ArtVillage Naggar – Luxury Suite in a Katkuni Home

Description

We are ART(Adaptive Rural Tourism), a village based Co-design community.

Life here is slow as you sit in the sun, soaking unhindered views of snowy peaks from our sprawling lawns & hanging broad verandahs. Cozy wooden floors & crude mud plastered walls leave you in awe of the simplicity, beauty & comfort of natural materials. Spend a day or 2 or longer at this unique place. It pools in the best of old & new building styles & luxuries. It makes you ponder upon your life in concrete urban blocks.

Luxurious duplex studio suite in a 4 storey Kathkuni House. Kathkuni is a vernacular architectural style of Himachal Pradesh, which is made with interlocking timber beams and stone. It uses no nails or masonry and is inherently earthquake resistant. We have restored the house based on modern lifestyle needs using solely wood, stone, and mud and up-cycled it using innovative sustainable natural and modern materials. 90% building material used in the house is locally sourced and recycled from old houses and forest waste.

This listing includes one 4-person duplex studio suite with an open layout and wooden floors. It has attached bathroom with a large natural river-stone bathtub. There is a sprawling 360 degree hanging wooden verandah to the lower storey of the duplex. The upper storey has an attached balcony, a sunroof/skylight and 360 degree large glass glazed windows offering panoramic views of snow peaks.

The common area in the house includes a beautifully done cafe made with recycled waste-wood and stones. Also there is a sunset facing sun deck and sprawling lawns and organic vegetable gardens.

It’s a place for postmodern travellers looking for a unique and authentic cultural/lifestyle experience different from routine life.

This listing is a part of a larger Sustainable Tourism Project. Your experience here will include Local Products, Local interactions, art/craft/design workshops, Artist Residencies, Culture and Nature experiences.

The motto of all activities will be to give back to the community. Guests are expected to be conscious and respectful towards the local community and environment.

Only sign up if you have a sense of appreciation for traditional Himalayan design and culture, simplicity of rural life, minimal living and environmentally/socially conscious consumption.

Dining area/cafe, sunset facing deck, outdoor courtyard and gardens.
Guests must visit the orchards, villages and temples nearby but should be cautious and respectful of local customs.

Local hosts living in the village nearby will receive the guests at the time of arrival and interact with the guests during their stay and provide meals and snacks. They will be around at the property to prepare meals and make other arrangements.

In January don’t forget get your snow boots.
In February Himalayas display their most sublime hues.
In March join the village folk in spring celebrations.
In April Hike to Chandrakhani and take a dip with local deities in the icy cool glacial lakes.
In May party like a Hippy.
In June relax indoors with some local Rice beer.
In July join in some expedition.
In August you must look out for the sun.
In September it’s time for Apple picking.
In October the air is fragrant and intoxicating.
In November have some golden ghee sidus before the chill of the winters.
In December the produce is scarce but the locals would have some nutritious Amaranth delicacies to spare.

Naggar is the nearest town and it could take upto 1 hour bumpy journey to reach Naggar (on foot or by car) due to bad road. Traveling on this road during dark is difficult and inconvenient.

In order to reach you need to take a rough 3 km mud and gravel road beyond Naggar town and then make a short moderately steep hike.

Naggar is well connected by frequent buses to Kullu(airport), Manali and Delhi. Beyond Naggar till This Place there are limited options so try arriving during day time:

a). Reach Naggar/Patlikuhal and call Dimple the local host to pick you up in a 4×4 vehicle. At the end of the motor-able road (Chachogi Road) is Sooch a small Hamlet. From Sooch it is a 400 m moderate trek to this orchard. Note only 4×4 vehicles/bikes can reach till Sooch. Fare for host owned 4×4 vehicle is 500INR.

b). Drive your car or take a cab to Chachogi Village or alternatively to Rumsu Village. From either way it is a 800m to 1 km steep hike. Local cab fare from Naggar is 400-500INR. Note driving to Rumsu is alright but driving to Chachogi requires good off-road driving skills. Many cab drivers will also refuse driving to Chichogi.

c). For seasoned trekkers trekking from Naggar/Roerich Art Galery is also possible. 2km steep trek only.

If you are not used to walking much please consider option (a).

This cottage is Enroute Chanderkhani pass trek, which goes further into Malana Valley and ancient village of Malana(2day trek).

The next door villages of Chachogi and Rumsu have a number of still occupied historical buildings and spaces that are several hundred years old. These villages also host a number of wood, metal, wool textile and knitting based crafts and vibrant seasonal festivals.

Nearby Naggar town has an important historical significance in the History of the region and is a centre for Architectural activities, Arts, Crafts, Art Galeries and Indo-western fusion food and fine cafes.

Popular Tourist Resort of Manali is 20 KM away,

Nearest airport to Naggar is Bhuntar Airport 35KM.

There is a HRTC luxury bus service between Delhi and Naggar.

Good fitness level and flexibility among all guests is expected to make this stay.
Not recommended for wheelchair enabled and infants.