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 Tree of Life adds a Binsar-based heritage property to its portfolio

Since July 1, 2015, the Tree of Life Resorts and Hotels have taken over the management of a fourth property under its brand name – Tree of Life Grand Oak Manor, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, earlier known as Grand Oak Manor, Binsar. Located at 7500 feet in the Himalayas on top of the Jhandi Dhar hills, it is about 25 kms (50 minutes) from Almora in Uttarakhand. This is the first heritage property under the Tree of Life brand placed inside the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary and spread in 40 acres of private estate surrounded by forest greens and snow clad mountains.

Positioned 380 kms (nine hours) from Delhi, the nearest railway head to Tree of Life Grand Oak Manor, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is Kathgodam Railway Station and Pant Nagar Airport 150 kms (4:30 hrs), the closest airbase. Guests are required to register their entry into the Sanctuary and pay an entry fee of INR 150 per person (Indian national) and INR 600 per person (foreign national) along with INR 250 for the vehicle, valid for three days.

With just nine rooms, all reminiscent of a genteel age, it is a Manor dating back to the mid 1800s, showcasing nostalgia in natural surroundings. For one, there aren’t any televisions at the Manor. Acorn, the all-day dining restaurant offers Indian, Continental and ‘Pahaari’ cuisine. Other hangouts include an indoor setup – The General’s Lounge, The Library overlooking the lawns and ByThe Barn, an outdoor lounge setup. Notably, being in a wildlife sanctuary, no new construction can take place.

Revealing the history of the property, Himmat Anand, Founder, Tree of Life Resorts and Hotels said that the British Commissioner, Lt General Sir Henry Ramsey, cousin to Lord Dalhousie, Viceroy of India, was charmed and mesmerised by the beauty of the Binsar Estate and made it his home in 1856. The property was subsequently sold to three British colonels, consecutively, until it was purchased by Rai Bahadur Harkishan Lal Sah Gangola in 1931. “It has been operating as a heritage manor for the last five years. The charming young couple – Shikha Gangola and Sindhu Gangola have been deeply involved in the restoration and operation of this heritage place.