Bonfire evenings
Once it gets dark and cold, the fire goes on outside. Chai, dinner and whoever else is staying that night.
Thamsar Echoes · Rajgundha Valley · 2,700 m
A family-run homestay in the Dhauladhar — warm rooms, every meal from our own kitchen, and a fire lit once it gets dark.
Valley views
From every room
All meals
Home kitchen
Bonfire
& camping tents
Parking
Drive right up
The homestay
Thamsar Echoes sits in Rajgundha, a small Himachali village ringed by oak, pine and deodar, on the far side of the Billing ridge from Bir. There are cabbage fields below the house, the Uhl river somewhere in the trees, and very little else to interrupt the quiet.
We keep a few warm rooms, cook every meal ourselves, and light a fire in the evening. It is a family home first and a homestay second — which is exactly what most people come up here looking for.
Where you sleep
The rooms are simple and warm — panelled ceilings, thick quilts for the cold nights, and windows that open straight onto the ridge. Every one has its own bathroom with hot water.
Tariff depends on the season and how many of you there are. Send us your dates and we will tell you what is free and what it costs.
Check availability
“No traffic, no hurry. Just the fields, the forest, and whatever the weather decides to do.”
Things to do
Once it gets dark and cold, the fire goes on outside. Chai, dinner and whoever else is staying that night.
If the rooms are full or you would rather sleep outside, we can pitch tents on the ground near the house.
Thamsar Pass base camp, Plachak, Panhartu and the long route to Bara Bhangal all start from this valley. We can arrange a guide.
Wander through the cabbage fields and old stone-and-wood houses of Rajgundha and Kukkar Gundha. An easy hour, or a whole afternoon.
The beans grown on these slopes are the real thing. Eat them at dinner, and carry a kilo home if you like.
There is no light for miles. On a clear night you will see more of the sky here than you have in years.
Nearby
Everything below starts within a morning of the house. Ask us the night before and we will pack food and point you at the right trail.
A small lake above the village. You go in the morning, rest, eat a packed lunch, and you are back by evening.
Read this walkBorn off the Thamsar glacier and running right below the village. Good for a slow morning walk, and for trout if you have a permit.
A short climb to a ridge-top Hanuman temple with a full circle of the Dhauladhar around you. The best first walk of any stay.
A small lake above the village. Go in the morning, rest, eat a packed lunch, and be back by evening. Photographs are on the walks page.
Forest trail and wooden stream crossings up to open meadow, with a halt at Darmani on the way. A full and very rewarding day.
The big one, and the pass this house is named after. Snow underfoot most of the year, and the crossing on to Bara Bhangal beyond it.
One of the highest take-off sites in the world sits on the ridge you drove in over. Launch at Billing, land on the field at Bir.
Downstream along the Uhl towards Barot, a waterfall barely two hundred metres off the road. Easy to fold into a drive out.
A local favourite that never makes it onto the tourist lists. Ask us and we will send someone who knows the way.
Guides for the longer treks are local, and we arrange them ourselves.
At the table
There is no restaurant in Rajgundha and you will not need one. All three meals come out of our kitchen — simple Himachali home food, hot, and as much of it as you want.
Much of it is grown right here: rajma from the fields below, potatoes, greens, fresh milk from the village. Tell us in advance if you are vegetarian, vegan, or have anything you cannot eat.
The village shop
Rajma off the slopes below, Pahari wool for the cold, and the last biscuits and batteries before the trail. It has served this village far longer than we have taken guests.
Gallery
Getting here
The last stretch is narrow and rough, so a sturdy vehicle helps. Tell us when you are setting off and we will guide you in. There is parking at the house.
01
Easiest with family or luggage. Roughly two hours door to door, no walking at the end.
02
Drive the 18 km to Billing and walk the last 12 km through the forest. The best way to arrive, if you have the legs.
03
Doable in good weather. Ask us about road conditions first — in deep winter the route can close with snow.
Five short answers. If yours is not here, send the question with your dates and how many people.
In Rajgundha Valley (also spelled Rajgunda), Kangra, Himachal — about 30 km / two hours from Bir Billing, or via Barot / Badagran. We sit under the Dhauladhar ridge toward Thamsar Pass.
Yes. Many guests drive or taxi to Billing and trek the forest road into Rajgundha, or drive all the way. We have rooms and can pitch camping tents near the house when you want to sleep outside.
WhatsApp or call +91 82196 67142 with your dates and how many people. No agents, no booking fees.
Yes — breakfast, lunch and dinner from our kitchen, parking at the house, plus bonfire evenings and camping tents when you want them.
Uhl River walks, Hanuman Garh, Mahantu Lake, the Palachak trek, longer routes to Thamsar Pass, and paragliding at Bir Billing on the way in.
Booking
We take bookings ourselves — no agents, no booking fees. Send a message with your dates and how many people, and we will confirm.
If we miss your call, a WhatsApp message always reaches us.
