Tree of Life Grand Oak Manor Binsar

Approaching up the hill road as you turn the last corner you are greeted by the beautiful stunning Grand Oak ***or that takes your breath away, with outstanding views as far as you can see. Comfortable rooms, lovely food and service the place speaks for itself. Just enjoy the surroundings. sit and take it all in, unwind with fresh air while you listen to the birds and at times, nothing at all. To all the staff, a huge 'Thank you', you made our stay at the ***or to be very comfortable and most enjoyable. My opinion, this is not a place for children.

The old house serves as a constant amongst the ever-changing hills, providing a perennial home amid such transformation. Our journey from Delhi to Kathgodam via the Shatabdi train was a delight. The subsequent journey from Kathgodam railway station to the Grand Oak ***or was nothing short of thrilling. Despite encountering a forest fire and a t******storm on the day of our arrival, which resulted in prolonged driving for five hours, our family pressed on, aided by a forest ranger and with reassurances from Mr. Rajan. On reaching our destination, we were greeted by Kailash who took us in the I Suzu for bumpy ride of 600 meters toward the ***or. We found ourselves instantly charmed by the warm welcome and generous hospitality. After receiving a warm reception, which included drinks, we were shown to our rooms. We opted for the Mountain View room, which offered a breathtaking depiction of the Nanda Devi mountain range. The Grand Oak ***or is an unforgettable destination lying within the Binsar Forest Reserve in Uttarakhand. This historical colonial residence, once the home of Sir Henry Ramsay, Commissioner of Kumaon, has been restored to embrace its original grandeur. During our three-night stay, we utilized two rooms. In total, there are four rooms on the first floor, strategically situated near the inviting restaurant and sunset lounge. Additionally, there are another seven or eight rooms on the ground floor. Interestingly, the ***or operates on solar power. Consequently, hot water supply is only available from 7pm to 11am. Despite this limitation, we understood and respected the constraints associated with this remote location. Even meal requests need to be placed at least two to three hours in advance, to ensure the food is prepared fresh as per our preferences. The cuisine was simple, homely and gastronomically delightful. The daily high tea ritual was always a treat, complete with a homemade cake and delicious plum jam. Our early morning bird-watching sessions, led by an experienced and humble naturalist, Mr. Ram Singh, were informative and entertaining. We were fortunate to spot a plethora of birds and even heard a leopard's call. On the subsequent day, we embarked on an adventurous 6.5 km trek to Zero Point saw yellow-throated marten , barking deer birds, adhering to the adage, no pain, no gain. Every evening, we were provided with a hot bag and hot water in a flask. We were particularly impressed with the well-trained staff, specifically Pankaj, Ganesh, and Kailash who went above and beyond to accommodate my family. Without a doubt, we are looking forward to our next visit.

The British era bungalow very well restored. This is a boutique hotel. The location is remote. The staff is hard working and dedicated. The property is very good and maintained very nicely.

Going on a vacation everyone plans their trip carefully. With this property you will have to be extra Perks of the property 1. The location of the property is good. From the property grounds you can view mountains in a panoramic 270 deg. At times when there are no clouds you can even see the snow peaks. 2. The property is inside the sanctuary so it’s serene and pleasant. It’s difficult to get from the main road as Google doesn’t show the right way on maps but you can call the staff and they will guide you. Remember you have to take the entry gate of the sanctuary so don’t miss it when Google tells you to go forward. Pitfalls 1. Food is the biggest disappoin**ent. 2. Rats at the property and there are these big garden lizards in the garden. These reptiles are stunning to look at but beware if you sit by the stone fence or stone chairs they may just creep out of the cracks in between the blocks. 3. The property is not well maintained as it could be with just some inves**ent. Other points to ponder 1. Carry your own water. 2. Take some games else you may get bored. 3. There is a trek to point zero but go there after checking the weather conditions. Snow peaks will only be visible when the sky is clear. 4. A 2 night trip is enough for Binsar.

+Awesome Location +Excellent food + excellent top floor, nice view of the Mountains +Nice surroundings +great kitchen staff It stops there - Clueless ***agement - no information on local culture , local holidays ,no influence on the local guides or cabbies and noisy occupants. - rooms are not at all sound proof , hence extremely noisy till the last guest goes off to sleep - rooms does not have door closers , so when they are shut, creates a noise as if u are in the war zone - rooms must have better amenities for keeping clothes, etc. - the drive from Simba Cafe to the resort is extremely tricky and a 4X4 vehicle is a must if u dont want to get stuck ...else park at simba cafe and use the resort pick up vehicle - connectivity is not great from the forest gate to the resort .....Get mentally prepared - getting - Hot water is a huge challenge even in the given time range However we ***aged to get a good guide ram singh and a good local cabbie Kundan singh

What a beautiful place to stay, one can just relax unwind, at night go to the terrace even if cold and one can easily see the milky way, also keep your wishes ready as at night if you sit outside you will see a lot of shooting stars. Some of the most beautiful views of the snow capped mountains on one side and the valley on other, same goes for sunrise and sunset you can see both from tjis place, the valley at night is a view on its own with all the village lights on. What can be said about the staff always helpful and never said no for anything. Oh before i forget saw a leapord on our way up the wild life century, yaaaaay being it a wildlife lover that was one of the best seightings and moment of the trip. Oh and yes the place is far more beautiful in real than in photo

The property is absolutely charming. Situated atop a hill, surrounded by forests and divinely secluded. Great view of the Himalayan peaks from the rooms of one side, and from the veran***. Very helpful staff. They cater to even the small comforts, like offering hot-water bottle at night to keep the bed warm (it was biting cold outside). Food is also great. Overall, a great experience.

Gorgeous location! Excellent food and service! This is a hidden delight!! We drove down- the last patch was quite tricky - luckily we had a 4x4 vehicle. Ideal for nature lovers and writers. The place is quite lovely in a the old world charm of a bell instead of intercom and the attendant there are so prompt and helpful. Very delightful stay!

It's a beautiful colonial era property with a lovely view from all sides! Clean rooms,good food specially the kumaoni cuisine. Extremely peaceful but one cannot stay for more than 2 days. Very helpful staff and the ***ager Mr Kailash is very obliging.