Tree of Life Grand Oak Manor Binsar

Going on a vacation everyone plans their trip carefully. With this property you will have to be extra Perks of the property 1. The location of the property is good. From the property grounds you can view mountains in a panoramic 270 deg. At times when there are no clouds you can even see the snow peaks. 2. The property is inside the sanctuary so it’s serene and pleasant. It’s difficult to get from the main road as Google doesn’t show the right way on maps but you can call the staff and they will guide you. Remember you have to take the entry gate of the sanctuary so don’t miss it when Google tells you to go forward. Pitfalls 1. Food is the biggest disappointment. 2. Rats at the property and there are these big garden lizards in the garden. These reptiles are stunning to look at but beware if you sit by the stone fence or stone chairs they may just creep out of the cracks in between the blocks. 3. The property is not well maintained as it could be with just some investment. Other points to ponder 1. Carry your own water. 2. Take some games else you may get bored. 3. There is a trek to point zero but go there after checking the weather conditions. Snow peaks will only be visible when the sky is clear. 4. A 2 night trip is enough for Binsar.

Tree Of Life Grand Oak Manor, located in a unique forest reserve, offers a serene and peaceful escape. The food and hospitality were excellent. However, the owner and manager seemed very money-minded. As bikers with pillion riders, we faced challenging roads and requested a drop-off at the forest reserve entrance. They quickly demanded Rs 2500 plus taxes, knowing we had no other options. This felt exploitative, given the circumstances. The approach road is unsuitable for any vehicle, and the forest reserve road is equally bad. While the location is beautiful, the accessibility issues and the management's attitude were significant drawbacks.

I wish I had read the review from July 2019 and not booked into this hotel. The point about arrogance of owners is absolutely spot on. It was the worst experience I ever had on a vacation. I started calling them since morning to inform about our arrival but no one picked the number provided for booking. In fact couple of times they cut my phone but never called back. The hotel is in a jungle with a broken uphill pavement being called an approach road. It is impossible to drive up for even Innova crysta. In the rain it became even worse. Since there was not way to contact them, I started walking towards the hotel in pouring rain and biting cold even as my family waited down in the car. Eventually I reached after 30min, only to find the main gate closed and no staff to be seen! No one responded to my knocks on the gate, so I had to go around the hotel and knock on windows of various guest rooms until someone eventually saw my plight and came down to let us in. The rooms were very average, water scanty and food grossly overpriced. For all the trouble we faced due to their negligence, I have not had a word of apology from either their staff or the owners. There are plenty of beautiful places in Uttarakhand with much cheaper hotels providing better service. Skip this one

Approaching up the hill road as you turn the last corner you are greeted by the beautiful stunning Grand Oak Manor that takes your breath away, with outstanding views as far as you can see. Comfortable rooms, lovely food and service the place speaks for itself. Just enjoy the surroundings. sit and take it all in, unwind with fresh air while you listen to the birds and at times, nothing at all. To all the staff, a huge 'Thank you', you made our stay at the Manor to be very comfortable and most enjoyable. My opinion, this is not a place for children.

The old house serves as a constant amongst the ever-changing hills, providing a perennial home amid such transformation. Our journey from Delhi to Kathgodam via the Shatabdi train was a delight. The subsequent journey from Kathgodam railway station to the Grand Oak Manor was nothing short of thrilling. Despite encountering a forest fire and a thunderstorm on the day of our arrival, which resulted in prolonged driving for five hours, our family pressed on, aided by a forest ranger and with reassurances from Mr. Rajan. On reaching our destination, we were greeted by Kailash who took us in the I Suzu for bumpy ride of 600 meters toward the Manor. We found ourselves instantly charmed by the warm welcome and generous hospitality. After receiving a warm reception, which included drinks, we were shown to our rooms. We opted for the Mountain View room, which offered a breathtaking depiction of the Nanda Devi mountain range. The Grand Oak Manor is an unforgettable destination lying within the Binsar Forest Reserve in Uttarakhand. This historical colonial residence, once the home of Sir Henry Ramsay, Commissioner of Kumaon, has been restored to embrace its original grandeur. During our three-night stay, we utilized two rooms. In total, there are four rooms on the first floor, strategically situated near the inviting restaurant and sunset lounge. Additionally, there are another seven or eight rooms on the ground floor. Interestingly, the manor operates on solar power. Consequently, hot water supply is only available from 7pm to 11am. Despite this limitation, we understood and respected the constraints associated with this remote location. Even meal requests need to be placed at least two to three hours in advance, to ensure the food is prepared fresh as per our preferences. The cuisine was simple, homely and gastronomically delightful. The daily high tea ritual was always a treat, complete with a homemade cake and delicious plum jam. Our early morning bird-watching sessions, led by an experienced and humble naturalist, Mr. Ram Singh, were informative and entertaining. We were fortunate to spot a plethora of birds and even heard a leopard's call. On the subsequent day, we embarked on an adventurous 6.5 km trek to Zero Point saw yellow-throated marten , barking deer birds, adhering to the adage, no pain, no gain. Every evening, we were provided with a hot bag and hot water in a flask. We were particularly impressed with the well-trained staff, specifically Pankaj, Ganesh, and Kailash who went above and beyond to accommodate my family. Without a doubt, we are looking forward to our next visit.

The British era bungalow very well restored. This is a boutique hotel. The location is remote. The staff is hard working and dedicated. The property is very good and maintained very nicely.

The staff is well trained and courteous. One of a kind experience. Great place to go with the family.

+Awesome Location +Excellent food + excellent top floor, nice view of the Mountains +Nice surroundings +great kitchen staff It stops there - Clueless management - no information on local culture , local holidays ,no influence on the local guides or cabbies and noisy occupants. - rooms are not at all sound proof , hence extremely noisy till the last guest goes off to sleep - rooms does not have door closers , so when they are shut, creates a noise as if u are in the war zone - rooms must have better amenities for keeping clothes, etc. - the drive from Simba Cafe to the resort is extremely tricky and a 4X4 vehicle is a must if u dont want to get stuck ...else park at simba cafe and use the resort pick up vehicle - connectivity is not great from the forest gate to the resort .....Get mentally prepared - getting - Hot water is a huge challenge even in the given time range However we managed to get a good guide ram singh and a good local cabbie Kundan singh

Kailash, ganesh and the entire staff made sure that we were very well taken care of. Not much to say about the property. It was a dreamland. Cherry on the top we got to see fresh snowfall. Absolutely rapturous views and a heritage property to live in inside a wildlife sanctuary. What more can we ask! wish to visit again!