Banjara Camps, Thanedar

80 kms from Shimla on the old Hindustan-Tibet road lies Kotgarh, which enjoys a special place in Himachal history. In 1916 Samuel Stokes, a social worker from Philadelphia brought the first apple saplings to Kotgarh, the place he adopted as his home. One can still see the 'Starking Delicious' apple orchard that he planted there.

How To Reach
From Shimla you take NH 22 via Kufri to Narkanda(64 kms). At Narkanda, you leave NH 22 and get on to the Narkanda-Thanedar-Bithal road.

Thanedhar is 15 kms down the road and the Banjara Orchard Retreat is 1 km short of the Thanedar Bazar. A signboard of the Retreat greets you at the turn off . The same road carries on to meet the Shimla-Sangla highway (NH 22) at Bithal which is 21 km from the Retreat.

Best time to visit
The Retreat stays open all year round. However temperatures vary with the seasons. April - November - Pleasant days (light woolens) and cold nights. December - March - Likelihood of snow and minimum temperatures touch zero degrees C.

Accommodation
Seven fully furnished rooms with attached baths. There is 24 hrs supply of hot and cold water. Nestled amongst acres of apple blossoms is the Banjara Orchard Retreat - an eco-friendly getaway that will enchant nature lovers. There are fully furnished rooms with attached baths and a well-equipped kitchen to cater to a variety of tastes.
Prakash Thakur,the host, for whom the Orchard Retreat has been a labour of love, is also the resident expert on the history and culture of this little piece of paradise.

Places to visit around the Retreat

Tani-Jubbar Lake
Famous for 'Nag Devta' temple built along the lake. The lake is 6 Kms from the retreat.

Hattu Peak
15 Kms away, at 11,000 ft, this peak offers a panoramic view of the snowline.

St.Mary's Church
Built in 1843, this church at Kotgarh is one of the oldest churches in India.

Parmjyotir Temple
Built by Stokes in the Pahari style, the temple is 1 Km away from the retreat.

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