2.6 km on Bhowali-Ramgarh Road, Ramgarh Block, Nainital District, Kumaon Hills, Uttarakhand – 263 132
Himalaica is nestled in a crook between the tall hills at Village Shyamkhet, on the Bhowali-Ramgarh road. A short drive up from the road leads to the Estate that is surrounded by Protected Forests to the East, North and West. Tall crags exist to the North, while there is a valley to the South. The forests are mixed – largely Oak and Pine, and birdlife abounds. Click here to see the complete list of the Birds of ‘Himalaica’ Region. Occasional sitting has occurred of leopard, Ghoral mountain goat, wild boar, fox, jackal and porcupine, barking deer, amongst other small wildlife such as pine marten, civet cat, weasels and non-poisonous snakes. The setting is, in fact, a significant watershed in the area and fresh-water springs that emerge from the Himalaica Estate feed the villages below. Seasonal nalas (seasonal streams) are located on either edge of the estate.
The driveway up to Himalaica appears on the left of the Bhowali-Ramgarh road, alongside a small ‘nala‘, precisely 2.6km from the turn-off over a small bridge as you enter Bhowali town from Bhimtal. The landmark for the drive up is a large white arched water tank to the left. Shyamkhet village is located in the Ramgarh Block of Nainital District in the Kumaon Hills of Uttarakhand State. It is the last hamlet on the drive up to Ramgarh – thereafter the drive is through thick Reserve Forests.