luxury homestays in india

Kumaon: Another stunning find!

It is now somewhat of a ritual - an annual trip to Kumaon. While most of my previous journeys have taken me to Kumaon in the monsoon or summer months, this time I decided to go there in the peak of winter to enjoy a few days of freezing mountain air combined with cozy pahadi hospitality. 

My adventure through the hills took me to Shyamkhet, a quaint village located near Bhowali where I spent my days at a charming homestay nestled amidst a dense forest. 

Blessed to be welcomed by cold, mountain rain :)

Blessed to be welcomed by cold, mountain rain :)


ABOUT THE STAY

I arrived at the house in the afternoon after a quick and easy train journey from Delhi, followed by a 1.5 hour drive through roads that have become such familiar territory after all my trips through Kumaon. I love how I know and recognise all the roads in this part of the hills :) Makes me feel right at home. 

Once I arrived at the house, I was greeted by the beautiful mascots of the house - Raja, Cyber and Lama. Raja is truly the king of the house and demands undivided attention and lots of biscuits and love :) The staff at the property welcomed me warmly and showed me to my room for the next three days - the outhouse cottage with my private room, small living room and sit-out. 

The out-house - my sweet home for three days

The out-house - my sweet home for three days

The owners of the house Uttam and Shalini were travelling and could not host me personally. Even in their absence, each and every corner of the house was so well looked after that I could tell how much care and attention the owners give to their house.

The main house has three bedrooms, a living room, a TV room, a study area and a stunning glass observatory where I spent most of my days looking out at the mountains. The house offers a huge lawn to sit out, lots of walks around the property and a fire pit for cozy fires under the star-lit sky. 


THE ROOMS

The house has 3 rooms in the main house and 2 rooms in the outhouse. Each rooms is simply decorated with a very charming and aesthetically pleasing feel. Wooden floors and ceilings, glass windows, subtle lighting and balconies offering lovely views of the surrounding mountains.

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luxury homestay kumaon
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where to stay in kumaon

The outhouse has two attached rooms, a small living room, a bathroom, kitchenette and beautiful front porch. It opens up into a big sit-out where you can light a fire and enjoy the starry sky at night. 

But the highlight of the house for me was definitely the stunning glass observatory. The room is beautifully constructed with wood and glass, is adorned with sweet bougainvillea plants and interesting curious collected by the owners from their travels all around the world. It really is the ideal place to sit back and enjoy all the mountain goodness around you - It's the kind of place that you never want to leave! 

The glass observatory

The glass observatory


THE CREW 

The house has three crew members - Prakash, Basant and Madhavi. While Prakash cooks up some delicious food for you, Basant and his wife Madhavi ensure you have everything that you need from ginger chai at any time of day, to making fires at night. They work hard to ensure that all is kept clean and tidy and that the gardens remain full of flowers and lush greenery for you!

The three dogs at the property are also a crucial part of the team - Raja, Cyber and Lama. From the moment you enter the house to the time you leave, they greet all the travellers with so much love and warmth and expect a biscuit each for being such good boys!

Chilling with Lama

Chilling with Lama

From left to right: Prakash, Madhavi and Basant

From left to right: Prakash, Madhavi and Basant


HOW I SPENT MY DAYS AT SHYAMKHET

While I spent most of my time reading and relaxing in the gorgeous glass observatory, I spent my mornings and evening walking around the surrounding mountain trails, bird watching and meeting locals.

Tea Estates along one of my mountain trails

Tea Estates along one of my mountain trails

On one of my walks around Shyamkhet, I stumbled upon a small shop called Sunlit Paths that sells products from Auroville and Pondicherry. There I met Kanika, a beautiful little girl who was helping her mother run the shop. Usually she's at school in the day, but it was holiday time in the mountains because of the cold, and this sweet little girl was spending her vacation helping her mom.

Beautiful Kanika

Beautiful Kanika

Sunlit Paths - a shop selling products from Auroville and Pondicherry

Sunlit Paths - a shop selling products from Auroville and Pondicherry

What I loved about my trip to Kumaon this time was the charming cafes I discovered. Over the last few years that I've been visiting this region, I felt that it was missing some nice cafes and hang out spaces, but that's not the case anymore. I found two, relatively new cafes, one on the Bhimtal-Bhowali road and other in Naukuchiatal. Both places are amazing and provide the perfect setting for a nice cup of coffee, fresh baked goods and beautiful views!

I Heart Cafe on Bhimtal-Bhowali road

I Heart Cafe on Bhimtal-Bhowali road

The Cafe near Naukuchiatal Lake

The Cafe near Naukuchiatal Lake

Coffee with a view :)

Coffee with a view :)


Yes I do!

Yes I do!

 

A big shout out to Shalini and Uttam for hosting me at their charming abode and ALLOWING ME TO EXPERIENCE THIS STUNNING SECRET OF KuMaOn :) 

 

TO PLAN YOUR JOURNEY TO THIS BEAUTIFUL STAY IN KUMAON OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN UTTARAKHAND, CONTACT ME AT KRITIKA@WANDERBUG.IN


Shimla: Discovering its secrets

Shimla, also known as the queen of hills, is by far one of the most popular hill stations in India. Every summer, thousands of tourists flock to the British summer capital for a few days of cool mountain air and breathtaking views.

Shimla on a bright, sunny day. 

Shimla on a bright, sunny day. 

Amidst this busy hill station, there are still secrets to be discovered, especially when it comes to boutique stays. During my recent trip to Shimla, I had the fortune to experience two spectacular stays - a beautiful cottage perched on top of a hill behind the famous church and a charming, luxury homestay located away from the town. 


