How a 165-Year-Old Himalayan Property Became a Quiet Retreat

Nestled in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, the 40-acre Sitla Estate offers visitors a quiet Himalayan retreat focused on local food and nature rather than mass expansion. When owner Vikram Maira moved to the property from Mumbai in May 1998, the site had no electricity, no running water, and no connecting road. Back then, visitors had to park in Mukteshwar and hike the rest of the way, while lighting kerosene lamps at night. Over the years, Vikram and a small team of local workers renovated the main 165-year-old building, added rooms, and worked with the local panchayat to bring in roads, power, and water. Today, the property features just 12 rooms, no televisions, and no room service. Instead, guests explore the Mukteshwar reserve forests with naturalist Raju Mehta, track leopards, and spot local birds using apps like Merlin. Food at the estate comes directly from its own gardens and orchards, traveling from harvest to plate in just three hours. Vikram cooks alongside a local team whose members originally started out cutting grass or chopping wood on the property. Along with fresh vegetables like broccoli, lettuce, and wild ligudva fiddle ferns, the estate grows apples, apricots, peaches, plums, strawberries, and mulberries in its orchards. Beyond running the retreat, Vikram is deeply involved in the local gram sabha, helping settle land disputes, supporting village education, and working with local NGOs. He lives at the estate with his wife Chandrika, whom he married there five years ago. Long-term staff members like gardener Prakash Pande, who has worked at the estate for 18 years, and major-domo Hit Kumar help run the daily operations alongside the close-knit village team.

Context

Sitla Estate reflects a broader trend of heritage restoration and sustainable rural tourism in the Indian Himalayan region, where old family properties are converted into intimate stays. This model relies heavily on close community integration, local sourcing, and low environmental impact rather than large-scale commercial development. Such properties often serve as a bridge between urban travelers and traditional mountain lifestyles.