Uttarakhand is a relatively big state with 53,483 square kilometers of land and has varied climates in different places based on their altitude and nearness to the Himalayas. Because most of the places of Uttarakhand are mountainous, summers are a very good time to visit the state. So from March onwards when the plains are scorching the many hill stations of Uttarakhand can offer great relief. Having said that the monsoons which is usually the months from July to September too turn the hill stations across Uttarakhand into green heavens. Additionally you like to enjoy snowfall the winter months in the high altitude places can offer you a perfect vacation with snow all around.

You can come to Uttarakhand from various routes. The nearest hill stations of Uttarakhand from Delhi NCR are about 5 hours via road. However some places of Uttarakhand like Mana village which is the last village of India in Uttarakhand is about 558 kms from Delhi and takes around 14 hours to reach. Meanwhile the UNESCO protected Valley of Flowers takes about 13 hours and is at a distance of 530 kms. Uttarakhand has a couple of airports including Bharkot Airport, Gauchar Airport, Jolly Grant Airport, Naini Saini Airport, and Pantnagar Airport when daily flights operate from Delhi. Uttarakhand also has several rail heads and has some of the fast trains plying daily. A train trip might take from a couple of hours to being an overnight journey.

Yes, there are daily flights from Delhi to the 5 airports of Uttarakhand which are Bharkot Airport, Gauchar Airport, Jolly Grant Airport, Naini Saini Airport, and Pantnagar Airport.

The Kumaon region is one of two regions of Uttarakhand and comprises of five districts, which are: Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Naintal and Pithoragarh. The tourist attractions of the Kumaon region include, the Panchachuli Glacier, Nanda Devi Temple, Narayan Ashram, Jim Corbett National Park, Bhimtal Lake, Naini Lake, etc. The region is also famous for its fruit orchards that grow apples, apricots, plums, peaches, etc.

Every place in the Kumaon region has its own character and known for its distinctive flavor – be it the topography, climate or cuisine. There are numerous tourist places in the Kumaon region that witness tens of thousands of tourists each year. Among these countless hill stations the noteworthy and worthy of a visit are: Nainital, Ranikhet, Mukteshwar, Almora, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Munsiyari, Abbott Mount, Kausani, Lohaghat, Bhimtal, Jim Corbett National Park, Sattal, Binsar, Ramgarh, Chaukori, Pangot, Berinag, Didihat, and Jeolikot. Apart from these Hartola which is about 340 kms from Delhi is worth visiting if you are either a mountain lover, ornithologist or just want to laze around reading a good book.

Hartola is situated in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand about 340 kms from Delhi. The altitude of this quaint village is 8345 feet and it remains pleasant all throughout the year. The village is known for its fruit orchards that produce varieties of apples, apricot, peach, plum, etc. Hartola also experiences snowfall during the months of December and January, so for travelers who love to enjoy snowfall without a lot of tourists this is the perfect location.

If you are making a road trip then there are several routes to reach Hartola, however the Moradabad > Rampur > Rudrapur > Haldwani > Kathgodam > Bhimtal > Bhowali > Malla Ramgarh > Talla Ramgarh > Nathuakhan > Hartola is the shortest route. The other routes are via Kaladhungi and Nainital. Meanwhile if you are taking the train, there are three trains that ply from Delhi to Kathgodam, which is the last rail head these trains are: 12040 KGM SHTBDI EXP (Timing: 6:20 AM from New Delhi Railway Station and reaches Kathgodam Railway Station at 11:55 AM), 15013 RANIKHET EXP (Timing: 10:05 PM from Old Delhi Railway Station and reaches Kathgodam Railway Station at 5:05 AM), and 15035 UTR SAMPRK KRTI (Timing: 4:00 PM from Old Delhi Railway Station and reaches Kathgodam Railway Station at 10:45 PM). From Kathgodam Railway Station, Hartola is exactly 70 kms which takes about 2.30 hours. The nearest airport to visit Hartola is Pantnagar Airport which is around 103 kms away. There are daily flights to Pantnagar from Delhi.

Hartola is an upcoming tourist destination in Nainital district of Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region. Apart from offering some of the breathtaking views of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks, Hartola is famous for its fruit orchards. The area boasts of producing some of the juiciest and tastiest apples, apricots, plums and peaches. This quaint little village also grows vegetables which find their way to the kitchens of several metros, Delhi included. Hartola is also a second home destination and is dotted with numerous holiday homes of people not only from Delhi NCR, but also from cities like Lucknow, Banaras, Chandigarh, etc. What makes Hartola popular in the tourist circuit is its tranquility and all-year-round pleasant weather.

