables, lentils, fruits and herbs make it to the kitchen. The magnificent mountain views, breezy ambience and the undertone of waterfalls make the dining atmosphere here priceless.
You can enjoy your meal anywhere by the waterfall or at the in-house dhaba, where meals are cooked over chulhas and angeethis. The barbeque nights with bonfires and eating garden-fresh corn in the cool climate are surreal.
The menu changes by the day and comes with an a la carte menu that serves limited but delicious snacking options. Get ready to tickle your taste buds with sumptuous organic vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals with an exquisite range of homemade pickles and desserts.
Sustainability Story
Soulitude by the Riverside champions responsible and sustainable tourism by contributing to local welfare and taking special care to adopt green options for its operations and services. It recruits and upskills local people and promotes cultural exchange through its cultural immersion experiences.
The retreat uses only farm-sourced organic produce for cooking. Single-use packaging is avoided — instead, glass or copperware is used for drinking water, wall or glass dispensers for toiletries and natural leaf packaging for preservative-free soaps. Biodegradable crockery and cutlery are used for picnics. They also use paperless documentation to minimise waste.
In conclusion, Soulitude by the Riverside extends a wonderland for the senses of eco-conscious naturalists seeking a grounded and offbeat experience with nature.
Discover More Immersive Experiences at Soulitude by the Riverside
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