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Nestled
in the heart of the Kumaon hills is the KALMATIA SANGAM HIMALAYA RESORT-
Almora In 1867, a British Capt ES Jackson discovered this place of beauty and
erected a house in the British colonial style. At the end of the century the
estate was bought by Edward Thomas Chowdhry, the District Commisioner of
Kumaon.
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Today the estate and resort are presided over by his granddaughter Geeta Reeb
and her German husband Dieter Reeb. Built and maintained by them, this resort
in Almora is more than a sangam of the east and the west. The resort offers
one of the most exclusive and unusual accomodations in Uttaranchal &
Almora. From the architecture to the cuisine, from the decor to the service.
We are open through the year. In it's 2 years, this resort at Almora has seen
commendations in some of the most well known international travel magazines
and catalogues for its unique presence.
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Kalmatia
Sangam is perched on a hill just above Almora, surrounded by cedars,
cypresses, mimosa, wild cherry, pines, oaks, rhododendrons and other trees.
It is only a short drive away from the Binsar wildlife sanctuary and the
ancient temple complexes of Jageshwar and Baijnath and prehistoric rock art
at Lakhudiar.
Delightful hikes from this resort in Almora lead down to the waterfalls,
along terraced fields and through forests on to quaint Kumaoni villages with
slated roofs and carved doors and windows.
The resort is ideally placed to serve as a base camp for treks, safaris with
magnificient views of the Himalayas, then to return to relax and be spoilt by
our discreet and caring staff. Exchange memories and recollections before
returning to the stress of daily life.
We encourage the conservation of nature and responsible living. That edict
showed through in the making of the resort (not one tree was axed) and it
shows through now, in our constant endeavour to maintain a balance between
nature and modern day requirements.
We pride ourselves in our restaurant Sangam. Possibly the best food this side
of the Himalayas. But even more than the food, the restaurant, which also
serves as an art gallery, is a lounge for shared travel coversations and
experiences. The true Sangam. Know more about the most talked about kitchen
in the Himalayas HERE.
We have a convention hall that doubles as a meditation hall and a library
that caters to various tastes in books and music. We also have some indoor
games like Chess, Monopoly, Backgammon etc. We offer classes in painting
and drawing by a French artist and many other engaging activities that can be
seen HERE.
"Sangam" Restaurant is the confluence of traditional and
international cuisine, blending the best of local produce in a variety of
dishes. Our kitchen is constantly creating new menus, combining refined
international tastes and our talented young Indian chef. We offer
freshly baked bread, pastries and cakes, home made pastas, locally harvested
fruit preserves, pickles, mustard and mayonnaise, as well as herbs from our
own herb garden, which produces a number of exotic and indigenous flavours
and salads.
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The
chef’s speciality is vegetarian (with home grown vegetables from the nearby
villages), tandoori and other menus which include Mexican, Middle Eastern and
Meditteranean inspired buffet lunches where one can sample humous,
babaganoush, pita bread and tatziki or ratatouie, tomate a la provencale ,
pizza, stuffed vine leaves and fresh pasta. And for desert the French
"floating islands", meringue or fresh fruit pastries and
tarts.
Picnic lunches are offered to resort guests who want to enjoy sightseeing in
the beautiful natural surroundings. A variety of choices, including parathas,
pakoras, omlettes and salads, or chinese spring rolls, fried rice and
chowmein, or club sandwiches, tarts and slices. All packed lunches include
fresh fruit, cakes and soft drinks.
For breakfast there is fresh baked breads and muffins, home made preserves
and cereals, fruits and fresh yoghurt. For those guests with a larger
appetite a range of egg dishes, potato pancakes or traditional Indian
breakfasts are served.
With a magnificent view of Nanda Devi and the Great Himalayan Range, this
uniquely designed restaurant allows guests to dine in splendour and comfort
whilst enjoying the impressive natural surroundings. Breakfast and lunch on
the sunny terrace or a romantic dinner in front of a crackling, open fire -
sangam offers all it’s visitors a welcoming and unforgettable experience.
The restaurant is at the same time an art gallery, displaying works by
foreign artists, which are also for sale.
Being far from the wide variety of products and produce available in large
cities, Sangam relies on ingenuity to overcome the gaps. Pickles from locally
grown flower seeds replace capers in salads and pizzas. Rhododendron which
flowers in March are abundant and the petals, once boiled make an excellent
base for drinks, sauces, desserts and jellies. Home made ice cream is made
from fresh buffalo milk and in summer the fruit salads include local
strawberries, apricots, peaches, plums and guavas.
During monsoon, the delectable and highly prized mushroom
"Chantarelle" (a delicacy in Europe) is harvested from the
surrounding forests and added to freshly made pasta and sauces.
In spring wild asparagus is collected – young and sweet and added to quiches
and tarts. After heavy winds when the pine nuts fall in abundance they are
used to decorate salads and sweets. ( If not taken by birds and
monkeys!!).
Resort guests are invited to participate in cooking courses, which begin with
a walk in the forests to collect the secret Himalayan herbs which are used
throughout the recipes.
For the final touch, on request, Sangam will organise cultural music and dance
programmes for special events and functions. The resort also provides courses
in yoga and meditation, and in painting by a French artist. After a gala
dinner, an evening sitting around a blazing bonfire makes a perfect end to
the day.
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