In the mystic hills of Himachal Pradesh, resides the Dhami family who have been in the tourism business for decades, providing travellers the comfort of home away from home.
Their venture the Himalayan Orchard Huts nestled in a hamlet called Kut-Chadiara in the Panj-La Valley, perched halfway up a steep terraced slope at 1325 metres above sea level, is one of the oldest and finest homestays providing food and lodging to people looking for a place of peace to unwind.
Prakash Dhami was born and raised in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, one of the country’s oldest princely states, which was ruled by a single dynasty from the sixth century until 15 April 1948. The region is full of history, art, culture, and heritage that date back millennia which also inspired Prakash to project it in front of the world.
It all started when Prakash used to run his small radio mechanic and printing press business in the town of Chamba.
“Alongside the business I had been sparing some time for participation in social activities, ecological and environmental conservation. When I had the opportunity to work with the knowledgeable German doctor Dr. Cantovaski in 1989. He was here in Chamba to prepare a project report on Indo – German cash crop project sponsored by the German government,” he shares.
He continues, “We discussed about the local and global ecological / environmental imbalances so much that we came to the conclusion that someone should at least start a venture through which the message of natural conservation can be shared with tourists.Idea was to start providing BED and BREAD ”
Finally, in 1990 with the support of his family, Prakash was able to launch his business, Himalayan Orchard Huts and in 1992, the business was officially registered with the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department.
The family however, had to encounter numerous obstacles and challenges in the initial years. Prakash relocated from Chamba Town, from where he had been operating his business. There were at first only a few clients. But, he and his family persevered in growing more vegetables while also attempting to sell milk.
Hills and homestays
Orchard Hut, which is a 20 to 30-minute switchback country walkthrough Kiwifruit orchard and Plum orchard from the bus stop at Masar Village on the Chamba-Saho road, 9 km from Chamba town, offers a bird’s eye view of the mighty River Saal in the valley below. It then takes 10 minutes to travel through the countryside to get to the orchard hut. The house has simple, clean, and well-kept rooms with verandas overlooking the hills and valley and is constructed traditionally out of clay and wood.
There are tents on the hill terraces as well as single, double, triple, and four sharing rooms with attached bathrooms. The bathroom and toilet facilities are separated and located next to the house.
The location is ideal for those who enjoy yoga, meditation, bird watching, natural photography, reading, writing, and painting.
Board games, hammocks, hanging chairs, flat stone slabs, and a canopy on the natural terraces provide a tranquil setting, and a spring-fed plunge pool is available for dipping. Three different trek types are offered: half-day, loop, and full-day. Furthermore, in addition to organising conferences for various corporate organisations like GSK, the family also hosts educational treks and tours for schools and colleges.
Securing sustainability
The Dhami family has been practising organic farming for the past 38 years. They use no chemicals; instead, they choose to fertilise with cow dung and vermicompost, and to control pests with cow urine and ash. According to Prakash, the natural world has not yet been tampered with the beauty of Himachal Pradesh and if not depleted for pretended human development, this beauty will last for generations to come
The Dhami family is also committed to advancing the idea of sustainable tourism in their hometown’s mystical mountains. For instance, they forbid the use of any type of plastic cutlery, single-use bottles of shampoo or soap, or plastic bottles of any kind inside the premises.
Heart of homestays
Speaking about homestays, Prakash shares his words of wisdom saying that they differ from organised hotels in that they are more simple, adaptable, and particular to the local culture. They adhere to the idea of a home visit in all its distinctively local charm. Home stays are beginning to provide guests with more comforts while still adhering to the principles of ecotourism and sustainable development by supporting the local community and environment while also hiring local villagers.
“The host family is always helpful to visitors in getting accustomed with the new region, and that is a big benefit to know and learn the culture and history directly from the locals,” he says.
Prakash has the last word, “Family members prepare the food in the kitchen, so it must be true to traditional way. Traditional methods must be used to prepare classic dishes, not for profit. So that the guest can enjoy home-cooked food at a reasonable price.”
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