One of the best experience in terms of my stay and food in Uttarakhand.
This place is something you should visit if you want some time away from the husle and bustle of the city. It’s just 7 hrs drive from Delhi and have good roads all the way and you will only find some rough patches near Chamba due to frequent landslides.
The rooms are amazing and have mud lining inside with bunk beds inside the room and when I say bunk beds I am not talking about those typical hostel beds but one queen size and one single bed made on a wooden structure with a glass window for a scenic view.
The walk to the cottage is 20 minutes which is an amazing trail among the forest and mountains.
You should visit this with your family and friends.

This beautiful offbeat stay is truly for people who like the quiet and enjoy the joys of small (but meaningful)conversations. We kept planning for this place past 2 years but coudnt make it due to other travels making priority. The entire bunch led my Manish know what they are doing and are extremely helpful and friendly. Sanjay, the young cook claimed our hearts by making a delectable platter every day. The dessert game was so good that we might be still reeling under it. The property is a 20 mins hike away. The hike is quite easy for people who have hiked before and train 2-3 times a week. It gets better after the first time 🙂 the property had 2 beautiful doggos (what else do you want?) And mud houses. Each room can accommodate 6 people and the place is quite reasonable (I hope it stays this reasonable because good things should not cost us our kidney pl lord). There are plenty small trails around the property which you can take and remember to leave your noisy, city self behind when you head here. The sunrises are the real deal here. Dont miss it! Can’t wait to return once again. LADIES, the washroom is v clean and has my approval. #robandronontherun

COVID 19 pandemic brought the tourism sector to a standstill along with many other things. With the gradual unlocking guidelines issued by the government, I and my better half were dying to get off to a holiday. Still wary of contracting COVID, we decided to go to a place which is accessible by road over an extended weekend. Having few options in the 300 kms range (from Delhi), the search stopped at Kanatal. It actually stopped at Kanatal not because of the destination, but due to the property I came across: ZeroStay. Within the next 2 days we booked our most awaited trip.

The experience we garnered over 4 days made endless memories which would be cherished for long. But the person behind making this trip a memorable one was Mr. Manish (the property owner). Manish ji guided us from the day I called him up for getting some basic information about the property. Even after booking, I called him several times for answers to my numerous queries and every time he was more than happy to help.

We reached the location at 3pm, 8th Oct (Thursday) and was greeted by Manish ji. The best part about the homestay is that it is a 1.2 kms uphill jungle trek from the main road. The trek to the homestay felt as if we left our mental burden on the road and walked freely towards heaven. The cottages are made in the farm land and is surrounded by numerous flowers, vegetables and other agri produce. The view from the mountain is beautiful and the entire Himalayan range is completely visible. The surroundings are so calm and serene that you actually feel like doing nothing and just enjoy the nature at its best.

With Manish ji at our disposal for helping in preparing the itinerary for the next 3 days, we pushed to Tehri Lake and dam the next day (9th Oct). We enjoyed the visit but had no idea that the 2nd half of the day would be much more adventurous. Manish ji asked us to go to the water source of the village and we started wondering as if what could be the possible source of water. Our excitement doubled when Manish ji himself went along with us to the source. The trek to the source was raw and enthralling with Manish ji spreading the knowledge about the flora and fauna of the Thuner Mountain. Finally we reached the water source and were amazed to know about the power of nature.

The 3rd day (10th Oct) was scheduled for trek to Surkhanda Devi temple. And to our surprise again, Manish ji escorted us for the jungle trek. He took us through the jungle route which was lovely and through the lap of nature (avoiding the normal concrete trek developed for tourist). We enjoyed the view of Himalayan range from the viewpoints. The trek was a tough one as it took us more than 2 hours to complete the 2km trek. It was a time of self-realization when we came face to face with our sub-standard stamina to trek on a gradient. Anyways, with Manish ji motivating us from time to time we finally reached at an elevation of 10000 ft. to a splendid view of temple and the Himalayan range. The trek downhill back to cottage was comparatively easier as it didn’t test our lung capacity. After this amazing trek (bit tiring too) we had no option but to spend the rest of the day at our homestay.
The cottages are so well designed that it resonates vibrantly of a rural setting amid a rural village. The tap, washbasin, beddings, the staircase and the overall bamboo structure gave us an innate sense of healing and relief. Needless to mention that the food prepared by the staff (especially Vikram ji) was too delicious. They prepared local delicacies like PahadiRajmah, AaloMulikeTichoni, Kankodekesabzi and other veggies along with Mandwa Roti (Ragi) which were so delightful and made us overeat at every meal of the day.

