Rudyard Kipling's Jewel Beyond Price

Located in Dummerston, Vermont

One of seventeen National Historic Landmarks in Vermont, Naulakha offers the unparalleled experience of a stay in a house where Nobel Prize winning literature was written. It also offers spectacular views, use of Vermont's first tennis court, sledding or skiing in the meadow where skiing was introduced to Vermont, and hiking out the back door.

For those who wish to go a bit further afield, the area has summer music festivals, swimming, boating, biking, hiking, golf, major ski areas nearby.

From the Naulakha Guest Book

"It is fascinating to visit the houses of writers and artists, but all you usually get is an hours tour with an absolute prohibition 'not to touch.' How wonderful then to sit at his desk and soak in Mr. Kipling's bath."

"After nine visits this is still a paradise for the body, the soul and the mind. Thank you Landmark Trust USA."

Naulakha sat abandoned, though fully furnished, from 1942 until The Landmark Trust acquired it in 1992. The roof was beginning to leak, a family of raccoons had taken up residence, and the south foundation had collapsed.

The Landmark Trust USA's mission was twofold:

• Determine exactly the house that Rudyard Kipling had designed and built for himself;
• and investigate the repairs necessary to safeguard the house.

Landmark Trust USA's staff researched archives in the United States and England for materials relating to the house. We discovered the location of the original blueprints for "Cottage for R. Kipling, Esq." and were able to purchase them along with numerous original photographs. Through very serendipitous circumstances we also discovered in a barn down the road the original entry hall paneling and numerous doors that had been removed after Kipling sold the house; these were donated to the Trust for reinstallation.

The house itself was also extensively studied and the small alterations made after Kipling left were reversed. The Trust returned to the original colors inside and out so that now visitors can experience the house just as Kipling did. And while Rudyard Kipling did not have electricity and some other modern conveniences, Naulakha today is essentially the house he lived in.

Naulakha is very comfortably furnished. Much of the furniture, in fact, was chosen by the Kiplings. Sleep in Rudyard Kipling's bed or bathe in the tub where he "luxuriously parboiled myself in a hot bath knowing I was beholden to no man." Sit before the fire in the study where Kipling wrote the Jungle Books and Captains Courageous; imagine your own stories or read a book from the original bookcases.

Your accommodations will include:

• 4 bedrooms with 3 full baths
• Game room with pool table
• Fully equipped kitchen including dishwasher
• Washer and dryer
• Extensive gardens with pergola and tennis court
• Gas log fireplace
• Private museum relating to Kipling's years in Vermont

Naulakha floor plan:

Number of people: Sleeps 8
Prices range from: $275.00 - $425.00 per night
Minimum stay: Three nights

You can contact us with a booking request or pay for a confirmed reservation using our secure Online Reservation form.

Please note: The availability data is reasonably correct, but is not real-time and may have a short lag in actual bookings.

Questions? You can reach us by phone or email:

• Call The Landmark Trust USA at (802) 254-6868
• Email us at: info@landmarktrustusa.org (Please use only for inquiries, if you want to make a reservation, use our secure Online Reservations.)

Please see booking conditions for our cancellation policy and other information.

Naulakha is perched on the eastern flank of Kipling Hill and offers superb views over the Connecticut River Valley. Rudyard Kipling thought of his ship-shaped house as sailing across a meadow taking him on adventures of the imagination.

The setting is very rural with hiking, skiing or bicycling available out the door. Vermont's first tennis court is available on the grounds from mid-May until October.

Every sort of outdoor recreation along with restaurants, shopping, farmers' markets, artisanal cheese makers and brew pubs are located nearby.

Transportation.

Amtrak serves Brattleboro with one train north and one south per day.

Car rental is available in Brattleboro.

What to do.

Landmark Trust USA's own Scott Farm offers excellent hiking over our 626 acres as well as farm fresh, ecologically grown fruit from berries in mid-July through peaches, pears, plums, quince, and 90 varieties of heirloom apples until we sell out in December.  An excellent assortment of Vermont artisinal cheese can be found at Grafton Village Cheese in Brattleboro.

Less than three miles away canoes can be rented for trips on the Connecticut River and West River. Vermont Canoe Touring Center: 802-257-5008.

Townshend State Park and Jamaica State Park offer hiking, swimming, fishing, waterfalls all within 30 minutes.

Just outside the door guests can cross country ski where Rudard Kipling introduced skiing to Vermont or travel to picturesque Grafton, Vermont for skiing on groomed trails at Grafton Ponds. Sledding in the Naulakha meadow is superb. Snow shoeing is available over our 626 acre property.

Major ski areas within 45 minutes are Mount Snow, Stratton Mountain, and Bromley Mountain.

Historic Deerfield offers historic houses, a museum, and restaurant 30 minutes south.

The Marlboro Music Festival and the Yellow Barn Music Festival, both only minutes away, provide internationally recognized chamber music through July and August.

There are numerous golf courses in the area including Brattleboro Country Club. Mount Snow has one of Vermont's premier mountain courses.

For further suggestions of area activities or restaurants please contact the Landmark Trust USA office.