Winter is one of the most preferred seasons among many people to go on trips. While travelling in winter, a few things like packing an extra layer of clothes, a relatively warm accommodation, etc. need to be kept in mind. In the hills, snow-clad meadows and dense white flakes all over the pretty houses not only make the cottages look mesmerising but also bring a nightmarish cold that gets hard to bear with. To enjoy the chill outside, all you need is a comfy sofa next to the fireplace, and some warm soup to sip on.
Talking about accommodation, many of us prefer to secure our stays at cottages and homestays, especially during winter. Hotels dotting the hills might be aplenty, but cottages offer classy interiors and tasty food. Holding up a cuppa, you can snuggle up with a few rugs and pillows.
Before you zero in on a destination and pack your bags, take a look at the below list of a few cottages to make your stay on hills comfortable and memorable.
7 Pines, Kasauli
Apart from the cosy interiors, sometimes all you need is culinary warmth to cope with the bone-chilling cold. So, during your stay at 7 Pines, the in-house chef will certainly bring warmth to you by preparing gourmet meals that are worth savouring a zillion times. You will see the calm hills fringed with soaring trees every time you open your eyes. As 7 Pines has dedicated yoga and meditation rooms, you can spend some quality time breathing in and out there. A winter vacation at 7 Pines feels like living at a home away from home with a lovely personal touch and an impassive service.
Avaas B&B, Uttarakhand
October may not be the best time to visit Nainital because of the natural calamities like landslides, and the possibility of crowds. However, next door there is Ramgarh, where you can be assured of a relatively safe vacation. This quaint, picturesque village offers some great stay options for solo travellers as well, and Avaas B&B is one among them. You will feel a profound sense of calm here. Unlike a hectic city life, there is no cacophony of television and no honking vehicles.
Avaas B&B offers cottages with two bedrooms, an attached bathroom, a living room and a kitchen with all modern facilities. Antique furniture is an addition while its open-air dining space provides the perfect set-up for candle-lit dinners. If you head to the terrace, you would get to witness the most arresting views of the surrounding mountains and valleys and endless gazing of stars.
Sunnymead Estate, Shimla
Tucked away amid plenty of trees, Sunnymead Estate is a century-old bungalow that adds charm to visitors, especially during winter. The interiors are nice and warm with floor rugs and English sofas adding warmth and colour indoors when the outdoors are about to get frosty white. Furnished with rustic décor, the rooms have comfy beds, which are perfect to enjoy a long snooze. Its kitchen provides hot tea and cocoa as and when you need them.
Leela Cottages, Goa
Many of us don’t know how ideal Goa is to visit during the winter season, specifically in December. With abundant lush scenery, glistening beaches, lip-smacking seafood, a pleasant climate, numerous water activities, festivals like Christmas, etc., December is one of the best months to visit Goa. If you plan to visit Goa this winter, do not forget to go to Ashwem as it is a prime destination of North Goa with great restaurants, designer boutiques and Goan shacks set against the beautiful backdrop of swaying palms. And when you are enjoying Ashwem’s charm, you will come across Leela Cottages, one of the most sought-after places to stay around Ashwem Beach. Leela Cottages is located in Morjim and adorned with palm and coconut groves and offers eco-friendly wooden huts that will make your stay amazing.
Leela also provides yoga and various natural therapies at their spa located within a lush coconut grove. If you are a foodie, you will then have a great time relishing a variety of local, Indian, Chinese, Continental and Italian cuisines.