1. COTTAGE ON THE HILL

Owned by Karandip and Nawaz Sandhu, a sweet couple from Chandigarh, the Cottage on the Hill is a beautiful space full of flowering gardens, lush greenery, warm and cosy rooms and breathtaking views of the church and snow clad Himalayas. The location of the house is just perfect, far enough from the maddening crowds, but also close enough for short walks through the famous mall road and the ridge. The house is ideally located above the church, making it a quiet haven of peace amidst the otherwise loud and chaotic streets of the summer capital.

Tea-time at the Cottage

Tea-time at the Cottage

The Cottage from above

The Cottage from above


The family suite of the cottage

The family suite of the cottage

THE ROOMS

The cottage has 4 rooms and 1 family suite. Each room is beautiful decorated with a very aesthetically pleasing feel. Wooden floors and ceilings, massive glass windows, subtle lighting and balconies offering lovely views of the church peeping though the tall pine trees.

The family suite has one double room, on the ground level, one on the attic level and an additional attached single bedrooms, making it an ideal space for families or a small group of friends. 

The entrance to the family suite - my room at the cottage :)

The entrance to the family suite - my room at the cottage :)


THE CREW

The house has four crew members, all working towards ensuring your stay is a memorable one. While Maya cooks up some delicious food for you, Prakash, Prem and Maali Bhaiya ensure you have anything that you need. They work hard to ensure that all is kept clean and tidy and that the gardens remain full of flowers and lush greenery for you! Their efforts combine to make your stay a special one :) 

Manager Prem, Maali bhaiya, Maya didi and Prakash.

Manager Prem, Maali bhaiya, Maya didi and Prakash.


WANDERBUG VERDICT

The Cottage is an amazing space for big groups of friends and families (10-15 people) looking for a quick getaway from Delhi and Chandigarh. Absolutely love the tasteful decor and the charming green spaces surrounding the house.

shimla boutique cottages


2. FAIRYTALE HOME

Originally built in 1890 when Mr. Kitchlu came to Shimla to work with the British government, the cottage still exudes an old world charm with all the comforts needed to make your stay enjoyable and absolutely wonderful! The hostess, Madhavi who now owns and runs the show at the cottage is a beautiful soul with extensive knowledge about various flora around her estate and does not hesitate to share this knowledge with her guests while she takes them on strolls around the estate. She's a true flower child happy amidst the wilderness and the serenity of her gorgeous estate. 

Yes, believe it! This is in India :)

Yes, believe it! This is in India :)

In full bloom right outside my window :)

In full bloom right outside my window :)


THE ROOMS

There are 4 rooms at the cottage, each done up in the most charming and aesthically pleasing manner. Wooden floors and ceilings, Windows offering stunning views of the the surrounding forest and the flower filled garden, antique wooden furniture, gorgeous floral apholstery, that all adds up to make you feel like you're still living in the colonial times. Every room has a study because you're bound to be inspired to write, draw or read whilst your stay at the estate.

The house has a spacious living room overlooking the garden, a small tv lounge and a dining area where the hostess serves her guests some delicious home-cooked meals with ingredients sourced from her own estate. Whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, each and every meal is well thought of and served with utmost care and passion, making every meal a culinary delight! 

My charming bedroom!

My charming bedroom!

The reading corner in one of the rooms

The reading corner in one of the rooms


THE HOSTESS

Originally from Delhi, Madhavi moved to Shimla five years ago to care for the estate that her great-grand aunt left behind. When she got here, the house was in shambles and the locals would refer to it as Bhoot Bangla because it was a an absolute wreck. She took it upon herself to fix up the place and has now successfully transformed this abandoned estate into a magical, flower filled estate that seems to be right out of fairytale! Madhavi lives on the estate with her soul friend and cook, Madhu who moved with her from Delhi, the care-taker Motilal and her three dogs - Bhusa singh, Bholu and sweety and one cat named Milkha. All their energies and efforts combine to make this a truly magical and unforgettable experience :) 

Madhavi along with Bhusa Singh and Bholu

Madhavi along with Bhusa Singh and Bholu

Masterchef, Madhu

Masterchef, Madhu


WANDERBUG VERDICT

The cottage is ideal for couples and solo travellers who are looking for a quiet and authentic homestay experience in the mountains. The house is perfect for writers and artists looking for a few days of solo time to dedicate to their creative skills. The flowers filled, magical gardens, the charming rooms, the food and everything about the house is bound to inspire you! 

The beautiful garden at the estate

The beautiful garden at the estate



 

A big shout out to my hosts, Karandip and Madhavi for allowing me to experience these stunning secrets of Shimla and extending their warm hospitality to me :) 

 

TO PLAN YOUR JOURNEY TO THESE BEAUTIFUL STAYS IN SHIMLA OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN HIMACHAL, CONTACT ME AT KRITIKA@WANDERBUG.IN


Coorg: Monsoon Trails & Charming Stays

Coorg: Monsoon Trails & Charming Stays

I love travelling through the western ghats in the monsoon.The greenery is mind blowing, the waterfalls are majestic and everything comes alive. Yes the leeches come alive too, but what's life without a little pinch of salt :) 

Eager to explore the famous coffee land of India, I set out to wander through Coorg as part of my two week long journey through Karnataka and Kerala. Below, I've put together some highlights from my journey through Coorg. Read, see and get inspired to plan your gorgeous journey to India's coffee country!