Firwood Cottage, Ranikhet
UttarakhandExclusive 3 bedroom cottage (divided into two units) | upto 7 guests
Built in the midst of a flourishing Fir and Deodar forest, Firwood Cottage is a veritable manifestation of every mountain lover’s dream home. Built in the early 90s by a family of wildlife and nature aficionados, this cosy slice of goodness is perched peacefully on a hillside that gazes directly at the marvelous snow-capped peaks of upper Kumaon. After decades of maintaining this jewel as a private home, professional hiker & birding enthusiast Vivasvat Chauhan, convinced his grandfather to open up the home and share its glory with like-minded peace junkies.
After a few months of repairs, renovations & refurbishments, Firwood Cottage was set-up and ready to host explorers from all over the world. It took us a brief conversation with VC to realize our mutual love, wonderment and respect for this under-explored region of Uttarakhand. Having experienced the bounties, generosity, and even the wrath of Kumaon’s rolling hills and resplendent giant peaks, we decided to come together to operate this 3-bedroom refuge as a safe, sustainable, and tranquil getaway. Our collective intention is for this special space to feel and become your home in the loving lap of Nanda Devi.
Rooms
Firwood is divided into 2 beautifully designed and privately accessible units. The first unit consists of 2 bedrooms (with attached bathrooms and balconies), a living area, a balcony and the common kitchen. This section can accommodate 4 guests with the existing setup and and one additional person with an extra bed.
The second unit, which sits below the first, has a separate, private access and offers a spacious bedroom suite with a study and sit-out. This room is ideal for 2 guests, but can accommodate a 3rd person with an extra bed.
Guests are given the option to book out the entire 3-bedroom set and/or either of the 2 units individually, without compromising privacy.
Tariff:
Full-house: INR 21,000 per night for 6 pax with breakfast and dinner included. Lunch optional at our standard meal rate of 300/400 per person.
2 room set: INR 16,000 per night for 4 pax with breakfast and dinner included. Lunch optional at our standard meal rate of 300/400 per person for veg/non-veg.
Single room: INR 9,000 per night for 2 pax with breakfast and dinner included. Lunch optional at our standard meal rate of 300/400 per person for veg/non-veg.
Ps- rates may vary for long weekends & low season.
Amenities: All rooms come with separable/attached twin beds, attached bathrooms in each room with hot water (no bathtub), space heaters and fresh towels. Both units also have traditional bukharis (space heaters).
Experiences
A trip with friends, a family holiday or a romantic getaway for two, Firwood is cut-out for every mood and every setting.
A typical day…
Wake up to the song and cacophony of a hundred (or more) varieties of migratory birds, some that are only seen in these parts. Start your day with a hot cup of coffee, crisp paranthas and uninterrupted views of the himalayas. Our in-house cook+caretaker, Chandan, has lived and grown up in Majkhali and has mastered the art of fixing a mean Kumaoni thaali.
If you’re in the mood, the trails, fields and ridges around the cottage are perfectly safe for endless walks, lazy picnics or extended sessions of meditation. While Chandan would be happy to guide you to all the nice spots we know of, we’d love for you to come discover some on your own!
Our guests also have the option of visiting the weaving and jam-making facilities of Mahila Umang Producers Company . Umang is fair-trade union and self-help group of local women who are disrupting age-old economic and social narratives with the objective of creating jobs, opportunities and livelihoods. If you ask us, this one is a must-do!
How to reach
This stay is located at Majkhali, a short distance from Ranikhet cantonment. The cottage is easily accessible by road from all major cities and has safe parking space for up to 4 cars. Details on nearest connections below.
Nearest train station: Kathgodam (93 km/ 3hrs)
Nearest airport: Pantnagar (126 km/4 hrs)
Local bus stop/taxi stand: Ranikhet Cantonment (8 km)
Booking with us
Booking a holiday with us is super simple. Click on the button below to go to our booking page.
