It was a couple of years ago when I first came to know about Hathipaon and ever since I had wanted to visit this Himalayan hamlet. Though I crossed Mussoorie at least three times after that, there was never enough time for a pit stop at Hathipaon. But, as they say, everything happens for good and now I am happy that it never happened. Because, Hathipaon is much more than a chai-break in the hills. It is a piece of paradise, tucked away from the hustle bustle of Mussoorie and a perfect getaway for offbeat travel lovers.
Last month, I was invited by See Green Lodges, Hathipaon for an offbeat weekend getaway from Delhi. It was a everything a weekend sets out to be and I came back so happy that I can’t stop writing about it! Hathipaon was much more than what I had once imagined from the car window, heading upwards towards Landour. See Green Lodges made the place all the more special with their views, their food, their hospitality and their travel tips. We were a bunch of girls looking for a local Himalayan touch in everything and that’s exactly what we got at See Green Lodges.
Though we could not meet the couple who owns this place, it was quite evident that a lot of thought had gone behind each and everything. See Green Lodges is not your regular hotel nor a proper homestay, but somewhere in between. There’s a perfect balance that’s kept and the best part is that people at See Green Lodges make sure the guests get the best of both worlds. We were there for two days and one night, and really didn’t want to come back home so soon, all thanks to the delicious food and serene views.
See Green Lodges is perfect for those who want to explore nearby hiking trails, or for those who want to visit Mussoorie but need a peaceful stay away from the chaos. It is also perfect for people who just want to sit back and relax, read a book, watch birds, listen to temple bells, see life in the hills passing by at a slow pace. They have an inhouse library which is filled with travel magazines. Needless to say, I loved it!
The cafe at See Green is quite a famous one and many people drop by here to enjoy their food and brews. Though there are only three rooms for guests, the cafe is never really empty, given the foot-fall from outside. The interiors are done very nicely and the cosy ambience instantly appealed to the traveller in me. It’s perfect for laidback lunches and prolonged tea times. Everything we tried turned out to be very well made and even though there wasn’t any space in our stomachs, the hearts desired more.
Though I am not really a tea person, See Green’s honey-ginger-lemon tea almost got me converted. Though they ask to be informed about lunch/dinner plans beforehand and need around two hours to prepare, but that works out pretty well when the food is served. Over two days we had Italian, Chinese and Indian meals and the preparation for each cuisine was nothing but perfect.
Two days at See Green Lodges whiffed passed in a flash that we could hardly believe it was already over. Like always, I made a plan to come back to Hathipaon soon. The hike that starts from George Everest Point is one on my mind. Wouldn’t it be a perfect beginning to next year?
