A cherishable Kasol experience – discovering the Cottage Once Upon A Time

November 14 06:15 2018

Friday. I woke up to a dreary morning, hot and sultry; stretched my limbs and looked out of the window, and it was no better today. The air was just as pollution laden as it was, ever since I had been transferred to Gurgaon. It isn’t much better in other big cities either. Heck! wonder why one has to live in big cities to earn good money?

Traffic noises keep humming in the ears even when one goes to bed!

Enough is enough, I thought. Let me get away from all this, and take a break to rejuvenate my body, mind, and soul and determined to do that, started looking up places in the hills where I could run-away to. Shimla? Naaa. Too crowded. More like other cities.

Manali? Sounded over-crowded, looking at the reviews and list of hotels and guest houses there. Very touristy!

Chanced upon Kasol in my search. Sounded interesting, for whatever reason, and decided to head for it and explore for myself rather than go by others’ comments and experiences: after all each has his own viewpoint. Thought, I will go by my very own viewpoint!!

Bas phir kya tha, a decision taken.

Looked up the net and found a direct overnight Volvo Bus to Kasol from Delhi via Chandigarh. Booked-in and I was off! Away from the noisy, polluted, crowded city life, to Kasol, a getaway, all by myself with a bit of explorer and an adventurer in my heart and spirit. Friday was tiring in the office and believe it or not, I slept through the journey.

There I was, in Kasol, to an early morning nip in the air that I was expecting. Took in a real deep breath to suck in as much of fresh clean air that I could. Picked up a glass of strong milky sugary tea from a chai-wala and sat down on the parapet of a bridge under which flowed a crystal-clear stream, to soak in the lovely view of mountains all around and a clear blue sky. I could see a well laid out park which merged with this stream. I came to know that it was called Grahn Naala.

Had no bookings and wanted to freshen up. Looked around, enquired and learnt that there was a public facility in the nearby Nature Park and headed towards it. Gosh! That was some relief. Someone was selling Momos and I grabbed myself a plate: quite nice they were! Satiated a bit, I looked around. The sculpture of two wild goats atop the entrance gate of Nature Park was intriguing enough to make me explore the park. It was so good to feel the nature all around.

The nature park, still under making, seemed quite interesting and haversack on my back, I saw every bit of it, going down to the Grahn Nala and then to the gurgling River Parvati. Sat on the boulders to feel the pine-scented breeze. Divine.

It was time to park myself in a room somewhere. Some signboards of guest houses and hotels were visible but did not feel inspiring enough. Saw one or two and still wanted to look around in case I could find something close to my heart. As I stood near the gate of one Woodward Hotel, saw a differently designed structure peeping through the cedars. Out of sheer curiosity felt like seeing that place and observed a little jungle trail leading downstream towards it, and I went along the trail. It was a nice looking cottage with an artistically designed gate which was locked, put peering through it I saw a respectable looking elderly person weeding a flower bed. I was looking around at the cottage which bore two plaques, ‘Cottage Once Upon a Time‘ on the pillar which raised my curiosity as to why it was named as such, and a second one on the pillar of verandah, which read ‘Goswamy’s Home-Stay’. Seeing the second, I felt free to disturb the old man I had seen in the garden. Had to hail out thrice before he looked at me. I guess the noise of River Parvati was drowning out my voice. Instead of getting up from his stool he beckoned me in, pointing out to the side gate which was open.

In I went, to a well-cared-for lawn the edge of which was about 10-15 mtrs. from the water edge and the bank that stood about 10 mtrs. above it, in a sharp gradient. Wondered how many more such-like cottages would be there in Kasol, with such a location. Mentally took a note of it to compare it with others, later in the day.

Going up to him, I introduced myself. In return, I was welcomed with an endearing smile of an old man who appeared to be in his 70s. Quite suave I must say, both in his demeanor and speech. My first question was to satisfy my curiosity about the name of the cottage. With a faraway look, he started to say something, halted and said it was a long story and asked me to look up Genesis of the Cottage in the website ‘kasolstay.com’ and I will get the answer. Since I was looking for a place to stay in any case, I asked if I could see the home-stay accommodation? Sure! he said, and pulled out a mobile phone from his pocket and called someone. Within minutes a demure well-mannered lady came, whom he introduced as the caretaker of the property and asked her to show me around with the permission of guests who were staying, while he walked into the house.

We climbed the stairs to the 1st floor and entered into a place that gave me the feeling of having gone back in time into the 40s or 50s or at best the 60s. The warmth of atmosphere, the design of the cottage, the furniture, and furnishings, it all had that look and feel, yet the modern amenities of the day that one was used to, were there. Totally quiet, ‘shaanti’, except for the song of the river that was being heard all the time. The bedrooms, the bathrooms, the dining, and the kitchen, at least I found them very warm and inviting. I was getting sold on the idea of parking myself here for my stay in Kasol since the stay-in guests I saw were packing their gear. What clinched the decision was the cozy study which led to the terrace. I have no words to describe what I felt. It was simply my dream come true. Mesmerising. The river, the mountains, the trees, the flowers, the sound of birds, and whispering of a breeze passing through cedars and pines, it was all there!! THE NATURE WAS ALL THERE. What I had come seeking. What a lucky break.

But one is always greedy. I still wanted to see if I could find something better. Went up to the old gentleman and complimented him on his property and the way it was maintained and told him the truth that I still would like to look around and he gave me a smile. I could not decipher as to what he was trying to convey through it.

Off I went on my hunt for a better place. It was lovely to be here. In Kasol. Had a very satisfying pizza lunch at a restaurant. Nice people, interesting shops, few old structures and a lot many newly sprung up places to lodge oneself in, but my gut feeling came true. Nothing came close to the personalised warmth and good taste of Mr. Goswamy’s Home-Stay at Cottage Once Upon a Time. Late afternoon I returned to the Cottage a little sheepishly. When I went up to the old man, who I learnt, once commanded ships; all he said was, ”I knew it!“

Here I am, writing this piece, sitting in the Grandfather’s green chair, my feet resting on the ottoman and whiffing the tempting smell of nice food being cooked in the kitchen!

I have already booked the place to give my parents a holiday next month. Bet they are going to love it!

Media Contact
Company Name: Kasol Stay
Contact Person: Virender Sharma
Email: Send Email
Country: India
Website: kasolstay.com

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