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It rained incessantly on the previous night. The hanging clouds over the green hills, the sound of the swelling Beas River along the road, and the wind in my hair promised secretly an unhurried holiday in Himachal Pradesh. After spending almost 24 hours on road due to landslides and road blockage, I reached Naggar in the evening. The winding road amidst dense forest led me to the spectacular Himalayan abode known as Jana Trails Chalet.

Encircled by the dense deodar forest and overlooking the Dhauladhar range with the captivating views of the valleys, the Jana Trails Chalet is the perfect hideaway. Built in a traditional Himachali architectural style known as “Kath Kuni”, it gives you a feeling of experiencing a local stay but in a luxurious way.

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The very first impression of the place was overwhelming. What I loved the most about the Jana Trails Chalet is the fact that it celebrates serenity at its best.

WHERE IS JANA TRAILS CHALET?

Hardly seven km away from the famous Naggar Castle, the Jana Trails Chalet is located in a village named Badi Da Gran in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh. Surrounded by the deodar forest, picturesque villages, lush green apple orchards, and uninterrupted views of the mountains, it makes you appreciate the boutique property instantly.

HOW TO REACH?

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The distance between Delhi and Naggar is approximately 518 km and it takes around 12 hours. One can take an overnight bus from Delhi to Kullu. It takes hardly an hour to reach Naggar from Kullu. One can also hire a cab to reach Naggar from Delhi or can opt to drive your car.

WHAT’S SO UNIQUE ABOUT JANA TRAILS CHALET?

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Imagine waking up to the sound of birds. The absolute silence all around and the uninterrupted views of the mountains and breathtaking sights of the valley just add the right amount of tranquility to the aura. More than anything, the thoughtfully conceptualized and built, the traditional style chalets give you a feeling of living like a local in the middle of nowhere.

The scattered traditional houses in the villages around, the far-off valleys, and the sluggish life of the mountain gives you enough reasons to unwind at the Jana Trails Chalet.

Find out what I loved the most about the Jana Trails Chalet and the things that make this gorgeous boutique property an ideal getaway.

EXCLUSIVE LOCATION

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The very first thing that makes the Jana Trails Chalet unique is its exquisite location. Unlike other Himalayan abodes in the hills, the Jana Trails chalet stands out due to its unique location. You will not find anything around the property except an abundance of nature and profound silence.

The picturesque location of the place is another highlight. The peaceful surroundings let you absorb the blissful nature in peace.

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One can admire the spectacular views in the lap of nature endlessly. The lazy morning in their sun-drenched gardens or the late evening with scintillating lights from the distant villages makes you fall for this place in no time.

Whether you want to read your favorite book, enjoy your cup of tea or coffee, or just sit languidly to spend your time, the Jana Trails Chalet allows its guests to slow down the way they want.

KATH KUNI ARCHITECTURE

Back to basic is what the Jana Trails Chalet celebrates unapologetically. Unlike an extravagant concrete structure in nature, they opted to build an eco-friendly traditional architecture by adopting the authentic Kath Kuni style architecture. With the fast-disappearing traditional houses which are replaced by the concrete ones in the hills, seeing an accommodation in its authentic glory was quite enthralling.

While the vernacular architecture of Himachal Pradesh is on a decline, it is amazing to see how the Jana Trails Chalet has become an example of sustainable eco-friendly accommodation in the modern age. Blending seamlessly with nature, the Jana Trails Chalet has three duplex cottages.

Keeping it minimalistic, the cottages have a wooden staircase that connects to the upper floor with a huge room with a bed, sitting arrangement, and a balcony. On both the floors, they have two queen size beds which can easily accommodate a family of four.

The mud-wall gives a cooling effect. Especially, the upper sitting arrangement makes you appreciate the large spaces just like how traditional Himachali houses do. I loved the fact that they have a low bed arrangement on their upper floor to give a more comfortable experience to people who prefer floor beds. Also, the traditional arches on the balcony make it picture-perfect.

