Once the home to Fredy Smetacek Jr. where his father, Fredrick Smetacek Sr. (a German from the Sudetenland - now in the Czech republic) chose to live with his wife and raised their six children. Smetacek Sr. son of a Forest Warden in Europe was irresistibly drawn to the cool forested hills and green lakes moved to Bhimtal in 1951. In Bhimtal, he developed and honed a passion for studying butterflies, starting a collection that grew to over 10,000 specimens and is renowned in India and beyond. Much of this collection is housed in Fredy’s Bungalow and the rest is displayed at a close by Butterfly Museum.
A short uphill drive, along two-kilometres of kuccha road from Bhimtal Lake, leads you to Fredy’s Bungalow. The imposing colonial-style homestead nestles among cypress and deodar trees, on a peaceful wooded hillside, overlooking the Bhimtal valley and the mountain slopes beyond. Located in the midst of acres of dense oak forest, this is a peaceful haven where only the sounds of nature break the silence.
The Bungalow has been renovated with care to preserve its beautiful wooden features. A gleaming wooden staircase leads from the Living area to the Mezzanine level; finely crafted wood beading and windowpane edging depict a rare attention to detail. The exterior stonewalls are imposing, with carefully hand-chiseled stone facing.
It offers four bedrooms with attached bathrooms and lovely views of the surrounding woods. In addition to a large and airy living room, there is a library and a cozy den with a number of board game. A wide wooden deck verandah running along the entire back of the bungalow and looking across at the forest, is perfect for relaxing with a drink or book, or spotting the occasional flying squirrel or a pheasant heading home to roost.
Survey the in-house butterfly collection. Enjoy boating or bird-watching in and around the Sattal and Bhimtal lakes. Explore the serene surroundings of the bungalow that are an invitation for a long walk or quiet contemplation and meditation. Or else, simply relax and feel pampered by the hospitality and an array of culinary delights.