Orchid Nest Cottage

At Orchid Nest Villa, the rooms, lobby, kitchen, and dining area made for a comfortable stay. The villa was spotlessly clean and set among apple orchards in Suru, a peaceful village about 6 kilometers from Manali. Hira Lal welcomed us warmly and made us feel at home. We loved the view of the snow-covered mountains, along with the valley lights at night. Ramesh, the on-site caretaker, cooked delicious meals and kept our favorite drinks ready. There’s a nearby track for morning walks, with views of the Beas River and the green Kullu valley. It was a memorable, peaceful stay, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for comfort and natural beauty near Manali.

Suru sits higher than Manali, so from the house you get a lovely night view of the lights in the valley. Snow-covered mountains are visible to the right, and there’s also a beautiful waterfall in view. The village is quiet, with no noise or disturbance. Ramesh, the caretaker, is there around the clock and cooks very well. He always has your favorite tea or coffee ready, which gives the place a homely feel. The house has three rooms, a lobby, kitchen, and dining table. There’s a nice walking track beyond Suru, towards Prini or the Shuru village temple. From up there, you can see the Beas River winding through the gardens and orchards of Kullu valley. It’s also a lovely spot for a stroll among apple orchards.

The garden and farm are beautifully kept, with apple, plum, apricot, walnut, and pear trees. From the balcony, we could also see a waterfall on the opposite mountain, and in the mornings I heard lots of birds singing. I even spotted a few through my binoculars. This is a really nice property in Shuru village, away from the crowds, with an apple orchard in front of the cottages. Every room has a balcony and a view of the snow peaks. There are only three rooms, so it works well for two or three families. Hira Lal’s family lives nearby and explained the local village culture to us. Ramesh ji cooked well and made food to suit our needs. The peaceful setting gave us a feel for life in a real Manali village.

The food we ordered from the HomeStay Kitchen was freshly cooked, homemade, and really tasty. We enjoyed it every day. Hiralal was courteous, and the staff were too. The bungalow looked just like the pictures, with views of snow-covered mountains, a waterfall, and green hills. It’s around 7-8 Kms from Manali city centre, far enough from the bustle but close enough to get around. Reaching major attractions took anywhere from about 30 minutes to 2 hours. We had a great stay, and I recommend the place to people of all age groups.