Guidebooks

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Outlook Traveller, Heritage Holidays

Banjara Orchard Retreat is set in the inevitable apple orchard, overlooking the deep valley of the Sutlej and offering delicious sunsets. The rooms and suites are comfortable, the sitting and dining spaces homely; the menu is flexible and comforting; their apples, in both the jam and chutney forms, are mouth watering. And Prakash Thakur, the owner, takes good care of his guests, telling them well connected tales of these hills and guiding them on the mountain paths.

Alaistair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay

Nearly 3000 meters up, and a short drive from Chitkul, the last village on the old Hindustan- Tibet road route, is a remote and remarkable encampment. Reached by roads liable to landslides (come by jeep), surrounded by towering mountains, crouched among apple orchards on the banks of surging Baspa River, its tents are cosier than you could imagine. Step through a flap from a wicker-furnished porch to a most comfortable and comforting space. Rajasthani fabrics enclose you, rugs lay underfoot, dressing tables, cosily clad beds, heaters and hot water bottles- this is no typical tent. A second flap opens to your own bathroom with tiled floor, stone sink, western loo and hot-water bucket shower, while ‘public rooms’ extend from bamboo-thatched dining tent to picnic tables for barbecues to hammocks by the fire. Batseri village and temple is a mere 15-minute walk away, jeep safaris can take you further. The Sangla valley is reputed to be the most beautiful in the Indian Himalaya – and how often do you combine such natural splendour with such comfort and service?

Lonely Planet

Banjara camps offers accommodation in luxury tents from April to October on the far side of the river at Batseri. Call the Delhi office for more details.

Fodors guide to India Banjara retreats in Tabo and Kaza

.....and you can stay at the friendly
Banjara Camps at both ends.

Frommer's guide to India

Banjara Camp, Sangla valley's best lodging is a group of deluxe tents with full-size beds and attached cement-floor bathrooms (bucket bath only). At 8850 ft. the camp is smack on the banks of Baspa River just 30-kms (19 miles) shy of Chitkul, the last village on the old Hindustan- Tibet road (some 50 kms from China border). Relax in a clearing overlooking the water after a rousing day hike, and listen to the river rush by as you drift off to sleep. The price includes excellent vegetarian meals, served three times a day in a mess tent. The friendly attentive staff can take you on day hikes or drives, complete with home cooked Indian lunch.

Jeep Safari specialists- Banjara Camps and Retreats operates a number of Trans- Himalayan jeep safaris, which generally start in Delhi and explore different parts of Himachal and Ladakh. Comfortable accommodations (some in beautifully situated deluxe campsites) and good meals accompany you along the way, and you can even design your own customized safari.

Sangla Valley- you won't find any flashy accommodations, but the comfortable Banjara camp, 8 km beyond is an excellent place to spend a night or two, and serves as the perfect base from which to explore the remote hamlet of Chitkul. Banjara camp comprises 17 comfortable tents with attached toilets and bucket-wash facilities in an open meadow alongside the Baspa River, beneath towering Khargala peak. Make use of the opportunity to pick Banjara- founder Ajay Sud's brain for details of the best treks in the area. A selection of tasty Indian and Tibetan- inspired dishes is prepared at mealtimes, but there's nothing stopping you from picking up some fresh fish from a local farm and asking the kitchen team to cook it for you.