Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Could 2023 #NAINAxBanjaraExperiences

Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Could 2023 #NAINAxBanjaraExperiences


A vacation within the hills is an antidote for metropolis life for lots of us. I’m not an enormous fan of the meandering and principally damaged hill roads – regardless of BRO’s finest efforts. However, if I’m able to hold driving time to lower than six hours per day with out driving on any two consecutive days, then I’ll strive the hills.

I complain about hill driving rather a lot, and but, I journey to the hills very often.

After I introduced on the weblog that I will likely be embarking on a hill-journey with Banjara Experiences, I had completely no clue about any of the areas or properties, besides the little bit that I’d learn on their web site.

Most of Banjara’s clients, loads of them loyal ones for the final 30 years, are likely to guide their holidays as a part of a “circuit”. Which is what we did as nicely. Delhi to Thanedar, Thanedar to Sangla, Sangla to Kaza, Kaza to Chicham, Chicham to Sangla, Sangla to Sojha and again from Sojha to Delhi.

We drove our personal automotive, a diesel Ertiga. Driving was principally cut up equally between me and my accomplice, which I consider is totally obligatory if you wish to drive safely within the hills. I might not have undertaken this endeavour with out a driving accomplice!

Many of the street from Gurgaon to Thanedar is okay. Nice even. It’s solely as soon as we crossed Narkanda that the street mainly disappeared. There’s some pipe-laying work happening, which meant that the street has been dug up. And it rains off an on – we acquired sleet on our manner!

As unhealthy because the street was, the view was beautiful – all the valley and hillsides are coated with orchards which were coated with nets to guard the delicate flowers and fruit from being destroyed by hail stones. Many of the nets are coloured white however you’ll generally spot a purple or a black one, which makes issues look much more attention-grabbing.

Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries

We reached the Banjara Orchard Retreat a lot earlier than sundown. Coated parking is conveniently proper there & the workers picked up a few of our baggage and we traversed down about 70 steps into the property. It’s SO lovely. I used to be not anticipating to see such a well-maintained property! Mr. Prakash Thakur takes care of his property as impeccably as he takes care of himself. An intensive gentleman.

Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries
Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries
Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries
Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries

Banjara Orchard Retreat has 10 rooms for visitor lodging. Eating is in a standard eating room, or you may even request for snacks within the open courtyard or the gorgeous glass-walled gazebo. At a stage decrease than the eating corridor, is a sport room with books, carrom board, a dart board and so forth.

The extra Banjara properties we stayed at, the extra we realized how among the pleasant fundamentals have been a standard theme throughout all of the properties. The coat / garments / hat rack being one in every of my favourites.

Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries

We have been well-prepared for freezing temperatures however at the very least within the rooms, we must always not have anxious a lot. Electrical blankets, room heaters, available scorching water within the spacious toilet, it was all taken care of.

The property is aptly named as a result of it’s surrounded by orchards – principally apples and cherries. Once we have been there within the early a part of Could, the flowers had all been shed and the bushes have been already laden with tiny fruit, which was a delight to see! When you’re an early morning individual, in contrast to me, you will see a large number of birds perching on these bushes. Singing their pleasant songs and exhibiting their colors.

Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries

Above, on the left, Mr. Prakash Thakur and on the best, Ms. Katherine, who’s presently working as a volunteer on the property.

Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries

You don’t essentially should be outdoor to benefit from the view. You may be protected against the chilly and wind and you may sit within the eating corridor and revel in a meal and the view. And what a view it’s! The meals it easy with a home-cooked really feel. A lot of apple chutney and apple sauce and in case you’re there within the apple harvesting season then plenty of recent apples too.

Did I let you know that I beloved their menu? From the meals choices point-of-view but in addition from the manufacturing point-of-view. Very elegant and well-done. Paper selection, typeface, the works.

Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries

My different favorite house in Banjara Orchard Retreat was the gazebo. It’s usually used as an house the place visitors are welcome on arrival, however you too can laze there and benefit from the heat of the Solar or the room heaters.

Holidays for me are after I don’t do a factor besides atone for my sleep, my writing and my studying. I don’t, normally, just like the phrase “discover”. And I undoubtedly don’t just like the phrase “hike”. Which makes me an atypical Banjara Experiences visitor. However what to do, visitors are available in all styles and sizes!

Nonetheless, in case you’re in contrast to me and also you WANT to go for a stroll or a hike ( shudder ), worry not, there are alternatives! Tani Jubbar lake – tiny however nicely saved and surrounded by inexperienced. There’s a centuries outdated Church on the town. There’s the unique dwelling of Satyanand Stokes, who’s mistakenly believed to be the man who introduced apples to India and made Himachal Pradesh the apple capital of the nation. Mr. Stokes revolutionized industrial apple farming and launched the Scrumptious Apple kind to the area. However in any other case I’m positive you’ve seen the tiny, rock-hard native apples in Himachal which were round far longer than Mr. Stokes.

Anyway, going again to their non-public residence – it’s closed nevertheless it was the primary spot the place a Scrumptious Apple tree was planted. So, in case you’re into apples, go ham!

There’s additionally a bunch of hikes and walks that you are able to do – Mr. Prakash Thakur and Ms. Katherine will likely be delighted to help you with all of your queries. And if Ms. Katherine is on the market, she would possibly even accompany you on the hike.

Goes with out saying however there’s a TON of spots the place you may have your self photographed, which is normally in my high three priorities every time I’m touring. The longer you keep, the upper your probabilities of catching a really spectacular sundown. We have been fortunate we caught a sundown which regarded like no different sundown I’d ever seen beforehand. Which isn’t any imply feat as a result of I’ve photographed a LOT of sunsets and seen much more.

We had a beautiful time at Banjara Orchard Retreat and hopefully, we will likely be again throughout apple harvesting season as a result of that’s one thing that I’ve by no means photographed or seen in-person.

Mr. Prakash Thakur has additionally simply opened up new lodging for visitors in an condominium format. Extra appropriate for many who need to keep a month. Unobstructed views, a kitchenette, an area to host pals, balcony with a view – after all – chef’s kiss.

We bid adieu late morning and headed to Sangla. With heavy hearts and a promise to return again. At all times. I like going again to locations. I’m not the one-and-done sort of traveler. Nostalgia is an enormous deal for me and it’s evident within the child of locations I’m interested in. All Banjara properties appear to suit that invoice. Which is why it’s so pretty working with them. It doesn’t even really feel like work. The BEST sort of work.

Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries

When you’ve been following my web page on Instagram, you might need seen the reels I posted from every Banjara property whereas we have been nonetheless there. And the fine-art photograph prints that I’m going to be releasing may also be first revealed there. Like this one beneath, which I’ve christened “Thanedar Apple”. This one is on the market to accumulate from my Naina.co Store.

Banjara Experiences, Banjara Orchard Retreat, Thanedar, Himachal Pradesh, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, Professional Photographer, Hospitality Photographer, Luxury Photographer, Lifestyle Photographer, Travel Photographer, Blogger, Influencer, Stoakes, Prakash Thakur, Delicious Apple, Golden Apple, Cherry, Cherries

In the meantime, you may observe the Banjara Experiences Instagram web page to maintain observe of the pro-grade hikes and treks that they’re cooking up. Or the precise meals locations they’re cooking up. They’re the folks behind Cafe Lota FYI. How cool is that!

You may also, particularly, hold observe of the newest on the Banjara Orchard Retreat at Thanedar on their Instagram web page as nicely.

The featured picture on the header has been modified to take away part of a roof from the highest left nook, utilizing Generative AI through Adobe Firefly and Photoshop Beta. All images of me, above, photographed by Sachin Singh.



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