I woke up, fresh like the apple on tree outside, after a good nights' sleep. The night before, the moonlight had filled the room from all sides, as I snuggled under the warm blanket, watching the snowy mountain tops glisten in the light.
Wait! This is not a fairy tale. Well, almost! I just described my first morning, as I woke up in this amazing property nestled in the Himalayas. As a traveler, I am always on the lookout for interesting, out of the book stay options that can take my holiday a notch higher. This BnB that I spent a couple of nights in, would rank among the best that I have ever been in.
Geodesic domes have always intrigued me. Not only are they unique in their design, but the glass facia offers an unhindered view of the surroundings, especially if they are snow capped mountains and pine forests. The Itsy Bitsy Cabin located in the Mateura village of Kasol, was what ticked all my boxes. If the name reminds you of the nursery rhyme, don't be scared of any spiders there! Situated away from the typical tourist activity of Kasol, Himachal Pradesh, this cabin is three kms from the Jari Bus Stop, which is seven kms before Kasol. The final approach was a five minute walk from the Tatardi village.
Nestled on a hilltop, set amidst an apple orchard and surrounded by deodar trees, the cabin is a unique place which offers everything that a holiday home could. The living area has a bed which faces the snow capped mountains, and a few steps lead up to a small attic bed. The attached washroom is clean and well appointed, and the small kitchenette was where my chai and maggi came from.
The days were idyllic and the evenings and nights were dreamy. A scrumptious breakfast with views to die for, was the best way to begin the day. Lazing under the apple tree, chilling on the hammock and catching up on my reading, going on treks through trails that started right from the cabin, I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my holiday in the hills. And like no holiday in the hills is complete without a bonfire, the evening was spent by the warmth of the fire under a moonlit night.
For those who want to experience authentic Himalayan life and get a taste of local delicacies, the hosts can arrange for cooking classes by local women. Also the surrounding hikes can give a peek into the pahadi way of living. And for artists, this is a haven, literally. Painters, writers, music creators can draw their creative inspiration from the locales surrounding the cabin.
Kasol, in recent times has become a backpackers haven, a very popular travel destination. And despite all the popularity of the destination, the Itsy Bitsy Cabin is a remote, quaint option nestled in the hills, ideal for anyone seeking a quiet time to rewind and connect with oneself.
Click here to book the Itsy Bitsy Cabin and have the best Himalayan holiday yet!
How To Reach:
By Air - Bhuntar Airport is about 25kms from Jari village. Bhuntar is connected by direct flight to New Delhi and Chandigarh.
By Road - Jari is ~500 kms / 13 hours by road from New Delhi.
By Train - Jogindernagar is the nearest railhead, 140 kms from Jari. However, Jogindernagar is connected directly only with Pathankot. The more convenient railway station is Chandigarh (~275 kms / 8 hours away)
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