Sterling Holiday Resorts has announced the launch of Sterling Lake View Sattal, its newest resort in Uttarakhand
With the addition of Sterling Lake View Sattal, Sterling now operates 12 resorts in Uttarakhand and 80 resorts across India, further strengthening its presence in one of the country’s most diverse hospitality markets.
Located in Kumaon, Sattal derives its identity from its remarkable cluster of seven freshwater lakes set amidst forested hills. Rich in birdlife and biodiversity, the destination has retained a quieter and more intimate character than many of Kumaon’s established hill destinations—offering travellers a compelling combination of lakes, forests, nature and slower travel.
The 24-room Sterling Lake View Sattal, located close to Sattal Lake, has been designed around this sense of place.
Its location also provides convenient access to Bhimtal, Nainital, Kainchi Dham and Naukuchiatal, making Sattal a natural base from which to discover the wider Kumaon region.
From Adding Properties to Architecting Destinations
The launch reflects Sterling’s evolving Destination Architect philosophy—looking beyond the addition of individual hotels and resorts to understand what makes a destination distinctive, developing experiences around that character, and connecting destinations into larger travel circuits.
Speaking on the launch, Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts, said, “We increasingly look at expansion through the lens of a Destination Architect. The question is not simply where we can add another hotel, but what is distinctive about a destination, what experiences can be built around it, and how it connects with the larger journeys of our guests.
Sattal is a good example. Its seven lakes, forests and rich biodiversity give it an identity quite different from the more established hill destinations of Kumaon. Sterling Lake View Sattal allows us to bring that character alive through nature, birding and slower travel, while connecting it naturally with Bhimtal, Nainital, Kainchi Dham and the wider Kumaon region.
A resort gives us presence in a destination; a connected circuit gives us relevance across a region. Our ambition is to keep connecting established destinations with emerging micro-markets and give travellers more compelling ways to discover India.”
Building Depth, Not Just Distribution
Uttarakhand demonstrates this strategy particularly well. Sterling’s presence in the state today spans mountains, forests, wildlife, rivers, wellness, pilgrimage, adventure and lakes. Sattal adds a distinctive lake-and-forest dimension to this network.
The opportunity is therefore larger than adding another location to Sterling’s map. The established hill appeal of Nainital, the lakes of Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal, the spiritual significance of Kainchi Dham and the surrounding forests and mountain landscapes create multiple reasons to travel within Kumaon.
This reflects a broader shift in Sterling’s expansion strategy: from building presence through individual properties to building depth through connected destinations.
Making the Destination the Experience
At the heart of Sterling’s Destination Architect philosophy is a simple belief: the property provides the platform, but the destination provides the content.
At Sattal, this means building the guest experience around what makes the destination distinctive—its lakes, forests, birdlife, local culture and slower rhythm of travel.
Guests can explore the surrounding landscape through nature-led experiences and dine at Sattal Bistro
Commenting on the association, Abhijit Agrawal, Partner, Arthouse Hotels LLP, said, “Sattal has retained a sense of tranquillity that is increasingly rare in the more established hill destinations, and that is precisely what we wanted this resort to preserve. Our association with Sterling brings together the property’s unique lake-side setting with the reach and operating expertise of an established hospitality brand. We believe this partnership will help introduce more travellers to Sattal while building the resort as a distinctive nature-led stay in the Kumaon region.”
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