With the Uttarakhand government promoting Homestay Tourism in the High Himalayan Zone, a new breed of ecologically conscious chalet and wood villa developers are becoming gamechangers for the state’s tourism. And a ‘millennial’ Kumaoni is taking the lead in changing perceptions.
The north Indian state of Uttarakhand, popularly referred to as “Devbhumi” or the abode of Gods, is at the forefront of positioning itself as the ultimate wellness tourism hotspot.
Last year, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami signed MOUs worth Rs.12,500 crores during his trip to the UK to attract investors. The state’s snowy peaks, surreal landscape and centuries-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 prioritised the accelerated development of new tourist destinations like Binsar, Brahmatal Lake, Chamba, Chopta, Dhanaulti, Dodital to name just a few.
Given the stunning Himalayan vistas that encircle the state and the picturesque setting, the Government of Uttarakhand is focussed on developing the concept of “homestay” as well as “chalets/log huts” in the higher reaches of the Himalayas – Almora, Ranikhet and beyond.
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Legendary Nepalese mountaineer Ang Tshering Lama, who has summited 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.
Tshering says, “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.”
Drawing inspiration from the Austrian and European Alpine log huts and chalets, Uttarakhand has been on the radar of hoteliers for some time now and with a proactive 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 on promoting “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 the US, Canada and most of Europe, it hasn’t been as popular in India, due largely to the tropical climatic conditions, prohibitive forestry laws and outdated sawmills. This is despite being blessed with a centuries-old rich legacy of wooden craftsmanship that was 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 $3.5 trillion economy with the travel and tourism industry alone generating $178 billion. With India becoming a global powerhouse, the nation’s tourism landscape too has kept pace with globally acceptable tourism guidelines.
The paradigm change of perceptions viz-a-viz Uttarakhand’s tourism landscape, through the introduction of high-end wooden chalets and villas is a remarkable phenomenon. The phased manner of developing such plush wooden chalets on incredibly high mountain tops deserves praise.
The new breed of ecologically conscious real estate chalet and 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 the outside.
A visit to the lesser-known, yet gorgeous Himalayan hamlet of Dhamas (32 km from Almora) could be an eye-opener. Out here at an elevation of 4672 feet, a silent revolution is on. This is courtesy the untiring efforts of the native Koranga family, whose forefathers had left behind landed properties on some of the most vantage positions.
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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 accommodations.
Says 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 adds, “Our client base is NRIs and high net-worth individuals (HNI) who have shown tremendous interest in this unique project. These villas are available for leases for up to 3 years, which can be renewed further.”
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 the Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) concluded on June 28, 2023, in Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world.
Distinguished delegates from G20 countries savoured the spiritual essence of Uttarakhand and had a 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.
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 the UK.
Thanks to the state government’s unwavering support 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, too. And, here is hoping that Uttarakhand Tourism will be a beacon of hope in India’s pursuit towards becoming a “Net Zero” country.
Get in touch with Chandan Singh Koranga for further information on Wood Villa familiarisation trips to Almora/Ranikhet/Champawat at:
Address: Him Valley Infra (Woods Villa), Village Dhamas, Sitlakhet Road, Dhamas, Uttarakhand – 263601
Call: +91-7505001510
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The lead photo shows the stunning Himalayan vistas that encircle the state of Uttarakhand, making it a tourist magnet. (Photo courtesy of Wood Villas)
Subhasish Chakraborty is a travel writer associated with numerous global travel publications, including in-flight magazines and receives invitations as a guest travel writer from various Indian states. He was a Tourism Consultant for the UNWTO.
