Santila, Countryside Homestay, Kasauli Hills

" If you wish to master the art of doing nothing, this is the place for you" Conde Nast Traveller 2019 Set in the idyllic Himalayan countryside, Santila is an exclusive small homestay for a couple or a family of 4 (or less), who yearn for a vacation in a quiet, homely and joy-filled hillside cottage, tucked away amongst the pine-filled forests of Kasauli. Positioned along a kaccha village road, the cottage is blessed with a natural tranquility that is peaceful and revitalizing. Our home suite is available to only one couple/family of 2 adults and 2 kids, at a time. This is so as to ensure an authentic, private, safe and exclusive experience; thereby removing potentially nasty, noisy or inquisitive neighbours from the equation. Our cottage is a simple home, and 'not a hotel'. Santila is for the wanderers whose souls ache for peace and solitude. It is for those who have lost themselves in the inflexibilities of daily life. Most importantly it is for those who wish to reclaim, reframe and reinvent themselves, amongst the aromatic, cool and pine scented breeze that forever surrounds the cottage. Santila is for those who covet the reinvention and rejuvenation of their body, mind and soul. Expect a no-fuss service, no polished brass fittings, no Michelin star chefs, and definitely no Jacuzzis’. Ours is an eco-conscious and happy home with a simple yet contemporary Anglo-Himachali design. Santila - literally translates into 'the saga of being satisfied with what one has' We are a home in the truest of senses. You will feel the comfort of home, in the care of our family and our consummate housekeepers. By personally taking care of each reservation, we ensure that your experience is inimitable, and your stay is spot-on, simple, safe and secluded. We only accept bookings of couples, families or friends where a lady must be a part of the guests travelling. On the inside (Private Guest Space) A cheerful living room with a day bed, a curate collection of books and magazines, select board games and satellite television, in case the nights get a little too peaceful for you. The day room also has an attached powder room. The day bed doubles up as an extra bedroom by night, for a family. The kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge, stove, utensils, cookware, crockery and cutlery. The master bedroom includes an ensuite cloakroom and bathroom The homestay is easily accessible and is located at ground level On the outside The entry to the homestay is surrounded by pine trees and the bedroom opens onto a small sun-kissed lawn. The oxygen rich, pine scented fresh air will repair, heal and refresh you. The perfect setting for some morning callisthenics or yoga. Explore the area around on foot; it is peaceful, safe and there’s adventure to be had, around every corner. The spots around the countryside, is an ideal setting for some reading, although the surroundings can be satisfyingly distracting. Enjoy the chilled (figuratively and literally) evenings with your favourite tipple. Don’t be too surprised if the countryside lulls you to sleep. We're around, but respect your privacy. It is our home and you are our house guests. And we adore our guests. We love to spend some evenings with our guests. We've made friends for life with most of our guests. Santila is located on a 2-kilometer adventurous rugged village road accessible by a car with good tyres (preferably SUV) in the midst of a pine forest. There are two villages in the vicinity and a natural spring nearby. Positioned along a village road traversed by vehicles with only ‘good wheels,’ the cottage is blessed with a natural tranquility that is peaceful and revitalizing. We are located satisfyingly away from the main town and bazaar, so that our guests can enjoy a “do nothing and get lost in nature” sort of holiday, in the immersive lower Himalayas. It’s best not to plan your days when your here. Let them just flow. Hikes are very much a part of Santila as wandering about connects you to nature and there is something about this, that is not only exhilarating but also touches your heart at some level. On arrival, you can seek the advise of Lila to plan your days ahead. Hikes & Picnics – We have numerous trails to trek around with various levels; some being easy, others difficult. You can embark on long hikes or just short walks to vantage points that have brilliant views. A lovely 30 minute climb from Santila takes you to 'Santila's High Point' - a lovely spot in the midst of the countryside with a birds eye view of the setting around. An hour-long hike above Santila brings you to the main town of Kasauli. An hour-long hike all the way down takes you through lovely farmland and the village stream. Its good to pack some snacks and refreshments for the journey. Every walk and picnic in the hills, is an everlasting memory. If you do feel like going for a full-day guided farm tour with organic lunch at the farm (2 hour hike each way), that can also be organised on special request. (Minimum 02 guests, minimum charge for lunch/walk applicable) Flora and Fauna - There is a wide variety of Himalayan bird species including the jungle fowl, the western spotted dove, blue whistling thrush, chesnut bellied nuthatch, red billed blue magpie and others. Pretty often one can hear the barking deer in the pine forest above and occasional talk from the villagers of the elusive Indian Leopard. To reach Kasauli’s market area and mall, a journey by car would take 25 minutes and hiking through the forest up – 45 minutes. We can organise for taxi's (on a few hours advance notice) to take you to town. Its best not to take your own car, as parking is an issue in Kasauli Town, plus why take the headache of driving with a bunch of city tourists in town. For local flavour and experience - take the jolly village jeep service that stops right in front of the house, where you will have the company of local villagers, some fresh milk and veggies. You may get invited for a drink by one of them. This service costs around Rs 40 - Rs 60 per person and runs from 8 morning to 6 evening at intervals of two hours. We shall share our coordinates with you to punch in for GPS assistance. You may order your groceries through our local grocer Love. He will organize for them to be delivered at the doorstep and you may pay Love, directly as per MRP bills. Not only are they fresh but also mostly organic. The local vendors accept payment via cash or bank transfer. Meals are as per your own flexibility and skill, as the homestay kitchen is for your private use. We do not serve or charge for cooked meals and nor are there any restaurants next to us. Assistance of the housekeeper and cook are available at set times during the day. The housekeeper and cook, can assist in the homestay kitchen with pre-prep, such as cleaning, chopping and basic food preparations. They can cook homestyle local food. They will assist you during breakfast, lunch and dinner at set times. The homestay is like your home, and is the kitchen!. Drinks – Please carry some Wine and Spirits of your choice as Kasauli has a limited selection. You can also order Himachali wine from the locals who will deliver. The kitchenette can be stocked up on 48 hours advance notice (costs as per bills. We have limited power backup upto a few hours. Generally, hill stations do not have power failures and even if there is no electricity, you won’t miss it.