OFF LEASH – OUR NEWS DIGEST
LATEST FROM OUR HOME
22
Apr
What Hartola is talking about these days: the mud house of Satpuri
Ask anyone in Hartola where the mud house is and they would point you towards the meandering walking path that...
19
Apr
A Moment of Pride: Participating in Uttarakhand’s 2024 Lok Sabha Elections
For over a year now, ever since we received our voter cards, anticipation had been building up for this very d...
07
Apr
Hartola calling – aah! It’s time to return to our paradise in the mountains
With heavy hearts we had to return to the smoggy plains in December last year because we had to embark on our ...
23
Mar
What is Hartola famous for?
Invariably every inquiry we get this query will always follow after the initial questions with regard to dista...
09
Feb
How cold is cold – is winter a good time to visit our Himalayan homestay?
Well, we did survive! If that's what you are asking. Frankly speaking, the winters of Noida are bad – smoggy, ...
29
Dec
Bountiful year at the farm of Katie’s Abode, Hartola; impatiently waiting for next season
Vegetable farming period of Hartola is now over as Mr Frost takes over the landscape and we await the first fl...
25
Dec
Embrace the long weekends of 2024: a guide to holidaying at Katie’s Abode, Hartola
As the dawn of the new year unfolds, it brings with it the promise of long weekends, offering the perfect oppo...
03
Nov
Meet Chloe, the pawsome hostess of Katie’s Abode!
Woof woof, everyone! I'm Katie, the proud hostess of Katie's Abode in the breathtaking village of Hartola, Utt...
09
Jul
Places of interest near Hartola – our many excursions since 2016
We have been staying in Hartola for the last six years now. Even before the construction of our homestay, Kati...
10
Mar
Symphony of the Savannah – new coffee table book added to our library
As we seek to increase the number of books in our library at Katie’s Abode, Hartola with some interesting and ...
08
Mar
Places of interest near Hartola (Part 3) Neem Karoli Baba’s Kainchi Dham Mandir
It was a Wednesday evening when we realized that staying in Hartola was not complete without a visit to Neem K...
07
Mar
Spring has arrived and Hartola is draped in colours of nature!
The absence of snow this year has not thrown nature’s schedule off balance. It’s business as usual—once again,...
08
Jan
New Year, new changes to our homestay near Mukteshwar!
Well, A very Happy New Year to everyone. Since we started our homestay, we have been working on ways to make o...
01
Jan
Long weekends in 2023 – 16 mini vacations you can plan this year
This year it’s packed with long weekends, with five to six-day holidays in March, April and August. So if you ...
16
Dec
Our home – a beautiful boutique airbnb in Hartola
Nestled in the picturesque hills of Hartola, Katie's Abode is a beautiful and vibrant 5BHK cottage that promis...
13
Aug
Places of interest near Hartola (Part 2) – Dhokaney waterfall
About 40 kilometers from Hartola is a beautiful waterfall tucked away amidst lush green surroundings on the Na...
12
Jun
We got our first delivery today from Amazon at Hartola
Today was an exciting day for sure! We got our first delivery from Amazon! All this time we were not sure whet...
03
May
3 weeks as a pahadan in the mountains of Hartola
They say a journey begins with a small step. So, a wish was sent out into the universe—for a change, not just ...
29
Apr
Places of interest near Hartola (Part 1) – Jageshwar Dham near Almora
I have been to several temples across India, but Jageshwar Dham near Almora is a different experience altogeth...
25
Apr
First come first served – Our homemade buransh squash is ready
Living in a slightly remote area like Hartola, it is extremely important to make use of the local resources wh...
OUR VLOG
When words are just not enough!
MANY MOODS OF HARTOLA
Never fails to excite you 365 days!
-
- Snowfall in Hartola after the Mountain Guardian granted a balance between nature and humans
TRAVEL TIPS
Information to make your vacation perfect!
12
Mar
Top tips for planning the perfect road trip
In December 2022 and again in February this year we embarked on long road trips spanning over 1900 kms one way...
