Subhas Chako

Ladakh– India's last Shangri-la and the only cold desert with towering peaks, all above 3000m, almost touching the sky, makes for a magnificent kaleidoscopic vignette. Out here it’s a rarefied world; population is sparse and the climate is extremely harsh, especially in the winters ( -20Degree Celsius).Some of the world’s highest mountain passes are located here and the world’s highest saltwater lake – the breathtaking Pangong Lake offers stunningimalayan vistas. This land never ceases to amaze you – frozen lakes, the world’s highest battlefield (Siachen Glacier), aweinspiring terrains ideal for treks – Stock Kangri, Nubra Valley, Stock Kangri and some of the highest Buddhist monastries in the world where sacredness finds fulfillment.Ladakh is one of the last remaining regions on Planet Earth where journeys are authentic, community centric and purposeful. Here, the combination of high altitude adventure along with cultural immersions makes tourism both sustainable and a powerful catalyst for peace in today’s discontented world.Out here a silent revolution is on. From Mountain Rallies on some of the world’s highest and toughest terrains to meditating in some of the world’s highest monasteries; combating the impacts of Climate Change with resilient sustainable tourism practices; monitoring glacial meltdowns to promoting wildlife conservation through respectful wildlife encounters..... Leh – Picturesque and Zen Vibes:Hatts off to whosoever coined the phrase “Life is either daring adventure or nothing at all.” Being a one time native of the Eastern Himalayas, I have been surrounded by mountains most of my life; yet, Leh was an extraordinary surprise - jaw dropping panorama and magical starlit nights. The old Leh neighbourhood in particular was truly an aesthetic delight, conspicuous by its distinctive Tibetan style edifices, lively bazzars and curio shops. Walking through the bridle pathways, you can’t stop raving about the beautiful Tibet-inspired Ladakhi homes. Most visitors to Ladakh choose Leh for acclimatization and then make their forays to the higher and desolate regions where the air is rarefied. In the days of yore, Leh used to be a trading hub with linkages with Central Asia and Tibet. Remnants of the past still exist, courtesy those rather broadened pavements paths for easy movement of horses and camels. However, the cynosure of all eyes is the magnificent Leh Palace – all of nine storeys and built to perfection in much the same architectural pattern as the world famous Potala Palace of Lhasa – the seat of Tibetan Buddhism and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s winter retreat. This one-of-a-kind palace was built way back in 1630s by Sengge Namgyal, the erstwhile king of LadakhSlowing down and resetting your body’s rhythm occurs naturally. Leh offer a multitude of trekking options and the one which is much preferred by visitors is the trek to the mythical Yarab Tso lake where the ancient and sacred “Om” sound reverberates.To deepen your connection with the spiritual energy of Ladakh, a visit to the Shey, Thiksey and Hemis monasteries could be a very transformative, peaceful and restorative experience.Hemis is amongst the very few monasteries where the “Dugpa Kargyutpa” sect of Buddhism or the “Red Hat” sect of Buddhism is practiced. The monastery has one of the richest collections of Thangka paintings anywhere in the world. Ladakh’s Buddhist heritage is not just rich, but also one of the best places outside of Tibet to practise Buddhism. It has played the role of an “empathiser” to the greater Tibetan cause for centuries together and have a rich history of cultural exchanges from ancient times. Be it Ladakhi monks migrating to Tibet for education, the architectural similarities and finesse of monasteries or trade & commerce through the ancient Silk Route. The Dalai Lama has an emotional connect with the people of Ladakh and he used to be a frequent visitor to Ladakh in the post COVID era. Now though, his visits are much restricted, due largely to his failing health and he is all of 90 years. Yet, The Dalai Lama is a spiritual messiah for the Ladakhi people and his most recent visit was on July 12, 2025, wherein he offered his blessings and message of compassion and peace. The purest and most sublime forms of spiritual practices in Ladakh offers a message of hope for humanity; if only the human race tries to assimilate the qualities of love, compassion and kindness instead of greed, enmity and hatredness.

