Hartola, in the fruit belt of Kumaon (in the state of Uttarakhand), is reachable via Kathgodam and Lalkuan railway stations. From here, a winding road up the green hills in an almost zero-traffic zone is well, truly Himalaya! Beside the pristine Himalayan setting, the glaciers and peaks, it is the orchards in particular with the heady fragrance of ripe fruit that adds to the meditative ambience.