The Dalton’s Village
There are a plethora of things to do for every soul that visits Tirthan. From strolling across the Tirthan River, walking into the neverending pine forests or indulging in an adventure activity in its unacquainted landscapes, Tirthan is one of the sought-after offbeat places in Himachal.
While this ecozone has been slowly gaining popularity across the country, It has always been the place where Himachalis would head for some solitude away from the busy streets of Shimla and Manali.
Today, this valley has become a tourist hub packed to the gunwales with resorts and hotels marketing it as the quintessential destination for travelers.
As the locale rakes it in the tourism radar, they however end up losing their own land and the essence of virgin beauty that initially brought people to it. With the upsurge of such luxury hotels and restaurants, the fate of the original nature getaway is put in jeopardy.
We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do. - Barbara Ward
In my quest to find such a property, I came across Dalton’s village, a homestay hosted by the warmest couple in Himachal - Ryan and Sheena and their cutest doggo Bambi! Located amidst a pine forest, this homestay is nestled at a 5-minute walk from the main road which adds to the secluded vibe of the whole setting. The house is originally 50-60 yrs old and has been restored. It's built from rock, cob, and wood and for basic comforts, attached washrooms were constructed for every room. The whole idea is to maintain the rustic and raw ethos of the Himachali culture. The rooms are distributed with names after earth, rainbow, wind and water and are definitely one of the coziest places I’ve ever stayed, full of light, warmth and peace. With a wooden house and a lil chicken coop, I don't think a stay can get any more Himachali than this!
A foot down the house is a lovely space crafted which is used as a dining area cum open kitchen. Meat, vegetables and other dairy items are sourced from the small farms in the neighborhood. There’s also lot of farming of seasonal vegetables around the property and also trees of walnut, peach, plum, persimmon and many more. We could simply pluck whatever we like and enjoy the fresh sweetness of nature! t's a fully functional kitchen where we hung out most of the time enjoying cooking food and having a gala time together! One afternoon, we were invited by the neighbors to have lunch and It was truly a very wholesome experience. Lots of food, lots of talks and just too much fun!
Adjacent to the homestay, there’s a hydropower mill (also known as the ‘Ghraat’) that is used to grind wheat and corn. It is also used as a room to store miscellaneous things from the homestay. There’s also a shed which is perfect for anything–meditation, catching the sunrise, practicing yoga, reading a book, listening to your favorite music, or better still, the music played by nature. ” shares Ryan.
The best-kept secret of this homestay is the natural pool. The water gushing from the waterfall fills up this pool and anyone who visits can take a dip and unwind in peace!
In the evenings, we all used to stroll to the bridge across the property which was also the vantage point from where we could see the homestay, the river and the forest and enjoy a drink or two while singing away together creating memories that we still intend to cherish for a lifetime.
As for future endeavors, there have been plans for a campsite, pool and many other initiatives! The power couple plan to create a wholesome place for free thinkers and creative souls and I can't wait to come back again to explore them and fall in love with this space all over again!
If you wish to visit The Dalton’s Village, you can check their website for more details and can also look up the magical things that happen there on their Instagram page @thedaltonsvillage