I’d been in NCR for 16 years before I headed to Kasauli. I’d gone beyond the region. I traveled to Shoghi, Shimla, Chail, Dharamshala, and Manali. Heck, I even reached the Hindustan – Tibet Road, but I never went to Kasauli.

I first corrected this error in 2017, again in 2021 and now in 2025! Each of these visits were characterised by Airbnbs, food & photography. All the three Airbnbs we stayed at were winners.

The interesting names of the Airbnbs added to their charm. For anyone going to Kasauli, I can’t recommend these enough. Our first Airbnb experience was here itself.

It was a colourful cottage called Doosra Cottage. It surpassed our expectations by leaps & bounds. The second time, it was a bigger bungalow called Homestead Villas and recently, a British era cottage called Land’s End.

Doosra Cottage

Doosra Cottage was a little tricky to find but thank God for that – we wanted total serenity. It has two bedrooms, a sit out area, a garden and a cozy drawing room that felt like home.

Nicely-done up, Doosra Cottage exuded warmth with the family photos adorning the walls. The caretaker cum cook, Radhey Shyam ji, took exemplary care of us, going out of his way when needed.

The food Radhey bhaiya cooked & served was exactly what we devour at home. All the mouthwatering food we put away added to the wonderfulness of Doosra Cottage!

Doosra Cottage was one of those places that inspire you to read/ write/ draw. It was the perfect place to unwind from the city hustle bustle.

You can find Doosra Cottage here.

Homestead Villas

Homestead Villas is located on the Lower Mall Road. It has bewitching picturesque views from its massive garden and terrace. It is placid. We spent time lazing around the garden, soaking in the Sun, reading, listening to music, and playing games.

Homestead Villas had WiFi and a parking that accommodated four – five cars. It was pet-friendly too. We were a large group that had headed there just after the Delta variant of COVID had subsided.

Nine adults, two children and three dogs were comfortably accommodated in this large bungalow. We were there for six nights but at no point of time did the hospitality level drop.

Truly, an exciting stay!

Homestead Villas is perfectly located, offering access to everything while still being a peaceful retreat from city life. It is large and maintained grandly. It is absolutely wonderful for pawrents—our dogs had the freedom to play around happily.

Homestead Villas surpassed any five-star hotel experience, offering comfort. A mention of Yashwant bhaiya and Shakuntala didi, the caretakers whose meals were outstanding—authentic and full of warmth.

A memorable getaway!

You can find Homestead Villas here.

Land’s End Villa

Land’s End Villa is a historic villa. It dates back to the colonial era but has been renovated. It has interesting stories, including how the renovation at such a towering site was striven.

When architects were confronted with the challenge of bringing materials, ‘Pathaan’ manpower was brought from Kashmir. Massive glass panes were carried across hill roads.

These efforts succeeded. Land’s End Villa was fitted with the panes that today offer handsome vistas across the Himalayas. The villa also offers views of the Chandigarh plains.

The artworks and sculptures were imported from the United Kingdom to recreate the British era charm. The furniture has been custom built. It is based on vintage designs.

This ensures that the Land’s End Villa look and feel does justice to the Kasauli origins.

The owners searched for a place to make their family home. The sunsets at this spot attracted them to Kasauli. And, truly, we too marvelled at the golden hours at Land’s End Villa.

From about 6 PM, there is a view of the sun setting over the plains, splashing colours in the sky. We also enjoyed the clear view of the valley and the night sky.

There is plenty of outdoor space and places to relax. We enjoyed the best that Kasauli has to offer whilst also remaining secluded from the town centre. We had access to the attractions and restaurants.

Land’s End Villa maintained a feeling of beauty and solitude but do note – the approach requires a short walk. It has three double bedrooms. While the kitchen was available for self-catering, we chose to take the chef service.

Gopal bhaiya is the caretaker while his wife does the cooking. The meals were fresh and full-flavoured. Gopal bhaiya has a grocery shop that stocks EVERYTHING!

A mention of Sarjan – he was available to cater to all our requests. He kept the villa running in clockwork condition. Sarjan woke up before us and went to sleep after us.

The personal touch and care by all the three was appreciated by all of us. Also, Land’s End Villa is pet-friendly. It was hilarious to watch Fluffy bark at the lion statue in the garden!

You can find Land’s End Villa here.

You now have recommendations for where to stay in Kasauli. This applies whether you are travelling as a couple, as a family, or as a group of friends. You can start to plan your adventure.

Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors to Kasauli

• Book accommodation and transportation in advance, especially during peak season.
• Pack warm clothing as it can get chilly, even in summer.
• Wear comfortable shoes for walking; Kasauli is best explored on foot.
• The best time to visit is during the spring and summer months, from March to June.

In my next blog post, I shall showcase a few attractions to keep you busy in Kasauli.