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An Ageless Retreat - Gem of History & Heritage Our story begins in 1953 when SHIVAYA was meticulously crafted by an honorable veteran of World War II, Lieutenant Prem Singh Thapa. His dedication to craftsmanship and love for this serene haven are woven into every brick and beam, creating an atmosphere of timeless elegance. For over seven decades, SHIVAYA has been cherished and preserved by the Thapa family. In the footsteps of his father, the second generation, Rajendra Singh Thapa, an army veteran of the Kargil War, took on the responsibility of safeguarding this cherished family heirloom. Today, in the hands of the third generation, Saurabh Thapa, this iconic property has undergone a transformation. With a commitment to preserving the environment, they have tastefully renovated SHIVAYA using sustainable mud plaster, infusing it with an authentic, raw experience of organic living. At SHIVAYA, we invite you to step back in time, to a place where history meets modern comfort.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Situated near the 0 point in Mukteshwar, it takes a 200m off-road stretch to reach a small muddy parking area. From there, it's just 50 steps to the beautiful homestay, Shivaya.
Location: At the end of Mukteshwar, it's 100m from Chauli Ki Jaali, 100m from 0 point, and 200m from Mukteshwar Dham. All three spots are adjacent and accessible by a short trek.
Property:I loved every bit of my stay at this homestay. It's very offbeat and unlike any resort. We booked a mud house vintage room for our family of four (two adults and two kids). The entrance is rustic-themed, with a small glass restaurant that's beautifully designed. Although it was hazy the day I arrived, one can see the Naina Devi peak on a clear day. We even experienced a small spell of snowfall!
Service:The service by the manager and their staff, Mr. Shubham, was excellent. Given it's a six-cottage homestay, the staff is limited but very well-managed. The highlight was the food; their in-house chef rivals those in premium hotels. The food was incredibly tasty, and even with limited breakfast options, it was well-managed (the Poori Bhaaji was awesome). They also arranged a bonfire on request, which was super awesome just opposite our rooms.
Improvements: There are a few areas for improvement, though they are minor. Although it's a homestay and one can't expect all the amenities, bathroom slippers and a dental kit could have been provided. There was a bit of a smell from the bathroom, which could be addressed with better ventilation. Also, the room with the extra bed missed a heater, although both beds had bed warmers, which was appreciated. However, an additional heater would have been great in sub-zero temperatures.
Overall: I enjoyed every moment of my stay here with the great ambience, delicious food, and awesome location. If you are in Mukteshwar for one night, just try this place!
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:200 m offroad to homestay
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The property is situated approximately 2.45hours away from Kathgodam Railway Station. At first sight, it appears to be a dead end complemented by a small parking space. As you walk in ,it presents itself as a quaint homestay, housing merely five rooms alongside a charming restaurant enclosed by glass walls, it is conveniently located near all sightseeing spots, for example, Zero Point , Chali Ki Jhalli, and the Mukhteshwar temple by foot which was the biggest plus point.
The rooms are effortlessly pleasing and encapsulates a strong essence of traditional village life, all rooms are equipped with helpful amenities such as a hot water kettle, an electric blanket, and a heater. It would be beneficial if these amenities could be extended to the bathrooms as well ie like a Bukhari . As it was painfully cold to use the bathroom When the temperature is 1 Celsius
We received information that there are plans to install a bukhari in the restaurant, an addition that would certainly elevate the ambiance and make dinning a pleasant experience.We did find the glass dining place very cold during the night and hence, suggested the provision of warm water and a heater, a request they graciously fulfilled once prompted.
Shivaya boasts picturesque views of the Himalayan range with clear visibility of the Trisul and Nanda Devi which every morning and evening mesmerised us.
The food served here is extraordinary,Every dish we ordered was palatable and left us wanting more.
One of our favorite experiences was spending time with the delightful in-house dogs, Tyson and Barfi, they proved to be wonderful and cheerfull companions.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Deepak, Rohit, and Krishna for their delightful service, and to Shubham, who was consistently available and provided assistance whenever needed and to the chef Pankaj .
Thank you for a memorable experience, we wil absolutely recommend this place to all our friends
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:The attic room and bay window room can give u direct himalyan view
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We (family of 3) stayed in Shivaya for a week in the month of May. The home stay was so comfortable that we did not want to leave. The best part about the property is it’s location - turn around the corner from KMVN Corbett bungalow and 2 mins walk down a quaint trail takes you to this vintage property surrounded by the forest. It is right next to a school, a temple, a health centre - yet so isolated, serene and peaceful.
We enjoyed simple yet delicious fresh cooked food in the open dining area along with the awesome unobstructed views of mighty Himalayan ranges. The best sunrise and sunset points in Mukteshwar were hardly a 5 minutes walk from this place.
Rooms are small and cosy but do provide all the comfort. Full marks for Clean good quality bed linen and well equipped bathrooms with running hot water.
The hosts are a young couple - very friendly and being natives can help you with recommendations for hikes and nearby drives. They are ready to play along, go for nature walks or give you your own space as per the guests.
In all, highly recommended. Good value for money. You may want to carry some supplies of chips, snacks or fizzy drinks as the place true to its theme is completely ecofriendly and organic.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Six of us stayed for over 4 days hoping we could extend it indefinitely! The location is at a cliff which guarantees beautiful views and serenity, weather is beautifully unpredictable and the stay was beyond comfortable. Deepak and Pankaj are skilled cooks of amicable nature. Though the suites don't have enough ventilation, we'd mostly sit outdoors. Saurabh, the host, is friendly and has interesting stories to tell. The best part? Ladoo and Barfi, the fluffy and friendly canines. And I hear more are going to join the gang! Definitely worth a stay!
