Long before Kasar Devi became a pin on digital maps or a whispered recommendation among travellers, it was already known as a place of pause.

Perched on a wooded ridge in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon Himalayas, the village looks out across vast folds of pine and deodar forest towards the distant and snow-bound Nanda Devi range. At nearly 7,000 feet above sea level, the air here feels thinner and lighter, not just in altitude but in temperament. 

Time seems to slow; the noise of the world below softens, replaced by the occasional rustle of leaves, the distant call of a bird, and the slow, deliberate rhythm of village life.

For Aditya Mohanchandra and his father, Arjun Mohanchandra, Kasar Devi was more than a scenic stop; it was a place that mirrored their own approach to life. Aditya, who runs a public relations (PR) agency specialising in deep-tech startups, has structured his work so it can be managed remotely. 

“Running a business remotely is liberating, but it demands discipline. A good internet connection is all I need, and I can manage operations from anywhere. Yet, the real joy comes when work intersects with exploration,” he tells The Better India.

Arjun, his father, has long been a traveller at heart. “For some, travel is a choice. For me, it is in the DNA,” he says. “Even in corporate years, whenever there was a break, I would head to the mountains. Travel resets you; it lets you see the world at a different pace.” 

The father-son duo share a love of offbeat destinations, drawn less to tourist circuits and more to places that offer space, stillness, and a glimpse into life away from the city hum.

The journey to Kasar Devi begins long before reaching the village itself. From Delhi, the route winds past Nainital and Mukteshwar, then through Almora before finally leading to the location. The drive, taking nine to 10 hours, is a transition in itself. 

“By the........

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