30
Dec
Taking a Road Trip – Top Tips while Traveling by Road
So you have decided to drive down to your weekend destination…good idea, if you have prepared well!
A well pr...
30
Dec
Flying With Your Pet In Cabin in India? Here’s all you need to know
By November 12 we had read and heard a whole lot of things – mostly confusing – about carrying pets along in t...
27
Dec
Tips on How to Survive a Vacation with Your Spouse without Arguing or Going Crazy
A vacation with your spouse can be a great way for some much-needed time together. But this road to paradise c...
27
Dec
Brutally Honest Travel Tips to Avoid Embarrassing Yourself When in India
These brutally honest travel tips will keep you from embarrassing yourself when you are on a visit to India. J...
14
Dec
Get Inspired to Travel to India with this Beautiful Video
If you are still waiting for inspiration to explore India, this video, Hymn for the Weekend by Coldplay and Be...
01
Dec
Thinking of a Vacation with your Pet? Here’s the Cost of Carrying a Pet in a Domestic Flight in India
From our earlier article on How to take a pet along with you on a domestic flight, you are perhaps now aware t...
26
Nov
Demonetisation – How to plan your road trip or holiday with minimum cash
If your upcoming holiday is hit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetization announcement on November 8 th...
25
May
Tips for Hill and Mountain Driving
We’ve been travelling in the hills and mountains of Himachal, J&K and Uttarakhand long enough now to expec...
01
Aug
Carrying a DSLR? Which Lens Should You Take on Your Trip
While you were packing your bags for the trip, you find that after packing your clothes and other essentials t...
07
Jul
Digital camera tips for smart travellers (Optical vs digital zoom)
While buying a digital camera, one of the features that you will undoubtedly be looking at is the power of the...
07
Jul
Need a Fresh Passport to Go Abroad – Here’s a Step by Step Passport Application Procedure
For the last couple of years I have been trying hard to get my passport, but friends kept telling me I require...
07
Jul
Travellers on travelling – good travel quotes
Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation.- Elizabeth Drew
The Wo...
OUR TRAVEL DIARIES
Travelogues as we travel
06
Apr
The Crazy 4 did it again – a non-stop drive from Guwahati to Noida!
We had to live up to the name our friends have fondly bestowed upon us – The Crazy 4 – owing to the crazy road...
08
Mar
Places of interest near Hartola (Part 3) Neem Karoli Baba’s Kainchi Dham Mandir
It was a Wednesday evening when we realized that staying in Hartola was not complete without a visit to Neem K...
06
Jan
2 Nights, 3 Days – A Road Trip From Noida To Guwahati With Our Pet
Just like Don Marquis had once said: Of middle age the best that can be said is that a middle-aged person has ...
13
Aug
Places of interest near Hartola (Part 2) – Dhokaney waterfall
About 40 kilometers from Hartola is a beautiful waterfall tucked away amidst lush green surroundings on the Na...
29
Apr
Places of interest near Hartola (Part 1) – Jageshwar Dham near Almora
I have been to several temples across India, but Jageshwar Dham near Almora is a different experience altogeth...
14
Dec
Diwali at Bhimtal – I
The Diwali weekend of November 2007 saw us taking off to the hills of Bhimtal on NH 24. I was the only one of ...
15
Jun
On the Uttarakhand Trail–Someshwar Valley/Ranikhet
July 2014
Days 4 & 5
Route taken: NH 87 E – Kausani – Someshwar – Pokhra – Ranikhet (near Army Golf Course...
05
May
Day 3 and 4 of Our Goa Holiday – Lazing around at Calangute Beach
We had tea and toast and lazed around in bed till about 9.30. With no fixed agenda for the day, we thought of ...
05
May
Day 2 of our Goa Holiday – South Goa Guided Tour
Then at around 9 we decided to begin the day. We had bought tickets for a conducted tour from the Tourist Host...
