Japotra Home Stay

For Bharmour, where most homestays are similar in price and quality, this one stands out. You get lovely views, friendly management, and the temple is an easy walk away. It's very good value, and I'd recommend it.

The location is the highlight. Step outside and you can see the Himalayas changing color, with a stream flowing nearby. The views on three sides are mesmerizing. It's a homely homestay with ten rooms, each with a comfortable bed and attached bathroom, plus a shared gallery. The owner is courteous, and the food is simple but tasty.

Great mountain views, a lovely property, and the arrangements were good.

My October stay was uncomfortable. It seemed like Bharmore had mostly shut down after the Manimahesh yatra. If you're booking after the yatra, consider government lodging such as PWD or HPTDC. Prices across Bharmore, including Japotra, drop by half, so bargain at private places. There was no food available in-house. They had a kitchen, but no utensils, and would arrange them on request. The kitchen was damp. The rooms weren't comfortable, with cold air coming in from all sides. There was no heater or hot water bag, and none available to buy in the local market. They did provide plenty of quilts and kambals, and there's an off-shop nearby if you need something to keep warm. Food was a big problem because it wasn't available in the market. A nearby restaurant kindly served us breakfast, and we went to HPTDC HOTEL for lunch. It serves food year-round, though it's far from Japotra. The guest house owner seemed not to stay there in winter and felt detached from how we'd manage, even though he apologized for the difficulties. They helped carry our luggage uphill, but you could sense their exhaustion and detachment. The climb is 60 - 70 meters and could be hard for elderly people and kids. There's not much of a view here; the best view is from the gowrikund helipad. I'd say it's suitable for a bachelor stay if you bargain, but not worth it for couples or families with children or elderly people.