Fagunia Farmstay

Literally hand built, stone by stone, by a Kumaoni farmer and then lovingly renovated and expanded by a Pahadi-Telugu couple, Fagunia Farmstay is a bespoke mountain villa that is the epitome of subtle charms and understated, minimalist luxury.

About

agunia Farmstay is an ecofriendly homestay that we created to share our joy of living sustainably and in close proximity to nature with discerning, responsible and like minded travelers. It is an oasis of bliss and peace amidst melodious bird calls, soothing greens and earthy browns and is situated on a verdant farm estate with pomegranate, kafal, malta, lime, bhimal, peach, apricot and other trees in abundance. Go on long walks in the surrounding sun dappled and pine scented forests in search of colourful birds and butterflies. Lend a helping hand on the farm. Observe the unhurried pace of village life. Write your next great book. Come up with a life changing idea. Or just find a quiet corner, put up your feet, stare at the beautiful vista, relax and slowly let go of all your worries.

Location

Located about 15 km from Nainital, this little piece of heaven is the perfect place for discerning travellers who are looking for something off the beaten track, literally. Nestled in a quiet and remote hamlet, and accessed by a beautiful but adventurous drive through an enchanting forest filled with birds and over old British era arched bridges across seasonal waterfalls, Fagunia Farmstay is a special place to experience. Surrounded by a beautiful forest and a seasonal waterfall on two sides, farms on another side and with spectacular views of the mountains of Pangot and Nainital in front, we are sure you will fall in love with the place like we did.

Architecture

Architecturally, Fagunia Farmstay is a blend of traditional Kumaoni stone building practices and contemporary influences. Uniquely built across three levels, the villa has two independent suites and two independent bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms along with a common kitchen and a semi al fresco dining area that overlooks the adjacent pine forest.

The layout of the villa expands on but largely follows the original layout of the Kumaoni house that existed on the site to create a sprawling yet cosy structure. Rooms are oriented on a north-south axis to have the best possible views with large windows and doors to maximise the flow of light and air when needed. There is also a certain quirkiness in the way we have utilised the available space that you may have fun in experiencing!

The communal and extensive garden areas spread around the villa have been structured to be easily available from each level of the house and are also meant to encourage guests to start conversations with each other. The sprawling estate has natural spaces with many delightful nooks and niches where you can leave the world behind and imbibe the peace and quiet.

Interior Design

Each of the suites and rooms is curated around a theme and appointed with an eclectic range of handpicked antique furniture, furnishings and art pieces to make your stay comfortable and memorable. The interior design of the villa is inspired by the birds found in and around Fagunia with each of the suites and rooms themed around a particular bird. A specially commissioned series of paintings of the birds act as central focal points in the suites and rooms. The individually selected art pieces and artefacts spread across the villa celebrate our love of Indian wildlife and traditional art forms from the different states of the country. Last but not the least, crisp white bed linen, carefully chosen colourful accents with a minimalist aesthetic and a contemporary LED lighting scheme lend the rooms a cheerful, warm and inviting homely feel.

Eco-friendly Features

Many eco-friendly features have been incorporated into the construction and running of Fagunia Farmstay to reduce the impact and footprint of the villa. Almost all of the stone and most of the wood used in the construction was recycled from the earlier house. Much of the furniture in the villa is refurbished antique furniture. Rooms are compact to retain warmth and reduce energy usage for heating, solar water heating and LED lighting reduce electricity consumption while rain water collection and storage help with conservation of water. A sustainable grey and black water management system helps in on site treatment and recycling of waste and prevents pollution.

Read more about all of our eco-friendly and special features, which we hope will enhance your stay even further.

Food

Fagunia’s food is a mélange of Pahadi and Telugu influences. Simple and nutritious, wholesome and easy on the stomach, we use seasonal farm fresh and locally available ingredients as much as possible. Most of the vegetables are sourced from our or neighbouring farms so that you can have the freshest farm to table experience. And thereby discover the difference that fresh, organic, home cooked food has on your tastebuds. In an effort to reduce our impact on the environment and not create unnecessary garbage use of packaged food items will be kept to a minimum at Fagunia.

The food is cooked in our fully equipped contemporary kitchen and will be served buffet style at fixed times in our communal al fresco dining area. With glorious views on two sides you can eat at leisure on our biergarten style comfortable benches and also get a chance to interact with other guests. Learn more about our food here.

Hosting

Guests can book 3 rooms of the villa, consisting of a spacious suite and two cosy rooms, for exclusive access to the entire property and farm (except for the owner’s wing). Check out our homestay and book your next holiday with us!