“I’ve always been an impulsive individual. My personality does not lend itself to planning. It’s about trusting in the direction that life leads me,” says Mumbai native Mayuri Sinha, who relocated to Himachal Pradesh to start a homestay in the mountains. The Sanskrit word vasti, which means “home,” is a fitting moniker for Sinha’s quaint homestay in the sleepy village of Bathar, which lies tucked between Manali and Naggar.

Sinha went to see friends who had opened a homestay in Manali towards the end of 2019. She was forced to remain in the mountains when the epidemic arrived shortly after. She became more and more in love with the area and its inhabitants every day. She relocated to the highlands in November 2022 in order to give Vasti life.

“It took me nine months to prepare the homestay for guests. The dentist who is now running a homestay adds, “Even though Vasti started in 2023, I always wanted to live in the mountains since my first trip to Manali and the Spiti Valley in 2011.” Travelers can enjoy calm, intentional life in the hills in this secure haven of a red-and-orange roofed home nestled against the mountains.

“We want this space to have a homey feel to it. We don’t run our company like most businesses do. We only publish our homestay on Airbnb, and we’re picky about who stays with us,” says Sinha, stressing that families and female travelers are given priority.

About the homestay

Vasti, which is surrounded by apple orchards, is roughly 11 miles from Manali’s Mall Road. Sinha desired an area that provided a way to get away from the throng without being too distant from Manali. With its lush surroundings of undulating meadows and trees and a view of the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges, Bathar hamlet made the cut.

Built of stone and wood, Vasti is a two-story home featuring three guest bedrooms, a kitchen garden, a dining area and living room, and a studio where guests can try their hand at painting or ceramics. Vasti is a creative place where every crevice makes for a lovely scene.

The vast mountain and orchard views, which are best viewed through enormous framed windows that let sunlight rush in and bathe the interiors in a warm golden glow, are a continuous feature of all the rooms, despite the differences in color schemes and design details.

Since the host also resides in the same space, Sinha typically rents out a room on the lower floor to female travelers during off-season months. If not, she enjoys having big parties or families staying in the entire cottage.

The bottom level bedroom features a simple blue and white design with planters and artwork scattered throughout, giving off a casual Mediterranean feel. There’s a big bookcase filled with books, and the wooden floor is covered in cozy rugs. “We broke away from earthy colors because the idea was to have a space that isn’t something you typically have in the mountains,” explains Sinha.

With its shades of yellow, blue, and violet, the second room has a hint of Rajasthani design thanks to its mirrors, jhoola (swing), and floral wall decorations. Large families frequently use this area, therefore to ensure that everyone has their privacy, a wooden staircase connects to the attic.

Sinha’s favorite place is the attic, a cozy area furnished with a sofa-bed, vibrant bean bags and cane chairs, artwork, games for the kids, literature, and musical instruments. Additionally, Vasti features a special workshop where artistic people can play with clay or paint on canvases. Sinha intends to provide interested visitors ceramic lessons.

About the host

Sinha pursued her studies to become a dentist, but her true passion was painting. She had an early interest in photography and filmmaking, taking pictures of people and places while traveling. Later, her devotion led her to enroll in a formal photography school at the New York Film Academy.

“I genuinely adore traveling, and I have been throughout India and the world. I was really interested in creating Vasti since I have always been captivated to beauty. Since Sinha is on-site at the homestay and has a separate bedroom, she adds, “To be honest, it’s a part of me and I welcome travelers into my home and heart with intention.”

The majority of her team consists of locals who currently live in Bathar village and are men and women from all around Himachal Pradesh. The Chamba-owned caretaker resides at the Vasti villa.

Although the staff is skilled at engaging with guests, guests are most enthralled with Zoey, the resident dog, who is amiable and always seems to be the center of attention!

The Food

Food plays a significant role in the Vasti experience for Sinha. There are both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis available, and the food is primarily homestyle. “We have a kitchen garden where we produce certain seasonal veggies. Cucumber, okra, and bottle gourd are cooked throughout the summer, according to Sinha.

You can also try Pahadi-style meat or vegetables, madra (a curry made with yogurt), and siddu (a steamed bun with walnut filling).

I sampled the homemade chicken curry, Pahadi mutton, and Champaran beef served with red rice from the area last month while I was there. Additionally, Sinha made a lovely, moist banana bread. Trying the teas from the area is another perk of living in the mountains. I experimented with everything, including stinging nettle, rhododendron, and lavender infusion. According to Sinha, during the winter months, guests are served tea that is produced from the bark of the rakhal tree, which is said to have anti-carcinogenic qualities and keeps them warm.

What to do in Vasti in 48 hours

At Vasti, guests are entertained by board games, music, art, and the great outdoors, making it feel like they are living in a cozy home. There are numerous hiking and walking trails, with distances from leisurely 20-minute strolls to strenuous 1.5-hour treks to bubbling streams in the forest. Travelers can pack a picnic lunch basket from Vasti and enjoy a picnic in the middle of nature here.

A 13-kilometer journey from the homestay is the Pangan Monastery in Patlikuhal hamlet. Among the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the Nyingma school is the oldest, and this monastery is a part of it.

For an immersion in Himachali culture, walk through the Bathar village and have lunch at a locals home, where you can sample traditional Himachali food including rajma, red rice, chutney and raita.

Since Naggar is only 15 minutes away from Vasti, travellers can also head to popular sites like the Naggar Castle, built by Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu in 1460. Other spots to visit include the Roerich Art Gallery where Russian artist Nicholas Roerich lived and worked.

Getting there: The closest airport is at Bhuntar (32 kms). The nearest railway stations are Chandigarh (258 kms) and Pathankot (356 kms).

Doubles: from Rs7,000/night inclusive of taxes (for the room on the lower floor); Rs 20,000/night inclusive of taxes for the entire cottage. Minimum stay two nights.

Meals: Vegetarian thali (Rs 500), non-vegetarian thali (Rs 700). Breakfast items and snacks are priced between the range of Rs 150-300.

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