Eco-friendly Architecture

• The Lodge is created using 100% natural and local materials, from less than 10 miles around like mud, slate, wood and riverstone. Walls are made entirely of the mud which was excavated while laying the foundation. The roof and bathrooms are made of slate, a traditional design element of Kangra homes. Flooring is made of naturally polished wood or mud. The century old doors and windows are recycled and reused from an old Palampur Courthouse.

• Local artisans were employed to create the structures in the traditional “gaddi” architectural style.

• The structures are created to use the weather elements to it’s advantage, and therefore minimal heating and cooling is required.

• No cement or chemical paints or polish are used, and none are used for the maintenance and upkeep of the property.

Reducing Plastic and Waste

• We use glass and copper bottles for drinking water containers.

• Our toiletries are presented in locally made customized ceramic dispensers.

• The bodywash, moisturiser, shampoo and conditioner are sourced from a small local company. They make SLS and Paraben free products and supply to us in bulk containers that constantly reused and refilled.

• Face tissues, toilet rolls and serviettes are from Good Karma and made of 100% recycled paper.

• We use simple brown paper bags as sanitary disposal bags. We have even gotten rid of our plastic garbage bags; instead, we created pull out tin liners to fit in each dustbin so that it can be effectively cleaned without toxic waste.

• Our floors are wiped with a little bit of mehendi (henna) oil to help ward off insects and mosquitos.

• We even make our own beeswax wraps so that we can do away with cling wrap and keep food fresh in a more natural way.

• Wet waste is composted and used in the garden as manure

• Paperless check-in and check-out, and emailed bills reduce paper use.

local employment

• The Lodge family is made entirely of locals. Some live in the villages around us, while others live less than 30 minutes away.

• The team has not had formal hospitality training, which we strongly believe results in their immense warmth!

• We encourage them to train in various departments so that they might find the best fit for their aptitude.

 Organic Produce and soil protection

• Deepak Prakash is a certified permaculture specialist, and under his guidance we have incorporated a large area under permaculture farming. This also includes improving the topsoil using natural methods, and planning the planting and landscaping in the best manner to protect and improve soil quality.

• Most the fruits, vegetables, and herbs we use in our meals comes from our kitchen garden or tea estate and is organic. All the wheat we use for our breads and rotis is grown organically on the estate.

• Our over 500 acre tea estate is completely pesticide and weedicide free.

• We continuously increase the type and amount of produce we grow, much of it is regrown from our own seeds. The rest of the produce is sourced from sustainable and organic farms that helps to further develop the community. Everything from our spices, Himalayan rock salt, jaggery and honey come from researched local sources.

• We use in-house pressed cooking oils (including tea seed, mustard and sesame oils) and in-house natural mosquito repellent and bug bite relief.