Matena Homestay – Kasar Devi
Matena Homestay – Kasar Devi, Almora
Kasar Devi is a small hilltop village located around 8 km from Almora in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region. It is a serene quiet place and offers panoramic views of the Himalayas—from Nanda Devi to Panchachuli. It is a perfect base to explore Almora, Binsar and Jageshwar.
Kasar Devi’s magnetism has drawn writers, artists and spiritual leaders through the years. One of the earliest was Swami Vivekananda, who wrote in his diaries about meditating near Kasar Devi in 1890; Italian writer Tiziano Terzani spent years meditating and writing in a tiny mountain hut; German philosopher Ernst Lothar Hoffmann, later known as Lama Anagarika Govinda, who was the first European to be ordained a Buddhist monk, also lived here. Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Allen Ginsburg and Timothy Leary are amongst other well known personalities to have visited Kasar.
It’s an independent house on top of a hill just 800 mtr from Kasar Devi temple. Peaceful locale, breathtaking Himalayan views, Pahadi hospitality and lip smacking food, that’s what you can expect in this lovely homestay. There are 5 double bed rooms for guests. Two premium corner rooms have glass windows on 2 sides. Apart from the mountain view, they also offer a lovely sunrise and sunset view right from your bed. There are 2 superior rooms that have breathtakingly beautiful mountain and valley views. The classic room is at the back of the house. There is an attached bathroom in each room. Extra mattress can be provided in each room.
Number of Rooms – 5; Total Capacity – 14 people
How To Reach
Pantnagar is the closest airport at a distance of 123km. Shatabdi runs daily from New Delhi to Kathgodam, from where you can hire a taxi to Kasar Devi.
Tariff
These tariffs does not apply from 20 Dec to 10 Jan
Classic Room: 1650/-
Superior Room: 2300/-
Premium Room: 2800/-
Extra Person: 900/-
Complimentary: Wifi, Breakfast
Child Policy
Upto 6 years: Complimentary (No Extra Bed)
6-12 years.: 50% (Extra bed provided)
Note: What you pay for a homestay, brings a direct socio-economic benefit to locals. Be proud by not asking for a discount.
Facilities
Parking • Internet • Running Hot Water • Open Seating Areas • Television • Toiletries • Library • Bonfire • Pick and Drop Service (Paid)
Food
Breakfast options include toast, sandwich, stuffed paratha, poori sabji etc. Fresh homemade lunch and dinner is served on request and includes seasonal vegetables, dal, roti, rice, curd etc. You can also ask for authentic Kumaoni dishes like Bhatt ki Chudkaani, Kumaoni jholi, Mungori, Lai ka saag, Pahadi raita, Bhang ki chutney etc. Only Vegetarian food is prepared in the kitchen. You can order non-vegetarian food from outside. There are many cafes and restaurants around.
Activities
Bird Watching • Reading • Star Gazing • Hiking • Village Walk • Forest Walk • Shopping • Yoga and Meditation • Cycling • Fishing
Local Attractions
Kasar Devi temple (1 km) • Simtola Eco Park (4 km) • Deer Park (5 km) • Gairar Golu Devta (7 km) • Nanda Devi Temple (7 km)
Excursions
Almora (8 km) • Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary (8 km) • Chitai Golu Devta (9 km) • Sun Temple (15 km) • Jageshwer Dham (35 km) • Mukteshwar (59 km) • Bhimtal (71 km) • Padampuri (80 km)
Know your Host
Mukesh Bisht lives here with his mother Prema Bisht and grandmother Laxmi Devi. Mukesh is a very polite and hospitable local and has good knowledge of the area. He can guide you on the local trails. He is a farmer and has special interest in medicinal plants. His mother Prema is a good cook and will happily treat you to local dishes.
You may like to check more Homestays in Uttarakhand
