Wednesday 24 September 2014

Kumaoni Way of Life

The northern hilly region of Kumaon offers one of the best holiday destinations in India. This region gives you an opportunity to stay close with the nature. With the abundance of flora and spectacular view of the Himalayas you will experience a kind of peace that is vastly missing in the cities. From mid September till April is the best time for Himalaya tour.

Kalmatia Sangama boutique resort near Almora is the best place where you can stay while you get familiar with the region. We at the resort organise a Kumaoni village trek to give you a glimpses into their way of life. While walking from one village to another you will experience the friendly nature of the people of this region.

Jageshwar Temple
The Kumaoni people are sturdy and hard working mostly working in the fields. They are also engaged in hand crafted artifacts which is a specialty of this region. Availability of variety of fruits also gives them an option to make jams etc. from fruit extract. Within their simple lifestyle they welcome guests and look after them with utmost hospitality.

The presence of a large number of temples show that they are religiously inclined people. The interesting fact about these temples is that they were built hundreds of years ago showing some unique architecture of that era. The most famous is the Jageshwar temple which is actually a cluster of number of temples.

The people of Kumaon are fond of festivals. They celebrate Dussehra, Diwali, Holi, Basant Panchami, Janmashtami etc. Sankranti is a festival which is celebrated with great fanfare during the harvest season. This festival has the attraction of holding village fairs too. A special mention should be made of the Ramlila plays that are performed during dussehra.



Village House
While on the Himalayan tour you will experience a great deal of Kumaoni cuisine. They are simple and are mostly made of pulses and vegetables. Most of the dishes are made from locally grown vegetables. Aloo ke gutke is a popular dish made with potatoes, whole coriander and spices. Papad ki sabji is made with colocacia leaves combined with spices and chick pea flour. Jhloli/Bhaat is also made with chick pea flour mixed with curd with pieces of radish cooked in the gravy.

The village walks through the interiors of Kumaon will show you the beauty of the place, cultivated fields in the hills, the prehistoric rock paintings and the spectacular site of the snow capped mountains right from your village house.

Sunday 14 September 2014

Relishing Holiday Cuisine at Kalmatia Sangam

There is no substitute for a holiday that is comfortable, free of stress and a promise of delicious food to tickle your taste buds. There are plenty of holiday destinations that promise to give you a dream holiday fulfilling all your wishes. India resorts in Himalayas in the picturesque town of Almora offer to give you an inspiring holiday amongst the grandeur of the majestic Himalayas. These resorts and hotels offer breath taking view of Himalayas while giving you an experience of rustic Kumaoni life.

India resorts like Kalmatia Sangam is one of the most luxurious retreats nestled in the green hills surrounding the city of Almora. With ten individual cottages we ensure that you spend quality time with us and leave feeling happy and contented already planning a comeback in the next season.

We believe that the best part of the holiday is the kind of food that is served to you wherever you are staying. Keeping this in mind we try to bring you delectable cuisine from all over the world including our local recipes.

Sangam restaurant is the heart of our resort offering great dining experience. We make sure that you should enjoy our food in style and comfort. The breakfast is served in open terrace with morning sun with the view of the peaks of Himalayas. What can be more perfect than the sun warming your back while inhaling the fragrance of freshly baked bread and muffins. Take your pick from a wide range of menu from fresh bread, cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, muffins, local fruit preserves and so on.

The next meal is the lunch which is served as buffet. You get to choose from a range of dishes to suit your mood. The food is spiced up with variety of herbs that we grow in our garden. We also use organic vegetables from the local villages. Be it European, Mediterranean or Indian we serve all of them.

Dinner again is a grand affair with mouthwatering dishes that are exotic as well as local. It consists of Lebanese, continental and Italian with enough Indian delicacies for those who prefer our spicy desi flavor. The local Kumaoni dishes are quite a hit with the guests. They have their own distinct flavor and we recommend you to try out Kappa made with spinach or alu ke gutke or typical Kumaoni bread- Lesu to be eaten with ghee or butter.

Sunday 7 September 2014

A Healthy Body- A Healthy Mind At Kalmatia Sangam

With the holiday season round the corner you might decide to run far away from the maddening crowd! The idea to visit a place with no crowd, clean fresh air, plenty of greenery and natural beauty can be immensely tempting. Kalmatia Sangam, a Himalayan hotel can offer you all of this and more.
Perched on a hilltop, 10 km away from the nearest town Almora, Kalmatia Sangam offers a luxurious holiday ensuring that you enjoy the natural beauty of its surrounding as well as spend your holiday achieving maximum health and happiness.

To make your day more interesting, we at this Himalayan hotel arrange a number of activities which are mostly walks and excursion to the nearby places through the lush green forests of cedar and rhododendron. In case you are feeling lazy you can retire to your cottage room with a book from our well stocked library. If you are in a mood to pamper yourself, visit our spa for Swedish body massage and foot reflexology. Both these therapies induce a sense of calm relaxation which rejuvenates your body and mind.
 
Swedish Body Massage:
It is one of the oldest forms of massage therapy which aim at improvement of reflexes and complete relaxation of the body. This massage therapy is undertaken by trained licensed massage therapist. It is performed by applying oil to the body for lubrication prior to the massage. The therapist follows various strokes, light or deep according to your choice to relax your muscles. Generally the strokes are long and gliding following the direction of the blood flow to the heart. This form of massage increases oxygen level in your blood. Apart from that the massage is a great stress reliever, manages pain and even lowers your blood pressure.

Foot Reflexology:

Another form of therapeutic treatment that is offered to the guests in our resort is the foot reflexology. This too is performed by trained therapist who focuses on reflexology treatment on your foot by finger pressure. Fingers are used to rotate, hold, rub and knead your foot to stimulate certain pressure points. While just the foot is given the massage, the effect of it is felt through the entire body. The benefits of foot reflexology include relaxation of body and mind, creating more energy for your body, decreasing anxiety, increasing blood circulation and reducing fatigue.