Aikkya
Aikkya is the only home on this hillside.
You can choose to stay in our almost 80-year-old Kumaoni stone cottages, lovingly and at times painstakingly restored and renovated to preserve their original character.
Or settle into our A-frame cottage, tucked between a persimmon tree and a pear tree. Built around the idea of a tiny home, it makes thoughtful use of the little space between the two. Each has its own quiet charm.
At the heart of Aikkya is a spacious dining area and lounge, with a home kitchen serving home-cooked meals and snacks. We try to grow as much of our food organically as we can and source much of the rest locally.
Our bread is baked in-house or comes from local bakers.
We source single-origin coffee from estates in Coorg and elsewhere, and grind it fresh here.
You can Pre-Book a Meal with us if you are in the area.
We face west, and the sunsets often leave us lost for words. The Greater Himalayan peaks aren’t visible from Aikkya itself, but a 15-minute walk uphill or a three-minute drive takes you to the other side of the mountain. On a clear day, the views stretch from Kedarnath to Panchachuli and into Nepal.
This is a farm. An orchard. A forest. Cows, dogs and insects all call it home. We ask that you choose to stay with us only if you’re comfortable sharing the space with them. While you’re here, do say hello to the resident cows and our dogs, Julie, Motu and, when they’re around, Shifu and Boltu.
A few things to know before you choose to stay with us :
No Room Service
All meals and snacks are served and eaten in the dining area or outside. We do not serve food in the rooms.
Electricity
We don’t have full power backup, but an inverter keeps the essentials running, including the Wi-Fi. Power cuts, when they happen, usually last less than an hour, though a fault in the line can sometimes mean a longer wait. We’ll do our best to keep you comfortable and ask for your understanding when life in the hills takes an unpredictable turn.
Housekeeping, Towels & Linen
Housekeeping is available on request. Towels and linen are not changed daily during short stays. For a week-long stay, they are changed every third day; for longer stays, once a week, much like at home.
Water & Thoughtful Use
Water is scarce in the mountains. Our water comes mainly from a mountain spring and the local supply. Here in the hills, we try to use it thoughtfully and keep our carbon footprint small. If there’s a spill or a mishap, we’ll of course take care of it so that your stay is comfortable.
Our Home
Aikkya is, first and foremost, our home. A place we have built over the years, learning to live a little differently, surrounded by forest, fruit trees, animals, and everything else that comes with life in the mountains. Somewhere along the way, we decided to share a part of this life with others.
Life in the Mountains
Things work a little differently here. We are a small team, far from the usual conveniences of city life. Days follow their own rhythm, and nature has a fair say in how things unfold. There is comfort, but not the kind you would expect from a hotel or resort. We like to keep things simple, personal, and as close to the way we actually live as possible.
A Handful of Guests
We have consciously chosen to welcome only a handful of guests at a time. It helps us be gentler on the land, gives us time to get to know the people who visit, and allows Aikkya to remain the home it was always meant to be.
We hope to share it with people who appreciate the little things, respect the surroundings, and are happy to experience life here as it is.
A Conversation Before Your Stay
If you’re considering a stay at Aikkya, we’d love to hear from you before you book. A little conversation gives us a chance to share more about life here, understand what you’re looking forward to, and answer any questions you may have. That way, you can get a better sense of the place and decide if it’s somewhere you’d enjoy spending a few days.