@Nick This is my favorite because it is from another airbnb host. We had just started hosting then and one of the nearby host booked just to check the place. And now we are good friends.
"Rajesh’s place in Raithal village was a great find. Before I explain why this is, I feel there might be some value explaining the perspectives I bring to my review. I’m not the vacationing type of person, and additionally I live about 50kms away from Rajesh, and as sad as it may sound, there is a sense of familiarity with the stunning scenery of Uttarakhand. Taking all this in to consideration, I wasn’t going to be looking for what an urban dweller would, or a traveler from outside Uttarakhand.
There is a simplicity to Rajesh’s place, which is hard to define. By this I don’t mean a naive simplicity, but the type that allowed me the freedom to simply be me. The hut is very well thought out, and in spite of the nights being chilly, the materials used for the construction of the hut means that once your inside, you can remain cosy without the cold seeping through your bones. The views from the hut are spectacular, even for someone like me who’s been living in Uttarakhand for six years now. The section of the Himalayan range that is visible, shows off different hues according to the time of day, dawn, sunrise, daytime, afternoon, sunset and dusk are all different, this alone is a photographers paradise.
Rajesh is a grounded individual and this comes across in his hosting. I was touched with the regular coffees he made for me, and he’s cooking is something else. Don’t be fooled if down plays his cooking skills, he uses simple everyday ingredients, most or all of them from the his own produce or from the village, and the end results are spectacular. Some sweets he made took me straight back to my childhood in Sri Lanka. He also made me a cake for my birthday - without the help of an oven, the texture and taste were astounding.
I was traveling with my two dogs, Panther and Ubuntu, and Rajesh’s kindness and love for animals made it a very happy and easy time for them. Additionally, his own puppy Simba and a neighbors Juno, meant that my two had company.
The property is huge, and while it does have a beautiful 2-3 foot stone wall running around it, there isn’t really a sense of ‘this is the end of the property.’ It seamlessly merges with the surrounding, as Rajesh himself has mentioned - it’s boundary less. Fields, forest, and endless trails and paths are connected to it.
For anyone reading this, whether you are from an urban center and looking for a break, or if you are someone who’s already used to stunning scenery and a harmonious sort of living, Rajesh’s place is a must. A combination of stunning surroundings and one with nature alongside thoughtful and caring hosting is not entirely common, this is definitely one of those places.
Thanks Rajesh, Panther and Ubu send happy barks and smiles as well."
