Meena Bagh Ratnari – An Apple Orchard Farmstay
Managed By
Sanjay
Starts from ₹ 26900 Per Night Show Prices
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The Space
The 4 bedroom bungalow sits bang in the middle of an apple orchard. It is far from the madding crowd of Himachal’s hill towns (85kms from Shimla ). It is suitable for those looking for seclusion, tranquility, nature and space (both indoors and outdoors) and the surreal experience of living in an Himachali home in the middle of an apple orchard which has 5 different farm animals. (cats, dogs, sheep, chicken and ducks).
The bungalow has two bedrooms on the first floor with attached bathrooms. Encircling them are large lounging and living areas with single beds and settees to accommodate more people.On the ground floor are two more bedrooms with attached bathrooms. There is also a room in the attic and a hall with a TT table. In all the bungalow has over 5 single beds besides the 4 bedrooms and can accommodate over 16 people.
The bungalow is great for family get togethers, reunions, parties etc. There is a sun-room with skylights adjoining the kitchen.
The Sunroom also has a fireplace.
Because it is in the middle of an orchard, one has to walk about 150 meters through the apple orchard to reach it from the road.
The Apple Orchard House is also suitable for bird-watching (or bird photography). The property also has a telescope and can be put to good use scanning the clear night skies.
The bungalow is in Ratnari village – a famous apple belt in Himachal -where the locals engage in intensive apple farming. Ratnari is not a tourist area, like the Tirthan Valley etc. It’s a prosperous but closed society not used to tourists, therefore it would be appreciated if you don’t intrude in the lives of locals in anyway. (Take photos of locals for example).
The village market is a kilometre away and has few provision stores stocking the usual daily needs items. The closest big town is Narkanda, 17kms away.
If you are a good trekker you can trek upto the famous Hatu Peak ( 4km trek one way.) Alternatively one can go on small treks to the adjoining forest five minutes walk away.
(ps: Because of Covid-19, treks and walks in the forest, where there is a risk of meeting locals, cannot be made anymore)
Covid-19 Guidelines :
1)You have full access to the Meena Bagh Orchard, the lawns and the farms , an area of over 14 bighas. However during the duration of your stay you would not be able to venture outside to the main road, or the forest where there is a risk of meeting locals. The caretaker will show you the Meena Bagh boundary on arrival.
2) There will be extra bed-linen, towels etc kept in your room for the duration of your stay. There will be no room-service (changing linin, food-beverage orders etc) or any other task by which physical distancing is compromised.
3) For mutual safety, we would not expect you to sit in the sunroom- wear masks in the Sunroom/ kitchen while our staff is present there to prepare meals.
4)Kindly do not enter the kitchen area (open fridge/shelves/microwave etc)
5)Kindly ensure you have taken everything from your car as you wont be able to make trips to the car once parked on the main road.
6)Kindly ensure that everyone including kids is wearing masks on arrival and departure. Kindly do not linger on the main road (for photos etc) during departure or arrival.
7) Kindly sanitise your hands with the sanitiser at the entrance before entering the property.
(Please remember you are coming to a remote area and a Green-zone. Hope you wil appreciate that for your safety and ours, we have to follow the Covid-19 guidelines strictly.
If a guest breaches faith and ventures outside our boundary (to the main road, or forest) the Government has mandated us to inform the authorities immediately whereby the booking shall be cancelled with immediate effect and the security amount forfeited.)
House Rules
Kindly do not venture into the orchard without supervision or light any fire in the orchard or compound.
Kindly bring back your trash if you go picnicking or trekking.
No loud noise; honking or music, which may disturb the locals will be appreciated.
We are a plastic-free zone. Kindly do not get any plastic bags, bottles, etc into the compound.
Ratnari is a prosperous but closed society. Therefore Kindly do not intrude in their lives in anyway (taking photos of locals for example)
Check in: 2PM
Check out: 11 AM
Room Name
Double Bed : 1
Attached Bathroom : 1
Room Description : This is Room Descriptions
How to get here
One has to first reach Shimla. For Shimla, one can take the Shatabdi Train to Kalka from New Delhi. Then a connecting Toy train from Kalka to Shimla. Volvo bus service from New Delhi is also another good option.
New low cost New Delhi -Shimla flights were introduced recently. Kindly check with your travel agent for details.
From Shimla the bungalow is 85kms by road. One should come via Narkanda. From Narkanda the bungalow is only 17kms. There is a 10km jungle stretch so preferably one should come in a SUV.
The village market is a kilometre away and has few provision stores stocking the usual daily needs items. The closest big town is Narkanda, 17kms away.