RakkhStories

This is the perfect excursion for guests who wish to take a gentle stroll through pristine tea gardens, as well as visiting a working Tea Factory, and get a chance to see the complicated and ingenious process that goes into making a perfect cup of tea

Life in the hills is difficult and the greatest arsenal for coping in this difficult terrain is an active social life and community engagement.

We promote this ethos among our guests. Hence we do not offer in-room dining, as breaking bread together is a great bonding experience.

Bir is 1 hour and 20 minutes from Rakkh, 30 km ahead of Palampur. It is ranked the second most beautiful paragliding site in the world. Having conducted the Paragliding World Cup in October 2015, a 20 min adrenaline pumping jump in Bir should definitely top your bucket list. You could stop at Bajinath Temple on your way back and thank God for surviving the wonderful experience.

Yes, we know, in these times of lockdown to fight the Corona Virus, we have all been thrown together. Families – Father, Mother, Children, all scrambling away to get through this difficult time. Although everyone seems to be together under one roof, these are trying times, with the working parents constantly on the phone or in front of those screens with several faces, with the children left to be by themselves all day long with video games as companions, we would hardly call this bonding!
Wait until the lockdown is lifted and drive to the hills of Palampur to rediscover your bond with your loved ones. Here is an essential guide we have put together for your benefit!

Hills of Kangra along with the upper regions of Himachal which are predominantly mountainous are home to the the Gaddi tribe who have been practising pastoralism for aeons, going up the hills with their livestock of sheep and goats during summers and back down to the valleys in the winters, in search of good pastures. On one of their pastoral paths they travel through Rakkh and twice a year, it is a scene to behold; Gaddis along with their goats scurrying up and down the mountains. Come be a part of this unique cultural immersion at Rakkh Resort, Palampur.

As the dust rises with wheels slipping beneath you, sweat pouring down your brow as your body tenses, rolling down a mountain on your bike, with nothing but your will and wheels. The sun shines welcoming you to a rare company as you glide over high mountains as you court the winds and thermals for an epic love story with your heart in your mouth

Away from the monotony of classrooms and textbooks, exists a world revealing her secrets in the midst of beauty, colours and comfort, learning as it should be, inspired, self-motivated, fun and trans-formative & age-no-bar.

We at Rakkh have since inception, long before ecology and sustainability forced their way into the common parlance, lived by these principles. Situated on the sloped of Kangra hills in an idyllic setting with small hamlets and villages around, Rakkh is a fairytale come alive. Nestled in the lap of pristine nature, away from the hubbub of cities and tourist spots, Rakkh Resort, nature retreat amidst verdant slopes and organic gardens, orchards and farms, bequeaths the luxury of space on you to feel free and expand your consciousness after the constraining conditions we exist in today.

We at Rakkh have since inception, long before ecology and sustainability forced their way into the common parlance, lived by these principles. Situated on the sloped of Kangra hills in an idyllic setting with small hamlets and villages around, Rakkh is a fairytale come alive. Nestled in the lap of pristine nature, away from the hubbub of cities and tourist spots, Rakkh Resort, nature retreat amidst verdant slopes and organic gardens, orchards and farms, bequeaths the luxury of space on you to feel free and expand your consciousness after the constraining conditions we exist in today

Rakkh has a great collection of mountain bikes for use by our guests. Led by our agile activities expert you can indulge in any number of biking expeditions around Rakkh Resort. Palampur has breathtaking biking trails, rich in beauty, experiences and excitement. Ride through Ghamrota village and Jiun Village is short and ideal for beginners familiarizing themselves with mountain bikes. For the more adept, a ride to Dorzong Monastery through the dense forest with bird songs in background is beautiful. For the champions among you, we have the challenging Neuggal Khad, a lively stream down in the valley. Well, the hard part is the ride uphill!

One of the most beloved and anticipated experiences is the Himachali Rasoi (or Kitchen) inspired by the famed Dham feast of Himachal. It is prepared by our local staff headed by Hema aunty, our ‘Woman Friday’ in the words of Robinson Crusoe. In the open-walled kitchen built in the traditional style of the region, this adobe or mud hut becomes the locus of activity as the night falls, with the fragrance of Makki di Roti made from fresh flour at the local Pan-Chakki (flour mills operated by running water) dripping in ghee and Saag made from the farm-fresh vegetables of our Organic Garden ticking the boxes of sustainable immersion.

Kangra is surrounded by snowy Dhauladhars, altitude varying from 427m to 6401m suitable for the most challenging and exhilarating treks and hikes. For those who love the cold and the snow, Rakkh has treks curated to enjoy the soft snow during winters. One of the favourite snowy treks amongst our adventurers is the Gadhi Point trek.

Today as we celebrate the most precious, beautiful and enriching entity in all our lives, even as the dark clouds of a pandemic hovers above us, the unadulterated joy and bliss nature brings to us is palpable amongst all. With passionate conversations about what the future holds and how we should negotiate and transact with nature, society and economy, a lot of interesting ideas, forums and practices are emerging.

As you enjoy your time in charming nature, we have put together experiences and practices integral to our existence. Sustainability and conservation are the cornerstones by which we live. Here are some of the innumerable experiences, things to do, when at Rakkh on your ideal vacation.

Rakkh is all about slow travel, taking time to enjoy the little things in life and feel blessed for them. We have adopted measures to do our bit for the preservation, conservation and enhancement of nature.

Gracefully aged in a beautiful albeit hard terrain reflects in the creased skin and the lively, smiling eyes. An outwardly hard life but a happy and satisfied one inwardly.

Each face tells a story. Stories of home, experienced or legend. Stories of hope, unquenched. Stories of dreams, unbound. Stories of smiles, warm or naughty. Come discover many such beautiful stories at Rakkh.