“The best things in life are the people we love, the places we have been and the memories we make along the way”; If that be so, the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, popularly referred to as “Devbhumi” or the abode of Gods is indeed at the forefront, positioning itself as “New India’s” ultimate Wellness Tourism hotspot. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami’s recent trip to UK to attract investors was an outright hit and MOUs worth Rs.12,500 crores were signed. The resurgence of India at the competitive global business landscape is very palpable and has a lot to do with the sustained campaigns like “Atmanirvar Bharat, Transforming India, Make in India etc....by dint of which smaller states like Uttarakhand too are able to carve a niche for themselves and create positive imprints on the minds of global investors. The gung-ho mood of Chief Minister Dhami finds a reflection in his press conference - "There are almost no incidents of labour dissatisfaction in the industries operating in the state of Uttarakhand. The loss of human labour in industries due to labour dissatisfaction is the lowest in India. This is the reason why the tagline of the Global Investors Summit-2023 in the state has been made 'Peace to Prosperity”. He further stated that along with “Ease-of-doing business”, there is also “Peace-of-doing business” in Uttarakhand.. The state's snowy peaks, surreal landscape and century’s old cultural traditions have been luring travellers galore to this speck of paradise. Uttarakhand is not just Rishikesh, Nainital, Mussorie or the iconic Jim Corbett National Park. The Government of Uttarakhand has prioritized the accelerated development of new tourist destinations like Binsar, Brahmatal Lake, Chamba, Chopta, Dhanaulti, Dodital to name just a few. Uttarakhand’s topography is challenging, with the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh to the Northwest, Tibet to the Northeast, Nepal in the Southeast and the state of Uttar Pradesh in the South. Both the Greater Himalayas and the Lesser Himalayan zones fall in Uttarakhand. It isn’t surprising that some of India’s highest peaks like Nanda Devi (7817m) and Badrinath (7138 m) too are located in Uttarakhand. Given the stunning Himalayan vistas that encircle the state and the picturesque setting, the Government of Uttarakhand is focussed in developing the concept of “Homestay” as well as “Chalets/Log Huts” in the higher reaches of the Himalayas – Almora, Ranikhet and beyond.Legendary Nepalese Mountaineer – Ang Tshering Lama who has summitted Mt.Everest multiple times is of the opinion that Uttarakhand’s landscape, particularly the high Himalayan Zone is a lot similar to the Austrian Alps. According to Ang Tshering – “Uttarakhand Himalayas have lured mountaineers and hikers for centuries together, much like the Austrian Alps, for the discerning travellers to relish the surreal vistas of Uttarakhand’s great Himalayan outback.”.Austria’s rugged and exclusive Alpine environ has with time evolved marvellously with the quintessential agenda of harnessing the local vernacular architectural grandeur of Old Austria with that of the New. Many of the hüttens in Austria employ local carpenters to create outstanding mountain huts that has become the cynosure of mountain aficionados worldwide.Drawing inspiration from the Austrian/European Alpine log huts and chalets, Uttarakhand has been on the radar of hoteliers for some time now and with a pro-active government offering incentives to investors, there has never been a better time for investments in the state’s burgeoning hospitality landscape. Out of sheer curiosity, I was flipping through works of renowned Swiss architect Annemarie Pestalozzi, who in her research work entitled – “The Vernacular Architecture of Kumaon”, rather coherently depicted the surreal beauty of Uttarakhand’s Almora region thus – “We visited the area between Almora and Champawat, with its deep river valleys and the countless small terraced fields on the steep mountain slopes, with the Deodar woods on the higher sections. On many days we enjoyed a splendid view of the majestic snow peaks in the direction of Tibet. As I got to know the region and its people better, I discovered many similarities between Kumaon and certain mountain regions of my own country Switzerland”. What an outstanding narrative! The state government’s focus to promote “Homestay Tourism” in the High Himalayan Zone is having a positive rub-off effect or “Multiplier Effect” on the villages and Himalayan hamlets of Uttarakhand - curbing the instinct of migration to urban areas and generating enough revenues for villagers who have opted to transform their homes into homestays. The concept of building Villas with wood as the primary material is the new buzz. Although, wooden villas are commonplace in US, Canada and most of Europe, it hasn’t been as popular in India, due largely to the climatic conditions (tropical), prohibitive forestry laws and outdated sawmills; in spite of being blessed with century’s