05
May
Go Goa – A Much Needed Vacation in the Beach Capital
For Deepa it was a second coming. She'd stayed there for a couple of years when my father-in-law (an army doct...
12
Oct
A Trip to Mukteshwar
Recently we made a trip to Mukteshwar in Uttarakhand. Here are some grabs of this beautiful hill station:
29
Jul
On the Uttarakhand Trail—Kausani (2)
July 2014
Days 2 and 3
Sunday was off to a lazy start with a leisurely breakfast of poori-subzi. We decided t...
29
Jul
On the Uttarakhand Trail — Kausani (1)
July 2014
Uttarakhand this time, we decided. We’ve done most of Himachal, so let’s give it a break. Not to say...
24
Jul
Diwali at Bhimtal-II
Finally, there it was... Gangaji ka pul! We all let out whoops of joy as the bridge came into view. The hordes...
24
Jul
Delhi to Rishikesh-Shivpuri-Devprayag
My other half (note: I didn’t say “better” or “worse”) has been bitten by the travel bug for quite some time n...
24
Jul
Delhi to Haridwar – A Night at the Gateway to the Gods
As I said in my last post, we had no fixed agenda for our return to Delhi from Rishikesh. As we were entering ...
24
Jul
Lansdowne – nature at its best
Ideally they say it’s not safe to take the highways in north India during winters. The fog is thick and stays ...
07
Jul
Kaziranga on a Misty January Morning
How does one describe people who have a treasure in their own back yard but are busy exploring others’ back ya...
07
Jul
On the Kufri-Mashobra Trail
Another of those long weekends peeked around the corner and there was no way we’d let it go waste. We decided ...
07
Jul
Manali – Day 1
As is fast becoming the norm rather than the exception with us, it was almost a last minute decision... to spe...
DAILY TIDINGS
About me and my world
11
Apr
Adventures of Katie – Forgiveness of The Mountain Guardian
In the serene village of Hartola, nestled among the mountains of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, life was on...
10
Mar
The adventures of Katie – the tale of the missing puppy
In the quiet village of Hartola, tucked away in the mountains of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, there was g...
03
Nov
Meet Chloe, the pawsome hostess of Katie’s Abode!
Woof woof, everyone! I'm Katie, the proud hostess of Katie's Abode in the breathtaking village of Hartola, Utt...
29
Apr
Taking care of your pet during COVID-19 lockdown
For hoomans these are trying times. The roads are empty, mom is always home and I haven't met my friends, Astr...
21
Aug
Damn! I need to work out a little!
Yesterday evening papa checked my weight and it seemed I had
gained a couple of kilos. I...
17
Aug
Pawty time – it’s my third Bawthday!
Hello everydoggy, it was my third bawthday yesterday and I
had a great time! Papa has be...
30
Jul
An Appeal of a Cocker Spaniel to be Kind to Stray Dogs
Yessturday I heard my pawents discussin bout how a stweet fur friend was bwutally beaten...
23
Jul
Mom’s watching the Game of Thrones Reruns Again – What’s With Her!!
Hoomans have really gone crazy over this Game of Thrones thingy. It all started a couple of months back, when Star World started airing the earlier seasons of GoT…that’s what they call it now – lazy hoomans!
12
Jul
Beware Night King! Arya is here!
And it's not just the Night King, beware all ...
21
Dec
Joy to the world! The weekend is here
So it was a pawfect week. I played in the park, ate without a fuss (well, almost), threw...
18
Dec
Oh! I love the mountains!
Just like my mom, I love the mountains. The deep blue sky, lush green everywhere, hardly...
16
Dec
Google gets a new home
After two sad adoptions, Google the Labrador is all set to find love at her forever home. She already seems happy as she is being taken to her new home.
09
Dec
09
Apr
Ode to Freedom – a poem by dad
From the window of our home in Hartola, Uttarakhand
24
Dec
Meet my hooman pawents!
There are about 8 billion people in this planet, and they are the perfect parents for me...