Wednesday 6 January 2016

Natural Beauty in Kumaon

Kumaon in Uttranchal is a region of natural beauty. Majestic Himalayan range, rich heritage, colorful culture and most importantly loving people make is one of the most sought after holiday destination in the hills.

Every city, every village, every river, every mountain here has its uniqueness and tranquility about itself. It is a region adorned by temples, historical remains and vast acres of beautiful forests. The most important reason which makes it a perfect holiday destination in the hills is a clear picture of the imposing Himalayan range.

View of the Himalaya from the resort
Kalmatia Sangam, a Himalayan resort offers one of the most exclusive and unusual accommodations in Uttarakhand; from the architecture and cuisine, to the decor, service and unhampered views of the snow-clad Himalaya. Within a 14 acre private estate, the resort is perched on a lush hilltop and enjoys the most wonderful mountain views.

Himalayan Magpie
The area has very rich fauna, one can expect and encounter from the huge variety of indigenous and migratory birds with occasional visits from pine martens, foxes, porcupines, wild hares, jackals and the elusive leopard. Very close to this resort is Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary within which a variety of birds can be found, as well as Hanuman langurs, monkeys, barking deer, wild boar and leopards.


The village treks and the guided walks will take you through this beautiful and yet untouched natural beauty. The bird lovers do not have to go far, they can sight beautiful and rare birds the moment they step out of the cottage.

The trip might come to an end but these scenes of this beautiful holiday destination in the hills will remain with you forever.

Monday 23 November 2015

Foot Reflexology In Himalayan Hotel

View from the Resort
Visit the picturesque town of Almora in Kumaon district in Uttarakhand. Check into a comfortable Himalayan hotel to enjoy the scenic beauty of the region. With the backdrop of the mighty Himalayan ranges, Kalmatia Sangam, a boutique resort, 7Km from Almora provides you with a fabulous holiday package that you could wish for.

Our resort offers a luxurious living in our cozy cottages and plans your activities for the duration of your stay. It also takes upon the task of pampering the guests by offering in-house massages like Swedish body massage and foot reflexology. These massages are highly relaxing for body and mind. Here is some information about foot reflexology.

Foot reflexology is an ancient form of healing practiced around 2500 to 2300 B.C. The reflexology technique is based on the assumption that feet has reflexes corresponding to all body parts. To bring about physiological changes these need to be stimulated.

Beautiful view
Solar Plexus in the human body is the nerve center where the body accumulates stress. Pressing the right point in the foot reflexology massage the stress can be released and bring about a state of deep relaxation. It also helps in blood circulation. The blood flow to the vital organs is accomplished by stroking certain points on the foot by hands and fingers. This technique can help to heal injured tissues.

A general session of foot reflexology lasts between 30 to 60 minutes. You will need to lie down with bare feet. During the massage you can relax and even fall asleep. This form of massage helps to relieve you of migraine, arthritis, ankle pain, plantar fasciitis, anxiety etc. If you have a particular condition in mind you should communicate the same to the massage therapist. He or she will feel and work around the area on the foot corresponding to the problem. If the therapist finds some congestion or tightness in certain region of the foot, he or she will apply certain amount of pressure to smoothen the part thus achieving the balance in the body.

Having an idea about foot reflexology will encourage you to try it out in our Himalayan hotel Kalmatia Sangam. This type of relaxation will definitely give you a restful and relaxing holiday. 


 
 





Thursday 8 October 2015

Experiencing Kumaoni Village Life

It is not often that a city dweller gets a chance to experience village life and culture amongst the breathtaking scenery of majestic Himalayas. Take the opportunity to walk through the unspoiled Kumaon villages with their terraced fields, pine and rhododendron forests and meet the gentle hospitality of the Kumaon people.

Kalmatia Sangam with Himalayan village resort offers you an opportunity to enjoy the Kumaon rural life during your stay. Take a walk through the forest to the valley and you will be able to see the prominent peaks of Nanda Devi and Trishul ranges.
View of the Nanda Devi from the resort

Staying in a village house provided by the resort is an experience in itself. To retain the authenticity, the cottages are not renovated to any kind of modern architecture. They have mud and lime walls with slated roof as is common in Indian villages. The hut is kept spotlessly clean with comfortable sleeping arrangement. You are provided with fresh sheets and mattresses. What one lacks in an original village house is a modern bathroom. This has been taken care of by the resort and the washrooms are renovated to meet our basic needs. The bathrooms have western toilet, fresh towels and organic soap. The only thing lacking is a hot shower which is more than made up by the provision of bucket of hot water after a tiring

day’s walk.

