WHAT IS IT? Holm Farm Heritage Hotel & Resort. In 1869, Norman Troupe, a 'restless' Brit Army officer landed in Ranikhet and instantly fell in love with the place. He set out to build that dream that had been haunting him all his life: a home for himself and a place where his friends would frequently love to come.
STILL WORTH A VISIT? Of course. Turned into a resort, the sprawling 13-acre Holf Farm Estate offers a magnificent view of the Himalayas. It's an incredible combination of the traditional and the modern.
WHERE TO STAY? The majestic bungalow has six comfortable suites and a museum like lobby with pinewood floor, ceiling, century old hand- painted wallpaper, an antique piano, old colonial furniture and much more which itself tells the remaining story of the bungalow. The adventurous could aslo stay at one of the several Swiss Cottages (read tents).
HOW FAR IS IT? From Ranikhet town, Holm Farm Heritage is a mere 10 minutes drive along a zigzag dirt road amid pine, cedar, oak and chestnut groves.
WHO GOES THERE? After Troupe`s death in 1890, this bunglow was sold to Mohd. Amin, then to F. C. Banyon from Ms Catherine Abbot (wife of Col. Abbot) and since independence, this property is being owned by Madan Mohan Upadhyaya, a veteran freedom fighter and a very close associate of the Nehrus. During his lifetime, many celebrated personalities like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lady and Lord Mountbatten, Acharya Narendra Dev, Govind Ballabh Pant, Narayan Dutt Tewari, and several embassy-types have been here and appreciated the beauty of this place.
Delhi-based Weekend Warrior and Good Relations honcho, Sushmita, travelled to Holm Farm Heritage Resort, Ranikhet, along with hubby Rajat and son Shaon. A believer in 'Truth in Travel', she refused to play any PR tricks on the resort management and paid to stay at the Holm Farm!
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