DELECTABLE FOOD

When it comes to food, you will relish the delectable meals at the Jana Trails Chalet. The best part of the food is that it gives local flavors.

What I loved about the food is that it is simple, home-cooked, non-greasy, and super delicious. One must not miss their traditional Himachali thali. Also, trout fish which is absolutely delicious.

THINGS TO DO AROUND JANA TRAILS CHALET

Escaping your busy routine life in the city, when you come to this part of the world, all you need to do is just surrender yourself to nature. Unlike city hotels where people mostly indulge in ticking off places on their itinerary, the Jana Trails Chalet lets you celebrate “The art of doing nothing.”

This is the best place to slow down. Breath some fresh air, have a casual conversation with the locals, go on a long walk, or hike to mountain villages, you can plan your days as you want.

Since I like to explore villages, I did hike in a few villages. Apart from that, visiting apple orchards will also give an idea about apple farming and their rustic lifestyle in the hills. Moreover, you can visit the famous Jana village and the Jana waterfall as well. Let us find out what you can do in Naggar.

VISIT NAGGAR CASTLE

One of the must-visit places in Naggar is the famous Naggar Castle. Built by Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu around 1460 A.D, this has become a tourist attraction in Naggar.

Once home to the Raja of Kullu, a unique stone and wood mansion, built-in Khat Kuni style overlooking the Himalayas makes it a wonderful place to visit. Presently, the castle is converted into a heritage hotel, and it houses a restaurant on the upper floor. It also has an Art Museum. The view from the castle is simply breathtaking.

HIKE TO VILLAGES UP IN THE HILLS

If you are someone who likes to hike and explore villages, Naggar has a lot of hiking trails. It feels great to breathe fresh air right in the middle of the forest. One of the easiest hikes is to visit highland mountain villages which take hardly 40 minutes to meandering your way up in the hills from your accommodation. The picture-perfect village is just a visual treat to your eyes.

While meandering my way to the village, I was accompanied by the school children making their way back home. The rustic scenery, like children playing in the temple ground in the afternoon, villagers lazing around in their Kath Kuni houses, and a few basking in the sun are common sights in the village.

Don’t be surprised if you get those wondering eyes on you. As the villagers are always curious to know about your whereabouts.

The jaw-dropping views of the Himalayas, freshness in the thin air, and eye-arresting vistas made me fall in love with the quaint village immediately.

VISIT APPLE ORCHARDS

If you are visiting Himachal Pradesh during apple season, visiting an apple orchard is a must. It allows you to not just admire those hanging apples you usually buy from markets in cities, you can see the farm and know the entire process. People generally allow you to visit their farms with permission.

VISIT JANA VILLAGE AND THE WATERFALL

Jana village is one of the picturesque places to visit near Naggar. This place is quite popular among travelers. Recently tourists have started flocking around due to its famous waterfall.

The Jana village is the oldest in the Kullu region. The small village is flanked by the mountains and old deodar trees. The village also houses a temple and a large ground where they have their yearly fair. Most of the houses are built traditionally where one can see the laidback lifestyle of the locals.

HAVE AN ITALIAN MEAL AT THE NIGHTAGLE CAFÉ

If you love to relish wood-fired pizza and some Italian delicacies in Naggar, the Nightingale café is my strong recommendation. They have the best Italian food in town and one of the oldest cafes in Naggar. In other words, The café is immensely popular with dishes like Pizza, Pasta, and draught beer with excellent views to complement. One can visit the café for breakfast as well.

RELAX AND JUST DO NOTHING

If you wish to just unwind, go slow, and do nothing on your vacation, you indulge unapologetically at Jana Trails chalet. Just lazing around and admiring the views is nothing less than meditating there. Sitting on the lawn, sipping a cup of coffee or local peach wine, getting lost in your thoughts allows you to re-connect with nature. The peaceful indulgence of the luxury of nature in the company of your loved one can be a fantastic way to celebrate your detox holiday.

All you must do is just be you. Stay away from your gadget and plug into nature’s tune. Trust me, you will not regret it a bit.

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