Writers' Retreats

Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have attracted eminent writers through the ages. The good news is that you can visit some of the houses of these literary legends. Or even meet the writers.

- Abhinav Singh

I had chosen the offbeat Ramgarh in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand to indulge in a relaxed holiday in the hills. I just wanted to eat, sleep and read in a sprawling resort, located in the middle of a village. Just a few minutes away from the commercialised Nainital, Ramgarh was a revelation. The maximum physical activity I had planned was a lazy stroll on the even pathways near the resort, spotting exotic birds and clicking pictures of the valley bursting with white and pink flowers of apples, peaches, pears and apricots. Also called the ‘fruit bowl of Kumaon’, Ramgarh is a sight to behold when it bursts into a riot of colours.

Clearly, intellectual stimulation was not on my agenda. My stupor was, however, disturbed by the manager of the resort when he informed me that a short hike would take me to the ruins of a home where Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore once lived. Curiosity won over sloth.

Rabindranath Tagore’s secret haven

Under the tutelage of a trained staff member, I embarked upon an easy hike, passing through moist oak forests and terraced potato farms. After gaining some height, the view of the majestic snowcapped Panchachuli massif stopped us in our tracks. The guide helped me identify Almora, Ranikhet and Mukteshwar in the distance. On another hill, pine trees dominated the landscape. I was a few minutes away from ‘Tagore Top’!