“We welcome you to our home in the Himalayas, built in 1928 by our royal ancestors amid apple orchards, kiwi plantations, and the spectacular Dhauladhar range. Life is beautiful here, as you’ll soon find out.”

~Nakul & Smita, hosts at Ramgarh Heritage Villa

Whoever says gone is the era of royalty in India hasn't been to Raison. The apple barons of the region have opened up their royal heritage villa to travellers, with its pristine location amid the village cluster of Raison, surrounded on all sides by lush Apple orchards, acres of kiwi plantations, and breath-taking views of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks.

Located off the Kullu-Manali highway, this Ramgarh Heritage homestay offers a royal retreat that can be spent winding down in a homely environment, trekking in the majestic outdoors, following Buddhist trails, or exploring the gorgeous countryside of Himachal Pradesh.

• Managers - Vikas & Soma
• The Villa
• Ramgarh Heritage Bungalow
• 

Homely accommodation is provided in the royal heritage bungalow made in English architectural style, with wooden ceilings and mud walls for natural temperature control. The royal drawing room of the house has an old fireplace to gather around over dinner.

Royal Suite

The Royal Suite is a spacious rooftop room with a cosy double bed and an attached western-style bathroom with running hot & cold water. It opens into a terrace overlooking the gorgeous peaks of the Himalayas and the villages of Raison below.

Suites

On the ground floor are roomy suites with two inter-connected rooms with comfortable double beds, attached bathrooms with running hot & cold water, and a fireplace to warm winter nights.

The Cottage

In the garden of the villa, on the edge of the apple orchards, is a little cottage with two double rooms, a small kitchenette, a western-style bathroom with running hot & cold water, and a fireplace. It is a self-sufficient retreat amidst the bounty of nature for aspiring artists and writers looking for a solitary getaway.

• Front of the heritage villa
• Bedroom
• Bathroom
• Terrace

Food

Food can be ordered from an extensive in-house menu, and is freshly prepared by Vikas and Soma, both excellent cooks and caretakers of the house. The traditional Pahari food consists of curries, daals & a diverse spread of vegetables, and is a great introduction to typical Himachali cuisine. Regular Indian vegetarian & non-vegetarian dishes are particularly flavoursome in the winter season.

Seasonal fruits, including apples, kiwis and pomegranates can be plucked fresh off the trees and devoured.

Drinks

If there’s one place you can say no to masala chai, it is at Raison. Try a refreshing cup of Mint Tea instead, made with mint leaves grown on the farmland surrounding the villa. A cold alternative is lemonade made with khattees, a member of the lemon family grown in the garden of the villa.

• Raison Food & Drinks

Activities

Your stay at Ramgarh can be as relaxing or as adventurous as you choose, depending on whether you want to unwind in the lap of the Himalayas or conquer its majesty.

Activities at & around the villa include:

• Basking under the winter sun in the garden or on the terrace
• Volunteering at the apple orchards & kiwi plantations
• Hiking to the highest point in Raison
• Trekking in the Dhauladhar range
• Sightseeing & street shopping in Kullu and Manali
• Visiting Bainchi, a typical Himachali village
• Visit to nearby monasteries, temples & ashrams

• Volunteering at the farm
• Exploring the countryside

Costs

All rooms are priced at Rs 2,500, inclusive of taxes.
Extra beds can be added at Rs 500 each.
Food can be ordered from the nominally priced in-house menu.

The entire villa can be rented at a special price of Rs 12,500 nett.

Location

The Ramgarh Heritage Villa is located in Raison, off the Kullu-Manali highway, midway between Kullu & Manali. It is an overnight bus ride from Delhi and a 6-7 drive from Chandigarh. The closest airport is at Manali. Pickup can be arranged from the Manali airport or the Volvo bus drop-off point in Raison.

Checklist

Many of us have pre-conceived notions about rural India. Leave them behind, travel with an open mind, and you'll be pleasantly surprised with what you find.

• Warm clothes if you're travelling in winter
• Walking shoes
• Books to read & write, stationery to paint & draw, basically anything you've always loved to do and never got the time to
• Torch for the night
• Binoculars for bird watching
• Cosmetics you need
• Prescription medicines, if any
• Camera & batteries / charger

Picture Gallery

• Overview of the Villa
• The Villa
• Ramgarh Heritage Bungalow
• Front of the heritage villa
• Owners - Nakul & Smita
• Managers - Vikas & Soma
• Piyush & Shruti at Ramgarh Heritage Villa, March 2012
• Group visit in february 2012
• Casper & Pia with their host, Smita
• 
• Bedroom
• Bathroom
• Terrace
• Raison Food & Drinks
• Volunteering at the farm
• Exploring the countryside

Reviews

“Let me thank you for such a wonderful trip! It was beautifully organised and every bit a pleasure not just for me but also for my family. I have no words to describe the kindness of Nakul and his family. They were warm and welcoming. I lived every minute of the trip and all the lovely places we explored. The villa and the location were super relaxing like you promised! Thanks again and i'm definitely recommending you guys to my family and friends :)” ~ Anjali Garg, travelled with her family in October 2012.

“We had an awesome vacation at Ramgarh Heritage Villa {Raison} . The hosts were very gracious and down to earth & did almost everything to make us comfortable. Mr & Mrs Nakul Khullar of RHV have hearts of gold. A very beautiful and charming couple. We spent 8 most memorable and joyous days of our life. Looking forward to many more wonderful vacations. Thanks again.” ~ Piyush Patni, travelled with his wife in March 2012

“We are touched in our hearts by the beauty of your great villa, by your lovely care, and the most delicious and exquisite food. Thank you for everything. We definitely wish to come back.” ~ Casper Koene & Pia Kielding, travelled from Ireland in February 2012

“Thanks for your gracious hospitality in an unexpected India. Thanks to you & your staff for attentive care.” ~ Orla, travelled from Ireland in a group in February 2012

“A charming sanctuary.” ~ Jack Begg, travelled from New York in a group in February 2012

“A charming sanctuary.” ~ Jack Begg, travelled from New York in a group in February 2012

“The accommodation was excellent, and the service superb. The food was good, but a tad costly!” ~ Mr Ramdas Menon, travelled with his family in May 2012.

The house is managed by Vikas & Soma, a couple from the Himachal countryside, the residents of which are also given livelihood opportunities at the apple orchards & kiwi plantations. Below are some tips to practice responsible travel while at Raison:

• Pack your bags with environmentally friendly things. Carry as little plastic as possible.
• Do not leave behind any non-biodegradable waste. Carry batteries and other toxic waste back to the cities where waste management is in place.
• What you wear has an impact – environmentally and culturally – dress ethically and appropriately.
• Respect the local culture and refrain from physical intimacy in public places.
• Carry a good water bottle. Pure water dug from the earth is available at the farm for re-filling your bottles. Refrain from buying numerous plastic mineral water bottles.
• Local food is great. Try it as much as possible and avoid packaged food. Ask for modifications in the food according to your taste, instead of wasting it.
• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and refrain from drugs, especially in public places.
• Seek permission before photographing people, so their privacy is respected.
• Do not pluck any medicinal plants & flowers, and do not disturb the wildlife.