The best part of Hartola is that you can come here any time of the year and enjoy the distinctive climate. If you decide to come during the winter months of December to February you are most likely to enjoy snowfall. Meanwhile the months of March to April is equally magical with fruit trees in full bloom along with various wild flowers appearing as a carpet of vibrant colors all across the mountain slopes and the roadside. The monsoons on the other hand has a different picture to depict. If you love the rains then the months of July to September are the best to visit Hartola. The entire village seems as if it is covered with a lush green carpet. In a nutshell, it is safe to say that every month of the year Hartola has something to offer the intending traveler. A word of caution though, it is a good practice to check the weather forecast before you start your journey, because the weather can be pretty extreme in the mountains sometimes.

There are several places of interest near Hartola including waterfalls, temples and magical locales. One can go on a day trip to Nainital, Ranikhet and Almora. Meanwhile you can make a trip to Mukteshwar where you can visit the Mukteshwar Temple, Chauli ki Jali, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, and the Mukteshwar Inspection Bungalow. As for waterfalls, there are a couple of them which are worth a visit. The Bhalugaad waterfall, Dhokaney waterfall, and Lamahanga waterfall are at a radius of 40 kms from Hartola and based on the time of the year, you can enjoy them and their adjoining picturesque surroundings.

There is no market as such in Hartola. However there are several shops at the beginning of the village where you can get all the daily needs. There is also a couple of tea shops which are run by locals and are hygienic. The nearest full-fledged market near Hartola is Nathuakhan where you will get almost everything. The Nathuakhan market is 10 kms from Hartola and right from groceries, hardware, to bakery to medicines are available here. There are also a couple of restaurants here although best not to expect anything fancy from the kitchen.

There are no wine/liquor shops in Hartola. There is a licensed country liquor shop in Nathuakhan which sometimes keep some brands of whiskey, vodka and rum. The nearest wine/liquor shop is in Talla Ramgarh, which is about 17 kms from Hartola. However the choice of liquor will be limited here. The best shops for wine, beer and any other brands of liquor are in Haldwani and Kathgodam. So if you are coming to Hartola for a couple of days, best to pick the bottles from here.

Yes, Hartola is a weekend destination for travelers coming from Delhi NCR. It takes around 8 to 8.3 hours to reach Hartola by road and if you make an early trip on Saturday, you can have the entire day and the night to relax and rejuvenate and leave the next day after a late breakfast. Having said that to enjoy the natural beauty of Hartola go for at least 2-3 nights.

Katie’s Abode, Hartola is an off-road boutique homestay in the midst of fruit trees in Hartola about 340 kms from Delhi. Hartola is a small village of not more than 500 residents within Nainital district of Uttarakhand. This is predominantly a holiday home destination with 360 degree views of the Himalayan peaks. After entering Hartola, there is a road on the right that goes to Satpuri village. Katie’s Abode, Hartola which is a 5 bedroom homestay is one kilometer on this non-metaled road.

The National Highway nine (NH9) has been laid in many locations lately and driving on the highway is really smooth and fast. After Rampur, although the highway is much better than what it was a decade back, work on the road is still on so there will be patches of broken roads. Meanwhile at Ranibagh work on constructing a new bridge near the old one is in progress, so you might get some traffic jam here. Apart from that, the road to Hartola is pretty okay. Once in Hartola, the last 1.2 km road is non-metaled, but motorable 15 feet wide road. You need to drive slowly on this stretch.

Of course. Although you will not get any fancy food at Katie’s Abode, Hartola, the caretaker can treat you to some finger-licking good local fare. Most of the ingredients are procured from the homestay’s own kitchen garden. As for non-vegetarians fresh chicken on order is available at this homestay.

No, Katie’s Abode, Hartola doesn’t have a restaurant per se, but its dining hall and the adjacent sit-out serve as great places to sit and break bread. In case you are in the mood for something, you can ask the caretaker to prepare it for you, based on availability of the ingredients required.

Yes, there is a family room at Katie’s Abode, Hartola that can comfortably accommodate a family of 4. The family room is 26 x 15 feet in size and has an attached modern bathroom. The room has huge glass windows offering unobstructed views of the Himalayas right from the bed.

Yes, Katie’s Abode, Hartola is a pet-friendly homestay in Uttarakhand. In fact, the homestay is named after the hosts’ pet who is an English cocker spaniel. However travelers coming to stay in this homestay should take a look at the pet rules of staying with a pet in the property.

The best thing you can do at Katie’s Abode, Hartola is to do nothing. The homestay is a perfect place to laze around and rejuvenate. Although there are a lot of things to do at the homestay. The hosts have a good collection of books which you can read. There are also a couple of indoor and board games that you can play with your family and friends. If you really want to burn some calories, go for long walks in the village and take the walking treks. With hardly any traffic, walking or jogging in Hartola is indeed a pleasure. Additionally you can also go for day-long trips to the nearby places like Nainital, Rnikhet, or Mukteshwar.