Conceptualized in 2013 by environmental policy strategist Vikrom Mathur and entrepreneur Raghav Priyadarshi, The Kumaon sits on a quiet terraced ridge at Kasar Devi near Almora. The location holds a distinct intellectual history: since the late 19th century, Crank’s Ridge and Kasar Devi have drawn writers, artists, and seekers—including Swami Vivekananda, D.H. Lawrence, Bob Dylan, and Cat Stevens—attracted by the ridge’s high altitude and clear mountain light.

To execute their vision, the founders commissioned Sri Lankan firm Zowa Architects, led by Pradeep Kodikara and Jineshi Samaraweera. Drawing directly from the Tropical Modernist tradition of Geoffrey Bawa, the architects designed ten suites paired across five separate two-story structures to fit the natural contours of the land rather than leveling the ridge for a single monolithic building.

The material palette bridges native Kumaoni craftsmanship and industrial restraint. The lower suite of each chalet is constructed from heavy, locally quarried schist stone that mimics traditional village homes. The upper suite is built using light fly-ash bricks clad in vertical bamboo screens and hand-bound copper wire crafted by traditional coppersmiths from Almora’s historic Tamta Mohalla quarter. Every suite features floor-to-ceiling glass walls, a private terrace or courtyard, and a traditional wood-burning bukhari fireplace for cold mountain nights.

The central focal point of the estate is its main dining hall—a dramatic structure of steel, local stone, and glass cantilevered directly over the valley edge. Positioned along a precise geometric axis, the dining room offers panoramic views of the Great Himalayan range, centered on Nanda Devi (India’s second-highest peak). The kitchen focuses on regional Kumaoni ingredients and macrobiotics, serving dishes made with black soybean, millets, local hemp seed (bhaang) chutney, and wild herbs foraged from surrounding forests.

A stay at The Kumaon is defined by stillness and physical immersion in nature. Located near the edge of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, the lodge serves as an ideal base for quiet forest walks through oak and rhododendron groves, visits to 12th-century Kumaoni stone temples, or reading on private sun decks facing snow peaks. There are no television screens or commercial resort distractions, ensuring the landscape remains the focal point of every room.