Tip: carry newspapers to wrap used clothes you'd want to reuse as there's dampness inside the rooms. Not a dealbreaker though.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Saurabh Thapa, Owner at Shivaya Since 1953
Responded 20 Dec 2022
Thanks for your valuable review for us!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It's a beautiful property far from the crowd and overlooking the valley. I visited with my family including an infant and elderly in July 2023 and the stay was very pleasant.
Room had all the facilities and the staff was very helpful. Food was cooked fresh on your order and it was delicious. Their glass restaurant overlooking the cliff is nice with comfortable sitting and beautiful views.
Highly recommended to stay there while in Mukteshwar.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The location is terrific with awesome views of the snow peaks. The resort is small with 3 rooms. I guess the room on the first floor is the best. We stayed in a ground floor room that has a provision of 3 beds. The room has an old world charm with thick walls and low ceiling. But, not much provision of tables, hooks, hangers … … places to store your belongings. We shared a few suggestions with the owner and he graciously accepted. Overall, if you are planning to spend much time in the room, take the first floor room, not ground floors. If you plan to be outside most of the time, then this place is well located, comfortable and well managed.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This year isn’t just any other year. Took the world by surprise and what we all wanted was to just step out and live without fear. Our shot was to make it somewhere safe and quiet in the first week of September (my birthday week) to literally breathe again. Thankfully networking helped and someone recommended Shivaya. We immediately confirmed Shivaya to be our safe haven. What we did not expect was this perfect spot in Mukteshwar, a side we had never really explored before. The property is around a bend, right at the end of the road facing towards a complete open view of the great Himalaya. It is a sort your own private corner at the end of the road. The rooms are cozy, clean and comes with the vintage vibes from 1953! The property stretches to the edge of the cliff, the perfect spot to sit and stare into the abyss, you will love it whether you are a sunrise person, a sunset or if you want to go stargazing. We arrived at the time of retreating monsoon, the garden was full of flowers, the forest was lush green, and it was a perfect balance of sun and clouds to sit out in the garden and read a book or sip some tea with their amazing home cooked food. The food was out of the world and I’m not exaggerating. We stayed for 9 days, and Pankaj bhaiya (the cook) surprised with something different for every meal and we overate each time! No, we didn’t gain at all because the food was healthy, clean and all made with local produce. The property is also next to Chauli ki Jali (goes right up from next to their main gate), a local attraction for the best view from top of the hill. You could walk up to a breathtaking view of the valley, sit and relax there. If you love dogs, you should just go there to meet the star attraction of the property, their lovely pet, Barfi! She has a few friends too, the gang is always up for some fun. Last but not the least, Saurabh, the main guy was the reason it was even more delightful. This multitalented man (Engineer, Yogi, off-roading champion to name a few) has stories to tell, jokes to share and his plans and vision to make this place even better would definitely want you to come back to see it for real. Shivaya, The Home Within, is true to its name and will always be a special place to visit.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am just so glad we finally decided to go to Mukhteshwar and chose this beautiful homestay. Shivaya is everything warm, welcoming and wonderful. We stayed in the mountain view room and woke up to beautiful mornings. The rustic vibe , the structure and the make of the room was absolutely lovely. But more than the property, we fell in love with its people. Sundar, deepak and pankaj are the cutest boys who will make you feel at home. The food is just yummm. Please please try the chai, the maggi, the aloo paranthas, the pakoras and the Apple toddy(carry rum ;). Saurabh and Kriti have built this beautiful homestay with a lot of passion and love and it shows in the way they interact with every guest. We stayed back a day extra to spend time with them and explore the nearby hidden architectural gems that saurabh so warmly took us to visit. Saurabh had given us a list of everything we needed to know about the place and his reccos were spot on. Do try the authentic kumaoni thaali at chandi maati and do not miss the stunning sunset at chauli ki jaali which is literally next to Shivaya. How can I not mention the cuties- barfi and jamun. The property is pet friendly and has the sweetest doggos who shower you with all the love. Shivaya has an amazing energy and I would highly recommend it to everyone who likes things raw, rustic, and is looking to find peace by being close to nature. Cannot wait to visit this place again.
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
One of the best property I have visited in uttarakhand. Excellent location, serene atmosphere, homely treatment & excellent food . Very nearby to temple walking distance. The cave rooms were very authentic heritage feeling with all latest fitments. The pet dogs were very well disciplined . The staff including manger Mr biswas were very supportive for any needs. Got a chance to meet the owner a descendant of Indian Army freedom fighter & he explained the aura of this place including few hidden gems around mukteshwar. I should have planned for few nights more in this excellent homestay
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Carry one foldable stick since walkable distance from temple , many monkeys around . On a cold...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Its more than you would think of and ask for. A place which perfectly complements the destination and offers you a perfect EXPERIENCE. When this place is rated as 5 star by people trust it. It has the best location,hospitality,views,access,host in Mukteshwar. Mind you this is the top most point here. Your porch opens upto the views of Hinalayas every morning with all scenic spots just behind the stay. Home cooked food by Deepu and service by Pankaj is unmatched and trust me ive stayed at hotels all my working life. Mr Saurabh is a very mild yet explosively talented guy. There is so much you can learn from him and remainiing humble is one the things. Once here, there woule be little that you keep you from coming here again and again. Do visit the place and stay here for the experience. Bring along a great cam for night time shoots. You never know you might spot a falling star twice or thrice everyday.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Mukteshwar area.
PRICE RANGE
₹5,303 - ₹6,955 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
IndiaUttarakhandNainital DistrictMukteshwar
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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