We challenge you to take your eyes off the emerald coloured Tehri Lake in the distance on a clear day. And if it happens to be cloudy, even better. The large mouthed valley in front of your cottage is sure to fill up with cottony clouds that spill in and out of the sprawling bowl of mountains like a chemistry experiment. In truth, you’re as far from laboratories as you can be. In Sursingdhar, it’s nature’s experiments gone right.

The Tehri Retreat in the Himalayan village of Sursingdhar is the perfect remedy for jaded city souls. The first and most effective antidote is the view of the Himalayan Peaks right from your window – even the second highest mountain, Nanda Devi, graces the lodge with a stunning view.

Around the lodge, sun shafted pine trees shoot up from hillsides. Between them, plenty of natural trails are formed, ideal to forage for cones. Avian life is clearly satisfied here, as you will find out from the number of distinct coos, caws and shrill songs. The birds chunter away on tree tops – away from your gaze, unless you’re relentless about birding in early mornings. Once you’ve set foot outside to discover the hill-top shrines, forested trails and activities like rappelling, jummaring, rafting or angling, chances are that you’ll hardly seek refuge of the indoors. The balconies of the cottage might be an exception.

It’s the local guides that make the stay truly awarding. What they don’t know about, say, birds, fungus, tree names, vines and temples, is probably not worth knowing about. And their knowledge is available to you at all times.