Sadovaya — the stone and timber house in sunlight

Our story

From two
mountains to
one home.

Sadovaya in its apple orchard beneath the deodar forest — Two mountain homes · One home in the mountains

From two mountains to one home.

The mountains have always been part of our story.

One of us grew up in Himachal Pradesh. The other, in Uttarakhand.

Different valleys. Different childhoods. Different memories.

But the mountains taught us both many of the same things.

That mornings don't need to be hurried. That food tastes better when shared. That seasons have their own rhythm. That a long conversation can be more valuable than a busy evening.

Life eventually took us far from those mountains.

We found our calling in the armed forces—one in the Army, the other in the Navy. Years passed in a life of discipline, responsibility, travel and constant movement.

We loved those years.

But somewhere along the way, we began to miss something very simple.

Home.

And when the time came to begin our next chapter, we knew where we wanted to be.

Back in the mountains.

We found a quiet corner of Himachal that felt strangely familiar.

And here, slowly and with a great deal of love, we began creating something of our own.

Not a resort. Not a hotel. A home.

We called it Sadovaya.

There is a little of Himachal here. A little of Uttarakhand. A lot of us.

And perhaps, when you arrive, a little of you will find its way here too.

From two mountain homes, to one home in the mountains.

The place

A little further from the noise.

There are places you choose on a map.

And then there are places you arrive at and simply know.

For us, Sarsai was one of them.

Tucked away in the quieter landscape of Himachal, Sadovaya sits a little away from the familiar rush of the better-known hill stations.

Here, the landscape still sets the pace.

Mornings arrive softly, with sunlight moving across the mountains.

Apple trees change with the seasons.

The air carries the scent of earth and pine.

Clouds drift through the valley—sometimes revealing the mountains, sometimes keeping them to themselves.

There is no grand spectacle here.

And perhaps that is the point.

Sarsai is beautiful in a quieter way.

It is the Himachal of winding village roads, old trees, terraced hillsides, distant peaks and homes where a cup of tea can easily turn into an afternoon conversation.

It is a place where you begin to notice things again.

The sound of the wind. The changing light. The first warmth of the morning sun. The silence after sunset.

We didn't choose this place because it was the most famous.

We chose it because it felt real.

A little removed, but never disconnected. Close enough to explore, yet far enough to retreat. Wild enough to feel like the mountains. Comfortable enough to feel at home.

Not escaping to the mountains.

But finding your place within them.

Balcony at Sadovaya looking over the orchard to the mountains at sunset — Sarsai · Himachal Pradesh · The Himalayas

The house

A home made for living slowly.

We didn't want to build a hotel.

We wanted to create a home.

A place that feels warm when you arrive, comfortable when you settle in, and familiar by the time you leave.

So we built Sadovaya around the things we value most.

Spaces filled with natural light. Windows that bring the mountains in. Corners made for reading, talking and doing absolutely nothing.

A verandah for morning tea. A garden that changes with the seasons. And evenings that naturally find their way towards the warmth of a fire.

Everything here has been chosen with intention.

Not to impress. But to make you feel at ease.

The materials are warm. The colours are quiet. The spaces are uncluttered. The details are personal.

There is a little of the mountains in the stone, wood and textures around you. A little of our travels in the things we've collected. And a little of the homes we grew up in—in the way we welcome people.

Because, for us, hospitality has always been about one simple thing: making someone feel at home.

At Sadovaya, you won't find a lobby bustling with people or a schedule of activities you have to follow.

Instead, you might find yourself lingering over breakfast. Walking through the orchard without a destination. Reading by the window while clouds move through the valley.

Or sitting beside the fire long after dinner, wondering where the evening went.

The house is yours while you're here.

Come in. Take off your shoes. Put the kettle on.

Make yourself at home.