We named it Woodsmoke. Afterall, that is what dreams are – real at the core, amorphous in their boundaries.
True to its name, Woodsmoke decided how it wanted to start and where it wanted to go. It started as a stone and glass summer home but then decided it needed company. So, more rooms got added every year, each one hugging the contours of the land and befriending the deodars or the pines or the oaks as per its inclination.
Over the years Woodsmoke gathered around itself a close-knit staff, hailing almost entirely from Himachal Pradesh itself, to maintain its smooth functioning. On the same lines of loyalty, it also attracted a sizable number of repeat guests, irresistibly drawn to its personalised service and warm hospitality.
Being embedded so intrinsically in the locality and the landscape, Woodsmoke accords due seriousness to its social and ecological responsibility. We respect local sensibilities in our conduct. All the raw materials used in the property are sourced locally. We are also committed to regenerative use of resources through our investments in solar heating, water harvesting and STPs.
A romantic cocoon for two or a backdrop to a boisterous family get-together or just a place to walk barefoot after a tiring day of sightseeing, your room welcomes you home. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms and private sit-outs.
Choose one from our 6 categories – each crafted to suit individual tastes and budgets.
These double rooms have wooden floors and raftered ceilings. The majestic wing chair in the bedroom offers the perfect vantage point to look out over the ridge line or down into the forest.
The front room with its deep chairs and shaggy carpet, overlooks the private lawn and also gives you a ring-side view of the activities happening in the open courtyard.
A luxuriously-appointed suite, it opens into a Moroccan-tiled lobby, further branching out into a comfortable sitting area and two bedrooms. The mellow lamp light adds to the charm of the original art work on the walls aided in ample measure by a full wall of picture windows.
A private stone patio overlooks the oak forest – perfect both for a quiet family time or even a boisterous one!
The sloped wooden ceilings of these quaint rooms continue into the en-suite bathroom. The warm wooden floors invite you to walk barefoot or to just lounge on the floor cushions with a book.
All the rooms have a private balcony with an open view of oak cinnamon forests and the Tara Devi ridge line. The rooms at the higher level provide a panoramic view of the twinkling lights as the night descends on Shimla.
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These rooms are ideal for guests planning a long stay for they come with a fully-equipped kitchenette. Large picture windows look out onto a pine-shaded lawn that is perfect for an al-fresco meal or star gazing or soaking in the sun or playing a game of badminton.
The warm colour palette of these rooms make them the perfect choice for us-time. Situated at different levels of the Retreat, they offer a diverse range of views from their large picture windows.
All come with their own private sit-out, be it a patio or a balcony.
These spacious rooms, all aglow with recessed lights and warm woodwork, face the Cinnamon oak forest on the outer edge of the Retreat – an ideal choice for solitude seekers.
Tucked away from the hub, guests can enjoy their quiet time, perhaps a candle-lit dinner, even when sitting out in the lawn. Or one can spend long, meditative hours on the sitting room couch, soaking in the dappled play of sunlight entering through the large picture window.
Serve a smile with a dash of fun is the culinary maxim that drives our dining services. Guests have the option of fine dining in the stone and gilt ambience of our restaurant or of stopping in for a snack and a chat in our café, a funky mix of the industrial and the rustic.
Tucked away at the edge of a deodar forest, our spa offers exclusive services – massages, steam, sauna and jacuzzi sessions – customized to a guest's preference.
Rambling conversations over leisurely meals are ably assisted by the extensive Indian, Chinese and Continental menu catering to all tastes and moods.
You can also choose to dine al-fresco on the lawns fronting your rooms while chilly star-lit nights are a perfect excuse for gathering around a bonfire! For those who prefer their privacy, there is always room service.
All Moroccan tiles and blue sofas, the café with its glass windows, invites in the sky to meet you over a cup of coffee.
And while you are waiting, there is always a game of chess or carrom in the offing!.
The Woodsmoke Spa is a perfect place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing or lengthy discussions. Deep soak in the jacuzzi with a health drink while looking at the twinkling lights of a dusky evening. Or simply relax your muscles and soothe your mind in the sauna or the steam shower after a therapeutic massage session. Choose any one of the services detailed in our Spa menu. Yoga sessions are available on request.
Woodsmoke is a little world in itself and many of our guests do not even feel the need to leave the property during their entire stay. Browse our eclectic mix of book titles, play out your moves on a chess board, work up a sweat in our fitness centre, spin a few yarns around the bonfire and if the forest beckons – walk right in for an invigorating dose of pine-scented air.
The non-polluted environ and the tranquillity of the surroundings provides the perfect ambience for both work and play.
The 1650 sq-feet wood-panelled Hall offers a 130-seating capacity, perfect for large social gatherings and yet, equally accommodating of smaller business conferences.
Woodsmoke offers all supportive services for diverse events – be it the décor, food, DJ et al
or projectors, flipboards, retractable screens, wi-fi integration, table stationery etc.
If you prefer a gym for your workouts, then we offer the entire range – treadmill, elliptical, bike, multi-gym and weight-training equipment – for your route to fitness.
Pool or Table Tennis? Take your pick in our glass-panelled Fitness Centre.
Choose from an eclectic mix of titles – fiction and non-fiction – to while away a lazy afternoon. And if you are a night owl, do choose a chair next to the fireplace for company.
Road
Travel on NH-5 till Shoghi. Take the right turn up and Woodsmoke is just 3 km away in Village Anandpur. A fully-tarred road leads right up to the property.
Numerous cafés dot the entire stretch of the highway should you want to stretch your legs. Better still, pack a picnic – it makes for better memories.
Rail
Though the Kalka-Shimla route has numerous train options but our pick is the daily UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla toy train built in the mid-19th century.