Chai Shop by the Naini Temple
As the sun sets you can sit in the stone courtyard with a hot drink and watch the sun go down over the mountains turning the peaks to a glowing orange. The view is truly awe-inspiring. In the evening the dinner is cooked in your presence in a healthy and hygienic manner. It is traditional Kumaoni food that you get to taste and enjoy. During the meal you can sit and chat with the locals, listening to their tales from past and anecdotes from their lives. Sometime an entertainment program is put up for your benefit.

The people in the villages are very friendly. They are ready to talk to the guests, show them their lifestyle, and offer them easy hospitality. Here you can shop for some organic food products and hand- made organic jewelries. The overnight Himalayan village resort of Kalmatia Sangam is mainly set up for the guests who take up the trekking program and need to stay overnight after walking. The stay in these resorts is a unique experience which you may want to repeat next time!

Sunday 16 August 2015

Swedish Body Massage In Himalayas


Plan a visit to Almora a small hilly town in Uttarakhand to get away from the heat and humidity. There are plenty of luxury resorts in Himalayas and Kalmatia Sangam is one of them. Our resort transports you to a natural environment where all modern amenities are available. Here you will be able to enjoy nature in its purest form.

While the resort arranges picnics, sightseeing, village walks and other physical activities, it also offers a number of relaxing options within the resort. Foot reflexology, Swedish body massage, yoga, swimming and library are at your disposal to use and spend a lazy day within the hotel. If you are planning to get pampered you can opt for a Swedish body massage.

This massage technique is based on deep pressure differing from other massage types. It is believed to increase oxygen in blood as well as rids the body of metabolic wastes, uric and lactic acids. It is known to help a great deal in relieving joint pains and stiffness, enhance flexibility and helps in improvement of blood circulation.

There are five types of techniques used in Swedish body massage:

Massage Therapy of the back
Effleurage is used in the upper back neck and shoulder using long gliding strokes. This helps in relieving and reducing stress.

The kneading and squeezing of muscles is called Petrissage. It helps to smooth out muscles as well as gets rid of lumps and impure substances.

Tapotment is used where the masseur taps the back muscles by either drumming or light slapping. Vibration is used for the neck and shoulders. It  was initially done by hands but now there are devices like vibrating chairs or cushions which can be used. It gives the body highest form of relaxation and can make you fall asleep.

Friction is mainly used to work on muscle fibers and the movement is circular or perpendicular. Use of normal or aromatic oil helps to smooth the hand movement of the masseur.

All the steps in Swedish body massage helps to relieve you of fatigue, exhaustion and joint pains if any. This form of massage is particularly recommended to sports people as it releases knots and tension in the muscles and gives them greater flexibility. There are also deep tissue massaging. Getting this kind of massage on a holiday is a luxury and it is available to you in Kalmatia Sangam, the luxury resort in Himalayas.


Thursday 4 June 2015

Kumaon Mountain Views

Mountain View
Best resorts in Himalayas always strive to give its guests panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges visible from this part of India. A number of majestic Himalayan ranges are visible from our boutique resort Kalmatia Sangam. The guest cottages are built with the aim to give a spectacular view of the snow clad peaks. Because of the elevation where Kalmatia Sangam is situated the weather remains mild even during the height of summers. Also you will be surrounded by thick forest which is typical to this region.


Our cottages open out to veranda and sun terrace with great view of the mountain and you can catch the sun rise and set casting beautiful golden hue over the distant peaks. The Himalayan region covers a span of 2400Km long arc from west to east bordering India and a number of countries in the north. A part of this is visible from our resort providing a remarkable spectacle for the guests. The great Nanda Devi range visible from Kumaon region is the second highest range in India with an elevation of 7816m from the sea level.

View of the Nanda Devi from the resort
The most visible range from Kalmatia Sangam is the Trishul mountain with the elevation of 7120m. It is a group of three great Himalayan peaks in this region. These three peaks together form a trident like view, a weapon of Lord Shiva. Another great Himalayan peak in this region is Panchachuli with an elevation of 6905m. It is great to use this part for base camp for trekking.