Challenge the regular at Rakkh, explore your limits as you embark on the many adventures we have curated for you in the pristine atmosphere of isolated and idyllic mountain village. From walks, treks, dips in the natural stream pools to paragliding, rock climbing, rappelling.

Well, for starters it's the land kept by gods. So if you have not been a ‘good boy’ then you might anger the gods. Trust us you don’t want to do that. They are not happy, fat old men singing on sleighs.

The horror-show of epidemic turning pandemic was akin to a hurricane in its scale, speed and spread. It shook the economy and forced several businesses to shut down and leaving others struggling to survive. Hospitality, travel & tourism amongst all is the worst hit. Several people are losing their jobs. Workers are migrating back to villages from cities with the fear of the unknown. Millions of small businesses with debt and fixed costs are hit hard. Stories of starvation, deaths and loss of income are horrifying.
As heartbreaking the effects of this pandemic are, let us not allow the benefits and learnings from it be wasted. It gave all of us the time and forced us to think. We went back to our neighbourhood shops. We are united together. We are brought closer to our families, local communities and small businesses. We are reminded “essentials” is all we need. We are under a clearer blue sky and breathing fresh air. Peacocks and dolphins are out, with us indoors. Is it a wake-up call that we were living well beyond our boundaries? Is this awakening a reminder of our roots or signs of the future?

Palampur in Kangra is a treasure trove of art, culture and heritage with many archaeological sites such as Masroor rock-cut temples, Kangra Fort among others that apart from their historical and aesthetic significance also provide a healthy exertion to the body, walking, climbing and scaling the sites. Strolls in the tea gardens culminating in a refreshing tea tasting event are a favourite among all age groups. In conclusion, what sets Rakkh apart from other nearby resorts in Dharamshala and elsewhere are the tenets by which we operate. Travel and tourism employ one in ten people world over. The numbers get further skewed in states where tourism is a mainstay. Himachal Pradesh has for long attracted discerning travellers who seek refuge in the serenity that mountains have to offer. Rakkh, a luxury resort in Palampur, located in an offbeat location is a window to the true life and experience of the mountain people.

The legendary Dhaam is a response and challenge to the royal Wazwan feast of Kashmir. Dhaam started as a royal feast for the King’s guests and slowly percolated into the local populace who started contracting the Botis (Brahmin cooks who are the only ones allowed to cook Dhaam) on special occasions such as marriages, birthdays, naming ceremonies among others. Your arrival is reason enough for us to celebrate. For larger groups, we can organize the Dhaam on request and sufficient advance notice as the Boti chefs have to be contracted and an intensive 12-hour preparation is required for the Kangri Dham, a variant of the Kumaoni Dhaam. This completely vegetarian fare is prepared with multiple varieties of lentils and gram cooked with milk served along with rice. This feast is conspicuous by the fact that no vegetables are also used in its preparation. Special copper pots placed in fire pits in the ground slow cook this lentil and pulses delicacy, a must-experience local tradition. The food thus prepared is believed to be Sattvic as the food is not boiled but cooked gradually over the smoky coal, a technique known as Dhuni.

Family Bonding is the indispensable ingredient for a productive and rewarding life. A Family is reminiscent of a compass that guides us and is the inspiration to reach great heights and are solace when we occasionally falter. At various facets of our lives, families present us with immense pleasure and at times hardships and pain too. Hence family bonding, spending quality time with our family, help in learning to understand and manage our own emotions and behaviors, to communicate efficiently, and cope with stress effectively. It can help bolster our own emotional health, as well as our connections to the important people in our lives

Once the seat of power in all of Himachal, Kangra is equally renowned for its rich cultural milieus - be it the miniature painting tradition, pottery scene, or its handicrafts. Kangra entered its greatest phase in terms of poetry, art, and music under the reign of Sansar Chand in the late 18th century. The heritage of those eras remains etched in the handiwork of the artists of Kangra even today.

Hills of Kangra along with the upper regions of Himachal which are predominantly mountainous are home to the Gaddis who practice pastoralism for aeons, going up hills with their livestock of sheep and goats during summers and back down to the valleys in the winters, in search of good pastures. There are several routes in these ancient hills that the Gaddis have been walking on for generations. One such pastoral path crosses through Rakkh and twice a year, it is a scene to behold the Gaddis along with their goats scurrying up and down the mountains. Those that are not nomadic have settled in villages nearby indulging in agriculture and other handicrafts, with unique Gaddi silverware jewelry which is very unique and rustic with its own set of designs unlike any other jewelry design in the region and shawls being crafted and sold in the bazaars and flea markets.

However we assess it, COVID has exacted a toll on all of us and we can’t wait to get life back to normalcy. While many pundits and thought leaders debate what that novelty is, we believe that travel is a fundamental need of humans. We are explorers by nature and thrive on new experiences more than anything else. This period of lockdown has strengthened this conviction in most of us. We have to travel, we need to travel.
That said, all things we took for granted previously come under the scanner now, some by the state and others by sentience. Travel will undergo a change too, a metamorphosis if you may, from the fast and furious to the slow and balanced; from the consumed to the experienced; from the mindless to the sustained. A world that ground to a halt overnight gave us space and time to introspect on the choices we made and the ones we should in the future.

Rakkh Resort in Palampur although has many activities to keep you occupied within the resort, we encourage our guests to explore the beautiful destination we are in. Kangra district has a lot to offer people of all interests and inclinations. We arrange for exhilarating paragliding sessions at Bir to toy train rides Bajinath, from the meditative atmosphere of Norbulingka Institute at Dharamshala to the bohemian brotherhood of McLeod Ganj, from the tea experience of Palampur estates to the ancient rock cut temples of Masroor, and so much more, all within short driving distance to Rakkh Resort for wholesome holiday in Himachal.