Raison D'Etre is the only private riverfront home between Kullu & Manali that's open to guests. We have our own little river beach and an infinity pool overlooking the Beās. Your cottage sits in a riverside orchard where we grow plums, peaches, nectarines apricots, apples, persimmons, strawberries & kiwis. Also, many of the herbs & vegetables that go into the food we serve - which could be Asian, European or Indian, depending upon the ingredients available and the whims of the resident chef. The guest cottage is separated from our home by a garden. The entire property sprawls across one acre and features an exclusive 250 foot riverfront with mountains along both banks. To ensure there's lots of space and privacy, guest accommodation is limited to just 4 ensuite bedrooms over the entire 40,000 sq ft spread. The Winter Room is one of two on the first floor. There are fish ponds and water features all around, fed by the Spring at the centre of the orchard. THE ARTESIAN SPRING At the heart of Raison D'Etre is the property's raison d'etre - a perennial source of some of the purest spring water on earth. By a happy accident, because we are deep in the bowl of the valley, the forces of nature conspire to push up crystal-clear, mineral-rich water from a Himalayan aquifer that's hundreds of feet below us, but stretches halfway up the mountains. This is the water we drink; and there's so much of it naturally welling up, we use it for practically everything else - including the gravity-overflow infinity pool we swim in. Down the road, a top mineral water brand sources and sells this very water across India - by the bottle! THE ACCOMODATION The four bedrooms in the guest cottage, two on each floor, open into cosy living and dining areas. Though similar in size, each room has a distinct character shaped by its decor - an eclectic mix of vintage & modern furniture, and art, collected over the years we spent living in different parts of India. Bombay Parsi, Calcutta Zamindar, Delhi Art Deco and discarded antique pieces from the family haveli in UP rub shoulders with modern designs in mango, sheesham and railway sleeper wood. The locally crafted iron & brass wood-burning stoves are a special highlight. Original paintings, numbered prints and ceramic works, some by well-known artists - many friends and colleagues - brighten up the walls. More than the decor, though, we've tried to ensure that each room is designed to be practical and comfortable. Thoughtfully crafted spaces, airy and filled with light, are fitted out with ergonomically placed fixtures and fittings. For the beds, especially, we've traded character for comfort. After all, a good night's sleep is necessary to truly appreciate the beauty, action and adventure Manali is famous for. The bathrooms have been paid special attention to. They're designed to be cosy and free of drafts, even in winter. The fittings are Grohe, Jaquar or Vitra. There's plenty of solar-supplemented hot water on tap. And we've created our own line of indulgent bath products and toiletries, inspired by places around the valley. Everything is placed in environment-friendly dispensers, completely eliminating single-use plastic. In addition to electric kettles, the living+dining spaces are equipped with microwaves and refrigerators. There's cutlery, crockery, water, wine & whisky glasses and a dish washing station. Board games are available on request.