Nanda Kot with an elevation of 6861m lies in the Kumaon Himalayas. The name Nanda Kot means ‘Nanda’s Fortress’. It is known to be the home of Goddess Parvati.

The visitors to this part of India can enjoy the rare treat of catching the terrific view of the majestic Himalayas provided by best resorts in Himalayas like Kalmatia Sangam.


Monday 11 May 2015

The Birds of Himalayas

The city dwellers often think of places to visit which are far away from the pollution, traffic and fast paced lifestyle. Himalaya tour is often an answer to their wishes to get away from it all. A popular place around this region is Almora in Kumaon District in Uttarakhand.

Himalayan Magpie
KalmatiaSangam, in Almora, a resort in the middle of tropical vegetation is a great place to unwind and indulge in activities which are pleasant to the body and mind. Some travelers also take a great deal of interest in bird watching as this region is famous for large number of native as well as migratory birds.

Our cottages are also named after the many birds that are found in this region. For a bird watcher it will be good to know a little about some of the birds found here. Himalayan Magpie or Red Billed Blue Magpie as the name suggests is a blue colored bird with a bright orange red bill. You can spot this bird in the thick foliage surrounding our property, hunting for small invertebrates, fruits and seeds.

The biggest and the most spacious cottage in KalmatiaSangam is Eagle’s Nest named after the Golden Eagle which frequent this area. They are dark brown in color with golden brown plumage on their napes. They like to nest in high elevation and can fly at a very high level.

Hoopoe
Hoopoe is an attractive bird found in this region. They are unmistakable with their erect crest, long curved bill, pinkish or buff colored body plumage and black and white striped tail.

The bird found in pheasant family in this region is Himalayan Monal. The males of this species are more attractive with multicolored plumage and green crest. They are endangered and their hunting is banned.

The Blue Whistling Thrush are dark violet blue in color. They are known for their loud humanlike whistling at dawn and dusk.  Another song bird found in this region is Great Grey Shrike.

A difficult to spot species of bird is the Bar Tailed Tree Creeper. This bird has striped feather patterned usually in black, brown, white or red. Because of their color they blend in well with the foliage.



The Scaly Breasted Munia found in this area is a small sparrow sized bird. It is brown in color with dark conical bill. They build domed shaped nests and eat berries, seeds and small insects.
The area along the Himalaya tour is scenic and beautiful with natural glory at its best.

Wednesday 25 March 2015

A Walk Through The Himalayan Forests

The northern most part of India is characterized by elevated landscape owing to the slopes of the mighty Himalayas. Nestled among the luxurious flora typical to this region is a small township, Almora, located in the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand. The city dwellers are attracted to this area for its natural beauty in form of remarkable view of the peaks of the Himalayan ranges and abundance of the native flora of the region. KlamatiaSangam, our Himalayan resort offers to give the visitors a pleasant stay among the natural beauty of the region.

View from the resort
This Himalayan resort is situated seven Kilometers above the Almora town which is at the foothills of the Himalayas.The region is covered with forest belonging to sub-tropical type comprising mostly of deciduous variety of trees and some of sub-temperate forest mostly with evergreen vegetation. While walking to visit the Chitai bell temple or going for treks and picnics you will have to go through these forests. The region is inhabited by almost four thousand species of trees due to its great range of elevation as well as temperature and precipitation.

Chir Pine Forest
The forest cover of this region consists of mainly Sal and Chir/ Pine. Sal is a deciduous type of plant whereas Chir/ Pine are evergreens. Other type of vegetation consists of Vijayasar, Ramal and Faliyal Oak. Another type of forest found in abundance here is Rhododendron with profusion of colorful flowers from its branches. At a slightly higher elevation you can come across Deodar, Horse Chestnut and few categories of Oak trees.

This zone is famous for remarkable variety of birds with magnificent and colorful plumage. The commonly seen bird species are Brown fronted Woodpecker, Bar tailed tree creeper, Scaly breasted Munia, Red beaked blue Magpie, Partridge, Grey Shrike, Himalayan whistling Thrush, Pheasants, Grey headed Flycatcher, Himalayan Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Eurasian Jay, Black headed Jay, Owl, Eagle, Himalayan Cuckoo etc. Area around our Himalayan resort is a birdwatcher’s paradise.
Walk through the jungle 



The surrounding region is also home to a number of animals. You will see different types of Monkeys, Langur, Leopard, Kakar, Goral, Fox, Chital etc.