Munsiyari
Munsiyari is a jewel in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand towards the north. It is often referred to as mini-Kashmir and is most famous for offering a gorgeous and breathtaking view of the Panchachuli peaks. It can be directly reached from Delhi though that involves a longish bus journey. What we did was to drive up from our base in Kasar in the Almora district. The drive took us around nine hours including breaks. Munsiyari is at a height of around 2400 metres so the scenic beauty on the way up the hills is a treat to the eyes. As we proceed north-wards it becomes cool and pleasant (we went in the month of May when Almora and the surroundings were quite warm)
We stayed at the Hotel Milam Inn just on the outskirts of Munsiyari, the primary reason being that the hotel provides a great view of the Panchachuli from the window and the balcony of your room. And we made the most out of it.
The village market place is quite buzzing with a number of shops and a few cafes and restaurants. This forms a base for trekkers with the most popular trek being the one to the Khaliya Top.
Top Things to Do In Munsiyari
1. Enjoy the view of the Panchachuli
The five snow-capped peaks of the Panchachuli is what defines Munsiyari. However, one has to be lucky to get a clear day to view this. If you are lucky to get a day like this, there is no better thing to do than to just view the peaks from your hotel room or from various points. Take a walk and enjoy the towering peaks from various angles. Most importantly do not miss the golden hour into the sunset when the rays of the setting sun provides a golden hue to the peaks. And then the sun peeping out at the stroke of dawn.
2. Eco Park
The Eco Park is located just on the outskirts of Munsiyari and is about twenty minute drive from our hotel. We had passed it on our way the day before when we entered Munsiyari. The main reason for visiting this place was in the hope of finding some season-ending tulips but unfortunately that was not to be. However, even without the tulips this place was worth a visit and it surely came across as a nice surprise. There were huts and luxury tents available for accommodation along with a café and a lush green open space to spend time with nature. We could get potentially great views of the Panchachuli but for the clouds. A beautiful place for safe treks and walks. The visit included an entry fee of ₹50. We enjoyed out stay there walking and clicking some wonderful photographs.
3. Litchen’s Garden
Our next stop was the Litchen Garden. This was on our way back from the Eco Park to the hotel. As the name suggests, this beautiful park, spread over 1.5 acres, was built to conserve and cultivate Lichens. Now, what is a lichen? Apart from the scientific explanation which will make little sense, it forms one of the ingredients of the famous Hyderabadi Biriyani. Enough reason to visit the park.
4. Enjoy the Cafes of Munsiyari
The Himalayan Bistro
This is right at the market place and the perfect place to have lunch. We had some typically amazing maggi and momos. The cafe has a nice garden and a decor which is good enough for a post on Instagram.
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Igloo Cafe
This is a small cafe just next to the Eco Park. Its not really a full fledged commercial cafe and when we reached there we actually had to ask “koi hai?” to grab the attention. This is just opposite to the point which is the start of the Khaliya Top trek so I assume this is frequented by trekkers. here is small office which stocked all trekking equipment and ration ranging from maggi to backpacks. The place has got the quiet forest feel. The Igloo shaped structure that is there is just for the sake of it. The sitting area is opposite to it. What I loved most at the place is the wall graphitti on the cottage where the staff was put up. On both the days, we had our breakfast at this place. And of course you get a great view of the Panchachuli from here.
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Alpine Glow Cafe
Another cosy cafe right at the market place. Unfortunately we did not have the time for a meal out here. We did manage to peep in and check out the place. With colorful interiors, this looked ideal for a lazy evening tea and snacks after a long day of outdoor walks.
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The off-beat destination in the hills truly provided some great views and right from our hotel room. A bit far up, less heard of but provides a great experience. After all, we live for moments like this. Check out our reel on Instagram
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5. Birthi Water Falls
Located 33 Km from Munsyari, one cannot miss this on the way. We spotted it from a distance and managed to have a good look at on our way back. The waterfall is as high as 126m and hence can be seen from a long distance. One has to trek for 15-20 minutes to reach the bottom of the waterfall. On way to Munsyari it serves as the perfect warm-up or a starter for the wonderful experience ahead.
