November 2025 I Nainital, Uttarakhand
iHeart Cafe Himalayas was created to be a place where people could connect withfriends and family, where Kumaon’s beauty could be enjoyed, and where we,through our social and environmental responsibility, could make a positive impacton our community. Our responsibility originates from realigned thoughts and idealsthat seek to bring justice, beauty, and truth to our customers, team members,vendors, and neighbors. These goals begin with our friendliness towards ourcustomers and neighbors. All people are welcome to iHeart Cafe, and everyonewho comes will receive a friendly greeting and they will be treated with dignityand respect. Secondly, we strive to be dependable. From cleanliness both insideand outside, to operating hours, to standard recipes and items that are alwaysavailable, we build trust with our customers and community through our continueddependability. Finally, iHeart Cafe strives for excellence in every task that weundertake. Since, iHeart Cafe opening in Kumaon on February 27, 2016, we haveserved thousands of customers and made hundreds of friends.
Kumaun Grameen Udyog (brand name: Kilmora) is a community driven, livelihood generation organisation. In the last 3 decades, we have helped slow migration by providing dignified livelihoods here in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. With a business approach, our social organisation has always believed in creating products that celebrate our farmers and the beauty of handmade - putting the spotlight on our artisans to help share our story with the world. Instagram: @kilmora_kgu
Tarai Blue began with Kiran Sandhu's fascination with a rare blue pigment—indigo. Inspired by childhood memories of old indigo tanks near colonial bungalows, she started her journey into plant-based dyes. On the first indigo field of the Tarai plains (Rudrapur), Kiran now grows and extracts organic indigo, known for its rich, deep blue color. Driven by a passion to share this "blue gold" with the world, Tarai Blue produces some of the highest-quality indigo available, loved by natural dye enthusiasts across the globe. Insta: @Taraiblue
Myarr meaning ‘mine’ in native Kumaoni, is a homage to the exquisite Pahadi jewellery from Mero Pahado. MYARR juxtaposes the classic designs in their timeless perfection alongside Taruna’s own take on the traditional styles with a variety of materials.
RUSTIC SLICE CAFÉ is tucked away in the quiet charm of Chaffi, Uttarakhand, is a little café called The Rustic Slice — born from a boyhood dream and a mother’s mountain roots. It’s a tribute to all things soulful: the comfort of Irani mawa cake, the elegance of a well-brewed cup of coffee, the serenity of the hills and much more munch. A space for handmade goodies baked and served with love. Come for the view, stay for the warmth — it’s a promise that it’ll feel like coming home.
Woolknitters India is a social enterprise rooted in the Himalayas, working with rural artisan communities to keep traditional crafts and handmade skills alive. From hand-spun wool and knitting to crochet and weaving, every creation reflects local materials, craftsmanship, and the mountain way of life. Through thoughtful design and fair opportunities, Woolknitters connects Himalayan craft and contemporary living while celebrating the people behind every handmade piece.
Abbotsford Estate is a boutique homestay tucked away in the quiet corner of the Pangot-Kilbury trail bordering the outskirts of Nainital. It is a private heritage home, now open to travellers that have a keen sense of nature, wildlife, heritage, art and literature. It shares its legacy with Janhavi Prasada since 1903. She is the 4th generation of the family from Shahjahanpur, UP to be carrying on the baton of keeping her history, old world heritage, family cuisines. Most of all, the culture of books, art, music and shared memories, with a spot of laughter alive in her boutique countryside homestay. Insta: @abbotsfordnainital
Modern Books & General Stores established in 1945 has been a home for book lovers of Nainital, and all the tourists who visit Nainital for nearly eight decades. Originally just a book and stationery shop, Modern has now expanded into catering the townsfolk of Nainital with various other things from kids toys to fine art materials to woodworking tools while retaining the core book store experience.
made of hands is an all-women artisan collective from Almora dedicated to keeping traditional hand-craftsmanship alive with women artisans. Founded by Tanu Bhatt it creates 100% handmade crochet and knitted pieces—ranging from cozy beanies and mufflers to charming keychains and plushies. Every piece is made at the artisan's home, weaving sustainability and the soulful beauty of the mountains into every stitch.
Hoyi is a social initiative nestled in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, dedicated to fostering sustainable economic opportunities for female agriculturalists while sharing the authentic bounty of the mountains with households nationwide. Partnering closely with women-led agrarian collectives and local mountain communities, the organization converts fresh regional harvests into artisanal preserves, chutneys, traditional pickles, pure honey, and natural ketchups. Deeply anchored in Himalayan heritage, HoYi operates on core values of trust, complete traceability, and open transparency. By enhancing the value of regional crops and uplifting female growers, it seeks to build an equitable, sustainable food ecosystem connecting mountain harvests to everyday tables.
HIMJOLI, translating to “Friend in the Land of Snow,” is a social enterprise deeply rooted in Uttarakhand since 2009. For more than 17 years, the initiative has brought the finest regional harvests, traditional handcrafts, and cultural heritage of the Himalayas to broader markets, fostering sustainable economic opportunities for local creators. Today, the organization partners with over 15,000 regional agriculturalists, skilled artisans, and women-led collectives, returning more than ₹21 crore directly to rural mountain communities. Guided by a straightforward philosophy, the enterprise empowers locals by promoting sustainable trade rather than relying on aid.
Tuna's brings the warmth of European café culture to the hills, where handcrafted pizzas, comforting pastas, and thoughtfully brewed coffee invite you to slow down. Inspired by La Dolce Vita, we celebrate simple pleasures, heartfelt hospitality, and moments shared over good food. Here, every meal is made with care, every conversation lingers, and the good life feels beautifully within reach.
ART BY SHEETAL BISHT - Sheetal Bisht is a practising lawyer at the High Court of Uttarakhand, handling matters in revenue, civil, family, arbitration, mediation and criminal law. A homemaker and a native of Nainital, she was born and raised in the hills, where the mist, mountains and changing landscapes shaped her quiet eye for detail. During the pandemic, she discovered watercolour painting and, entirely self-taught, found in it a new form of expression and solace. Inspired by nature and the details of everyday life, her paintings reflect a deeply personal connection with the hills, capturing moments, moods and landscapes through colour and light.
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