Nestled among the beautiful and picturesque landscapes, surrounded by thick deodar forests, fruit orchards and the majestic Himalayan peaks, is the Doi Homestay. A serene little abode in the quaint mountain village of Nathuakhan of Uttarakhand, it is an ideal place for nature lovers and those seeking an escape from the hustle of city life.

This homestay exudes the feel of a natural retreat than a homestay and offers all the comforts of a home away from home.

“We met in Delhi through a common friend almost five years ago when Disha had quit her job as a travel writer,” says Sambit who used to work as a freelance filmmaker and photographer. “We both fit in each other’s lives easily, as we shared similar interests in travelling, food, exploring new places, and meeting new people. But it was Disha’s dream to set up a responsibly-run homestay in Uttarakhand,” he adds.

Disha says, “My work involved a lot of travel, where I used to go and stay at different places and review them. This helped me understand the travel industry better and led me in this direction. Besides, I am from Uttarakhand and it turned out to be an obvious choice for me. Luckily, Sambit's interests aligned with my dream.”

The couple set up their homestay in 2020 after taking an old house for lease in Nathuakhan. Though it wasn’t easy amidst the pandemic, they say, they managed to open it in July offering only long-term stays by strictly abiding by the COVID rules.

Ever since they have been hosting guests from across the country. Now they have opened their doors to those looking for shorter stays as well.

In 2017, they decided to pursue their dream project of starting a responsibly-run homestay in the hills. But they also realised that it wasn’t something that they could build in a day. So, as a first step towards fulfilling their dream, in the same year, they launched a travel company — The Doi Host — promoting sustainable road trips offering immersive travel experiences.

“Though we had a clear vision of what we wanted to build, we realised that it would require a lot of........

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