Basnoli Village, Pauri Garhwal
Pauri Garhwal,
Uttarakhand
Basnoli rests quietly inside the hills of
Pauri Garhwal, tucked away inside the Nainidanda-Dhumakot belt. It’s a small village with a handful of houses, wrapped in woodland slopes, terraces, and slender footpaths. No tourist crowds. No big roads. Just calm hills and slow life.
The landscape feels like old-Himalaya—sloping hills, dense mixed forests, pine bushes, misty mornings, and evenings that glow softly. Summers are moderate and first-rate. Winters deliver crisp air and bloodless nights. You breathe deeper here; the air tastes easy and light.
What do you feel when you reach
You walk into Basnoli, and everything slows down. Houses are stone or wood, paths are small, and fields are carved into hillsides. You hear birds chirping, wind in trees, perhaps a far-off rustling of the woodland. People greet you in gentle Garhwali or Hindi, with a gentle nod or namaste. There are no honking cars, no crowds. Just quiet.
Mornings bring golden light on ridges. Sunsets paint the hills pink or orange. If you like photography or calm walks, every turn looks like a postcard. For a traveller used to rush and noise, this feels like a reset.
Why Basnoli is a hidden gem
If you want real, honest Uttarakhand, Basnoli serves it.
- Easy walking trails you don’t need a guide.
- Sunrise and sundown views that touch your soul.
- Forest-coated hills, terraced fields, distant valleys raw natural splendor.
- Simple village lifestyles: people tending small farms, preparing home-cooked meals, dwelling with the seasons.
- The kind of silence that cleans your mind.
How to reach Basnoli
You’ll need to travel a bit but that’s part of the charm.
The closest railway station is at Kotdwar. From there, you take shared jeeps, buses, or taxis to
Dhumakot or Nainidanda. Once you reach nearby village roads, you move to smaller paths on occasion it’s a narrow avenue, on occasion a strolling path.
If you come by air, the nearest airport is in Dehradun. Then it’s road travel toward Kotdwar or Pauri side, followed by local transport to reach Basnoli.
After the main towns, expect rough roads. Drive slow. Keep buffer time. Small vehicles do best.
Village life, food, and culture
Life here moves with the sun and seasons. People speak Hindi and Garhwali. Houses are simple, often with wood-smoke chimneys, small fields, or kitchen gardens. People grow pulses or vegetables, maybe collect forest produce or fodder.
Food stays humble, dal, roti, seasonal vegetables, home-grown greens, and hot chai. Winter mornings may begin with wood-fire warmth. Evening may end early under a starlit sky. There are old hillside paths, small temples, local festivals, and a rhythm that honours the mountains.
If you sit with locals, you might hear stories of forest animals, mountain weather, past monsoons, and changing seasons. Conversations are calm, slow, and rooted.
Travel tips — what to know
- Best time to go: March to June or September to November, whilst the weather is mild, and the hills are clear.
- Stay: Don’t expect hotels. Look for simple homestays or guesthouses nearby.
- Connectivity: Mobile/internet may be weak or patchy.
- Roads: Often narrow or unpaved. Bring good walking shoes.
- Essentials: Warm garments for mornings/evenings, torch, water bottle, and fundamental first-aid.
- Respect local lifestyle — quiet timings, simple habits, modest living.
Final thought
Basnoli village gives you what big hill stations cannot peace, quiet, real hills, fresh air, and simple human warmth. It’s not about luxury or comfort. It’s about breathing slow, walking slow, living slow.
If you want a spoil from crowded spots and crave solitude, uncooked splendor, and actual Garhwali lifestyles, % mild, include an open heart, and let Basnoli show you the tender side of
Uttarakhand.
