Tucked away amid secluded tall bushes, this rustic Kathkuni homestay in Outdated Manali affords the heat of a 100-year-old stone home. Right here, one can rejoice within the mesmerising view of the snowcapped mountains over a scorching cup of vanilla espresso.

Shaila Siddiqui, who runs the homestay, hosts practically 50 friends yearly. Many years earlier than this, a 1922 cloudburst had wreaked havoc within the area, washing away all the pieces that got here its manner — folks, livestock, roads, bushes, and houses.

“However this home stood tall,” says Shaila.

Kathkuni — which interprets to a wood nook — was constructed solely with mud, limestones, and wooden. “Historically, these are the sorts of houses that had been constructed in Himachal. The wooden and the limestones gave power and sustainability to the construction. Again then, the wooden that was used to assemble homes was extracted from bushes as previous as 100 years! Curiously, their wooden additionally resists termite and fungi assaults,” she tells The Higher India.

Constructed on a mountain, the home has 4 massive rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. With out a profit-making conscience, Shaila hosts friends with the intent to introduce them to the true Manali, its native culinary cuisines, festivals, and tradition — far-off from the touristy Manali identified to the world.

“I don’t imagine in internet hosting a lot of folks at a time. If fewer folks keep for quite a few days then it permits them to open up and bond. Most of my friends find yourself staying for at the least two months. One of many friends stayed for a few 12 months. I’ve hosted a number of first-time solo travellers. This homestay has given course to so many individuals,” she says with pleasure.

However earlier than this homestay turned a lodging for different travellers, it turned a protected haven — a house — for Shaila.

Escaping a lifetime of agony

Born and raised in a conservative household in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, Shaila had a tormented childhood. Usually, she would both yearn to go away the home or take away her life.

In 2002, when her father needed to marry her off forcefully, Shaila determined to flee the home. “I lived in a joint household and I noticed excessive brutality in that home. I bear in mind as soon as my mom advised me that it’s haram (forbidden) to take one’s life. Now, I had determined to run away. I took her blessings and fled to construct a life by myself,” she says.

After leaving her dwelling on the age of twenty-two, Shaila, now 40, by no means went again to her mother and father who, she says, didn’t try onerous to convey her again anyway.

A graduate in commerce, she began working in a name centre for Bharti Tele-Ventures (now Airtel) in Delhi. Finally, she ventured into studying the nitty-gritty of selling and gross sales and moved to Dubai for work in 2006.

Nonetheless, in 2017, she got here again to India and one in all her escapades took her to Outdated Manali. “I used to journey quite a bit however I understood that it was simply an escape. I used to be fairly misplaced after I went to Outdated Manali. I used to be looking for peace,” she says.

Whereas trekking, Shaila discovered herself standing in entrance of this Kathkuni home. This trek modified her life!

Discovered peace in a dilapidated construction

Whereas the 1922 cloudburst washed away all the homes within the village, this Kathkuni home remained, nevertheless, in a rundown situation. “I used to be advised that it was deserted for practically 40 years. However I simply fell in love with this home immediately. It was love at first sight,” she smiles.

In the meantime, Shaila who can also be a canine lover, had noticed the distress of road canines in Manali. “Individuals, particularly in villages, disliked canines and there was no devoted non-profit to handle deserted road canines. That’s after I considered changing this dilapidated construction right into a homestay and utilizing the earnings to take care of deserted road canines,” says Shaila, who homes 12 road canines in her homestay.

Her resolution invited a number of uninvited warnings from the native folks. “The home was in such a pathetic state that many individuals warned me that it was past restoration. It didn’t have any correct room the place one may reside quickly. It was only a construction of wooden and stones. However your selections are stronger if you find yourself by yourself,” says Shaila, who thereafter give up her decade-long company profession.

With out taking away its essence, Shaila determined to revive the construction.

From spending all her cash in buying complexes proper after her wage was credited, Shaila adopted a minimalistic way of life in Manali. Instead of buying new garments or sneakers earlier than they’re worn out, she began investing her financial savings into restoring the construction.

For this, she would hike uphill to obtain mud to insulate the interior partitions of the home. From portray the home to establishing a rest room, and adorning the home, it took her practically 4 months to revive the home. The restoration works value her roughly Rs 3.5 lakh.

On the suggestion of her loving buddy who isn’t any extra, Shaila named the homestay ‘Seize The Time’, an English translation of Carpe Diem, a Latin aphorism. “Our friends keep for a very long time and seize their time throughout their stick with us,” she remarks.

Though Shaila welcomes as many vacationers to her homestay, she herself has stopped searching for escapades.

“Now, I can not keep in some other place for greater than every week, even whether it is for work. I’m in love with Outdated Manali and its folks. There was a time after I left my very own home and lived in lots of rented homes, however this home is what I can name mine. Right here, all the pieces occurs on my phrases. Possibly I used to be not a traveller; I used to be simply working away from conditions. Now, I’ve discovered my place and my peace,” says Shaila.

Edited by Pranita Bhat. All images: Shaila Siddiqui.