“We are experienced travelers from Russia and Argentina that have travelled around the world intensely for the last 7 years. When the first cases of coronavirus hit we were beginning our travels in India, visiting Taj Mahal, Kajuraho and Varanassi. When some states imposed a lockdown, we decided to seek refugee in the remote Himalayan mountains. We were looking for a quiet place to retreat, totally off the beaten track, where (unlike Rishikesh, Dharamsala, Manali etc.), we could still enjoy the silence of the Himalayas without running into a bunch of tourists. And that is how we ended up at Villa Loshegani, a beautiful house in the Himalayan foothills, where we stayed during the first four months of the lockdown. We instantly felt that we were in Heaven. Location is simply breathtaking - the house is situated on top of a steep hill, surrounded by trees and a wide variety of beautiful flowers spread in the many terraces and levels of the big property. The views of the Himalayan white caps mountain from the outdoor veranda and garden is enchanting! It is so peaceful and quiet all around, perfect for an outside yoga practice and meditation, or simply to watch the villagers working on the fields and terraces down in the valley below. Garden around the house is extremely well kept by the caretakers, the grass lawns are always green and fluffy, different kinds of flowers everywhere you look, attracting many butterflies, birds chirping, and sometimes a family of monkeys would visit, with adorable babies hanging on their moms bellies and young ones jumping around playing joyously, which provided quite some entertainment in times of isolation! There are two beautiful bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and with many windows to enjoy a million dollar view without even needing to get out of bed. Upper bedroom has a terrace that we used to tan and watch the stars at night. Decorated in shabby chique rustic cottage style, with tasteful details and lots of textiles and pillows, every nook and corner of the house is so comfortable and inviting to spend some time with a book from the library albeit small but with good selection to choose from. By night the starry sky is twinkling with constellations of perfect clarity, Milky Way prominent, shooting stars falling behind the hills... on rainy days the thunders and lighting create a show of it’s own, sometimes seen deep in the valley, otherwise completely covered in fog where one can’t see past one’s own nose, with heavy rain falling hard hitting the roof, wood slowly crackling in the fireplace, warming up our hearts and bringing peace to the soul, uniting the elements and hypnotizing our minds... We spent countless nights and evenings like that, or watching old Bollywood films on the flat screen tv in the cozy area of the upper part of the house, singing dancing and crying with the main characters... Even though Mother Nature provides all the entertainment needed day and night we still appreciated super fast Internet for work purposes, YouTube to recreate our favorite Indian cooking recipes and enjoyed some Netflix that normally we never watch. The kitchen is very well equipped, tidy, full of natural light and very spacious, always tempting to create some magic and later enjoy the fruits of our labor at the big wooden table in the dining room or at the outside terrace for brunch; so many times we almost had to pinch ourselves because you truly feel as if in the garden of Eden, with plants meticulously taken care of daily, flowers always in bloom, some ending their cycle for others to take their place with intensity of colors and beauty, spreading sweet nectar and delicious scents to entertain the senses. The living room with a fireplace and TV room complete this neat, well decorated and charming house. Not to forget many outside areas with tables and chairs to enjoy the best views. Vijay, the house owner, was always available to arrange whatever is needed, from dealing with the local police and medical authorities for us to stay safely during the lockdown, or getting us a proof of address for our Visa extensions, to getting a cab to go shopping or to the closest hospital for a check up, and even finding us some chicken and mutton! Manoj, the caretaker, was our savior when it came to getting groceries, drinking water from a well, delicious peaches, apples apricots and plums that he picked from the trees, to fresh herbs and green leafs from the property’s greenhouse. Even though we were confined within the property and unable to explore surrounding trails due to quarantine we felt completely at ease, spending plenty of time outside and enjoying everything this beautiful villa has to offer. Overall a fantastic experience in one of the most serene and peaceful places that we have seen in the world! Villa Loshegani is forever imprinted in our memories and hearts as a perfect nest, the most special place since our first baby was conceived there and we are so very grateful to Vijay and Madam for their hospitality and vision to create this little piece of paradise on Earth. Namaste Martin & Dila”
