Tucked away amid secluded tall trees, this rustic Kathkuni homestay in Old Manali offers the warmth of a 100-year-old stone house. Here, one can rejoice in the mesmerising view of the snowcapped mountains over a hot cup of vanilla coffee.
Shaila Siddiqui, who runs the homestay, hosts nearly 50 guests every year. Decades before this, a 1922 cloudburst had wreaked havoc in the region, washing away everything that came its way — people, livestock, roads, trees, and homes.
“But this house stood tall,” says Shaila.
Kathkuni — which translates to a wooden corner — was constructed only with mud, limestones, and wood. “Traditionally, these are the kinds of homes that were constructed in Himachal. The wood and the limestones gave strength and sustainability to the structure. Back then, the wood that was used to construct houses was extracted from trees as old as 100 years! Interestingly, their wood also resists termite and fungi attacks,” she tells The Better…