Here at Greaves India, we have lots of clients who are interested in exploring the hill stations and foothills of the north. Here is an interview with Upasana and Surya, to learn more about their beautiful lodge up in the foothills, near the holy city of Dharamshamla. Here are their thoughts and advice for those planning their Himalayan journeys.
Greaves: What inspired you to turn your family’s Tea Estate into a homestay?
Both Surya and I went to the United States for our respective undergrad business school courses, and came back with no intention of living on the estate. But when we visited Palampur the year we got married, we fell in love with the place and decided we just had to share it with the world. We completed furnishing the mud homes Surya’s father had built, and with some inspiration from well-known boutique property owners, we decided to give it a go!
What are some of the most popular experiences that you offer for your guests?
The in-depth estate tour and tea tasting experience is definitely the highlight for every guest who stays with us. We are also happy to organize a sundowner picnic in the middle of the tea gardens, a riverside picnic, or a special diner under the stars experience.
Following the pandemic we are seeing a greater requirement from our clients for more rural and unique experiences, how long would you recommend our guests to stay?
We usually see guests staying with us for 3-4 nights.
Being located so close to Dharamshala, are there other points of Buddhist interest close to your property?
Yes, DGL Nunnery for example is 20 minutes away from us. It is home to over a hundred female monks, and overseen by the incredible Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, who meditated in a cave for 12 years.
Food and beverage is a key part of the guests experience, since you grow so much of your own produce do you have any favourite family recipes or specialities of the house?
Tons! We have so many that it is difficult to list here! But our recipes are always available for any guest who might like it, so that when they make it at home, they can think of us
Tell us a little more about the second villa lodge that you are in the process of opening?
The Lodge at Wah, Kandbari is a 4 bedroom villa that started in December 2022. That is also a sustainable venture, and the surroundings are really gorgeous. This is the perfect haven for all nature lovers. I am attaching a snapshot of the place which also has photos.
As you are near to one of the best Paragliding points in India, are there other ways to enjoy the views? Is there walking / hiking possibilities for all levels?
We are only an hour from Bir, which is one of the top 3 paragliding sites in the world. The views are breath-taking, and many guests like to just relax in one of the cafes there and watching gliders descend. Another way to enjoy the views are to take a jeep safari to the mountain top where guests can enjoy a picnic. There are many options for walks and hikes, starting from a soft 2k nature trail around the tea estate, going up to a 7 hour hike up steeper slopes.
Is there a particular time of year that you would recommend to visit, or avoid?
July and August see a lot of rainfall so best avoided.
What if any is the local wildlife that you might see during your stay?
There are lots of beautiful varieties of birds (we have identified over 54 varieties just around the estate).
Feature images © Vikas Khanna; mariusz_prusaczyk/iStock