old rich legacy of wooden craftsmanship that were patronised by the Maharajas of yore. However, this is an exciting time for India as a nation – third largest economy by purchasing power parity and a USD 3.5 Trillion economy with Travel & Tourism industry alone generating US$ 178 billion. With India becoming a global powerhouse, the nation’s tourism landscape too has kept pace with globally acceptable tourism guidelines/yardsticks. The paradigm change of perceptions viz-a-viz Uttarakhand’s tourism landscape, through the introduction of high-end/luxurious Wooden Chalets & Villas is a remarkable phenomenon. The phased manner of developing such plush wooden chalets on incredibly high mountain tops deserves kudos. The new breed of ecologically conscious real estate chalet & wood villa developers are the real game changers for Uttarakhand’s long term tourism prosperity. They are combining time honoured craftsmanship with contemporary innovations and thereby delivering properties that are not just robust but stunning to look at from outside. You literally experience this déjà-vu feeling – “India has arrived on the world stage”!A visit to lesser known, yet gorgeous Himalayan hamlet of Dhamas (32 Kms. from Almora) could be an eye opener. Out here at an elevation of 1424m/4672feet, a silent revolution is on; courtesy, the untiring efforts of a native Koranga family, whose forefathers had left behind landed properties on some of the most vantage positions.Chandan Koranga, a fiercely proud ‘Millennial’ Kumaoni of the Koranga family has rather resolutely been implementing his dream project – “Wood Villas”, which is nearing completion. Once complete, this prestigious one-of-a-kind wooden villa project, made out of the finest variety of English Wood and German Pine, will be a pioneering wooden architectural marvel in the state’s competitive tourism landscape.Having weathered the rough and tumble of the new-age entrepreneurship, the never-say-die Kumaoni that Chandan is, he is highly optimistic that “Wood Villas” will carve a niche for itself as one of Uttarakhand’s most preferred Chalet / Villa accommodation.According to Chandan – “Wood Villa units will offer breathtaking views of the full range of Himalayan peaks. The architectural finesse is every bit European and each independent villa is wholly constructed out of wood, a rarity in the Indian context!” He further adds – “Our client base is NRIs and high net worth individuals (HNI) who have shown tremendous interest on this unique project. These villas are available for leases for up to 3 years and further renewable”.The importance that Uttarakhand is given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is crystal clear, with the state hosting as many as three G20 meetings. The third G20 meeting on Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) concluded on June 28th 2023 in Rishikesh – the Yoga Capital of the World. Distinguished delegates from G20 countries savoured the spiritual essence of Uttarakhand and had firsthand experience of the state’s varied cultural offerings.No wonder, there is an air of expectancy in Uttarakhand and the changing mindset of the people finds reflection in new-age entrepreneurs like Chandan Koranga and others of his ilk, who are working hard to position Uttarakhand as India’s next big tourism destination. In fact, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has gone one step ahead and coined the tagline –“Peace of Doing Business” rather than the oft-quoted “Ease of Doing Business” while addressing an august gathering of industrialists in UK. Any new venture that is aimed at bringing about a paradigm change in perceptions, particularly on the hospitality landscape, has its share of hindrances and mental blockages. It all depends on how focussed one is towards realizing the ultimate goal. Thanks to the state government’s unwavering support and friendly disposition towards Wood Villa entrepreneurs, Uttarakhand’s hilltops are on the verge of showcasing the beauty of the Himalayas in all its grandeur.Wooden Villas and Chalets offer an aesthetic charm which is timeless. They radiate harmony and are remarkably sustainable. In fact occupants of wooden houses have a lower carbon footprint than occupants of non-wooden ones. And, here is hoping that Uttarakhand Tourism will be a beacon of hope in India’s pursuit towards becoming a “Net Zero” country. For Further information on Wood Villa familiarization trips to Almora/Ranikhet/Champawat, please feel free to get in touch with –Chandan Singh Koranga,Him Valley Infra, (Woods Villa),Village – Dhamas,Sitlakhet Road,Dhamas.Uttarakhand – 263601Mob - +91-7505001510Written By:Subhasish ChakrabortyTravel Journalist & Consultant Tourism. Editorial Contributor to numerous global travel publications, inflight magazines and a past UNWTO Consultant.

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Subhas Chako

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Ladakh - Highest Mountains, Deepest Peace

Koranga's Wood Villas - A Native Kumaoni Endeavour