The Athulyam

True Tranquility! The Cottage is a serene and peaceful retreat, overlooking wide pasture of land. The house is designed with huge glass glazing to get full view of the valley. The traditional wooden ceilings keep the room cool in summer and warm in winter. The Cottage has one Bed Room and a living room at the Ground Floor and the second Bedroom is situated on the first floor having independent entry from outside. There is a beautiful open terrace looking out over valley. The space Please go through the listing description, look at all the pictures or reach out to me with questions prior to completing your reservation. The cottage is perched on a secluded hilltop, located around 10km ahead of Palampur city and around 25 kms from Bir. Built as our holiday home, we have put a lot of love, affection and effort into creating this home having stunning valley views with Living Room, Two bedrooms, two open kitchens, 2 toilets and fireplace. Since we don't use the place throughout the year, we have decided to let others revel in its beauty as well. There are absolutely no shops, restaurants, or houses around, giving you an authentic mountain experience. It is best suited for the ones looking to spend some quality time in the Himalayas away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. With its romantic sunset views from the terrace it is the perfect base for any couple looking for a holiday with a difference and a 'home away from home'. We urge only resilient, nature loving, independent, resourceful, adventuresome people to book a holiday here. Once the lights are out, it will be pitch dark all around. When skies are clear the stars and moon are perhaps the most beautiful you will ever see. It is something about being in the mountains around 5300 ft high, with no pollution covering the atmosphere. Come here ready to unplug from TV, emails and the internet. Let your body and mind re-set and re-charge as you decompress from your hectic city schedule and let the nature around you remind you there is a different way to live. To help you further connect with the nature surrounding you, yoga mats are provided for your morning sun salutations. Please note that check out is 11 AM and check in is after 1 PM, to allow time for room preparation, till 7 PM maximum after which we won't be able to assist with checking in. Ideally, the space is for 4 people since there are 2 double beds however we can accommodate 2 more people with mattresses that will be placed on the floor. Additional charge for accommodation beyond 4 people is only Rs. 500/- per person per day. The cottage also comes with two fully functional kitchens that helps you put a good hot meal together, that said, you're expected to purchase the groceries yourself. Some of the amenities in the kitchen are, Gas stovetop, microwave ovens, Electric kettle, pots and pans, crockery, and cutlery etc. For your convenience, we will also ensure that the kitchen is stocked with a few days worth of basic supplies such as tea, milk powder, sugar, salt, basic spices and oil. Given the self-service nature of the accommodation, you'd be expected to BYO (bring/buy your own supplies) going forward. A small grocery store is literally 15 minutes walk away from the cottage. Daily needs such as milk, bread, butter are available at a store which is around 2 km from the cottage. However, it is advisable to buy your stock from the Palampur Market. You can choose to either self cater the meals or the caretaker can cook a simple, wholesome meal for you at a small charge, but it is totally between the guest and the caretaker and is dependent on her availability as she has her own family. Her nominal charges for the group of 2 are Rs. 300 per day for three time meal. This is for labour charge only and you will have to discuss with her about getting the material. The caretaker is a local lady who is capable to understand and cater to your needs, but might not match your communication skills. Our main purpose is to give her employment to help her raise and educate her children. Hope the guests understand and be considerate while interacting with her. We have a small collection of books and magazines. The cottage is fit for both long as well as short lets. Other things to note "All guests (except minors) must individually carry with themselves photocopies of valid identity proofs as there is no photocopy shop available nearby." Also, please bear in mind that the guests are expected to carry out dish washing after using them as this is to keep up with the self serving nature of the accommodation. CCTV cameras have also been installed outside the cottage for security purpose. The guests are advised to wear shoes and also carry some insect repellent which they can spray on their shoes while going outside the house during rainy season (i.e. July to mid of September), as there may be leeches in the outside area of the cottage or grass present around. There also might be some insects like spiders etc. during the rainy season. This property is not suitable for people who have trouble walking on uneven surfaces, or climbing stairs. It is not the ideal location for elderly folks, unless they are very fit and energetic. Although the steps are not steep, but there are around 30 steps which lead to the cottage! The pathway leading to the cottage has a steep incline, incase a guest is not comfortable taking their vehicle down the incline they can park it on the main road. Blower shall be provided on request (Chargeable @ Rs 100 per night) in winters. Please turn them off or place them away from the bed or any other item before sleeping. We would like our guests to keep in mind that the property is a homestay and the services are provided accordingly. We have taken great pains to ensure that our guest have the best of comforts and feel at home. We are just a call away in case you need any help or advice or for some other requirements. Since it is a remote area we sometimes might not be able to provide instant assistance incase any issue arises as it takes time to send professional help in that area, rest assured we will try our best to help our guests incase of any need.