Originally reported and written in June 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

A common thread across Ruskin Bond’s story books is the sleepy, cosy town of Landour in Mussoorie, which has been his home for several years. His work describes this town as nothing less than mesmerising, and even those who visit this city often describe it as the “closest thing to heaven”.  

Delhi-born Karam Puri, who has lived here since 2019, affirms this. In fact, even his childhood has roots here. “My family has a long legacy at the Doon School in Dehradun; I, too, attended this boarding school. We’ve grown up in the area. It’s a beautiful part of the country.”

The Puri family have not only made this quaint, storybook town their home, but have also built an alluring homestay for travellers looking to escape into another world. The Fern Cottage, as they have christened the place, welcomes guests from across the country and the rest of the world. 

Karam recounts that his father Ratindra Puri had a dream of retiring to these peaceful hills, a place where he had spent his growing up years. 

Landing on the perfect cottage 

Karam says that coming across the house, which is now called Fern Oaks Estate, was all about fate and timing. The 46-year-old, who is a photographer, writer, entrepreneur and trekker, moved to India from New York in 2008, where he was studying photography. He says the town of Landour has always been like home for them. 

So when his father retired in 2015, he was intent on purchasing land in these hills. The long search ended in 2018, when Karam’s parents came across this heavenly piece of land that belonged to one Saroj Kapadia, a teacher at the Woodstock........

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