Finally the day came when we were supposed to leave this heaven and move back towards hell. To our pleasure, Manish ji came to drop us back at our car. Not to forget, he took all the pain to arrange various things which we could take back home like Pahadi Rajmah, Green Peas, Cabbage (all grown organically at the farm itself). He also helped us with some other things which we could buy on our way back.

Overall the stay at Zero Stay Kanatal was serene, peaceful, beautiful and enjoyable.Over and above this, the awesome hospitality and service provided by the staff and the owner himself was out of the world. This was our best monthly wedding anniversary celebration (completed 10 months) till date. Thanks Zerostay!!

Himanshu & Kanika
8th Oct to 11th Oct 2020

Had a wonderful stay.. village style huts are just awesome.. natural beauty, hill view, jungle path took my heart… staff was very cooperative nd helpful specially KISHORE who helped us a lot during our stay.. Thanku MANISH for the lovely hospitality… will definitely visit this peaceful place for sure

The place is away from the main road, totally secluded and is the perfect mountain getaway. The cottages are spacious, utilitarian, and very accomodating, giving a rural atmosphere. Food is amazing and bonfire can be arranged. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for some peace and quiet.

If you want to get away from it all, stay with absolute basics just to take long walks inside jungle treks, climb a small hill and soak in the view and smell of mother nature’s bounty. This is the place to be. Amazing experience

I’ve not frequented mountains too often, so I expected my trip to be unique. Although, I did not expect it to be so surprising, refreshing and recharging. Zero Stay is a lovely, secluded place nestled in the Tehri range of Uttarakhand. Being a resident of Delhi, I’ve not witnessed the kind of greenery I saw at Zero stay before. The trekking experience, living in the hut, playing cricket in the mountains, getting to pet a sweet mountain dog and experiencing A grade hospitality charmed my friend and me. The staff there is friendly, forthcoming and helpful. Mr Manish responded to all my queries promptly and effectively. I recommend Zero Stay to anyone looking for a unique mountain stay experience. I would love to return here too someday.

WoW! What a location.! Had one of the most awe-inspiring walks , on the way to Zero Stay. It was very therapeutic and envirogating. All that Greens n fresh air to take in, was quite a statement to begin with. Deepak Rawat , the affable and enthusiastic host , kept us engrossed with his tips and liners on flora and fauna adorning the swindling paths, on little treks we did manage to take, on our short stay. Must say….We would be back for more. Thank you.

It was a really good weekend getaway located in the midst of the mountains. There is car parking at the base and you have to trek for about half an hour. Views are superb on the way and the team would help accompany you throughout. The place was clean and really nicely thought out, rooms had a nice cozy feel to it. Self sustainable environment with homegrown food and great hospitality. You have a small area for cricket and skipping as well and can trek thoughout. It gets a bit windy and cool at night, that adds to the charm even in mid summer. We are surely coming back again, highly recommended!!

Its a true Garhwali village experience. The trek to listing is really really nice. The staff is polite friendly and ready to help. People will take good care and be in touch. Its a very safe place and we saw amazing sun set and sun rise. . in complete quietness!! Will sure plan to come back again.

This was my first visit to Kanatal Infact my very first visit to Uttarakhand and I cannot Thank enough to Manish and his amazing team for being such a great host. Manish has been very accommodating with our check in date as I had a little miscalculation on the dates we were about to arrive . If you are looking to experience the real, raw and rustic life style of Gharwal ( aka pahadi/mountain) look no further. This is the place. ♥️ During my visit to this place, a very famous saying striked me. “No gain without pain” ZeroStay is that worth it. Me and my fiancé rode our motorbikes and traveled 1800km , trekked for 20-25 minutes and reached to this breath taking beautiful place! There cottages are simple made of clay which is good enough to keep you warm during cold weather. You will often be visited by a cute fluffy dog , her name is Rani. She is a great company to have. All she needs is endless food and pets on her head. 🙂 If you ever visit this place and are hosted by Kishore. Man, you are so lucky. He makes the “best food”. Always on his toes to feed us and to take care of us. Endless cups of chai, paratha , and do make sure to taste the masala Maggie. In these 4 days he became more of a family member than a care taker. I completed my very first Surkhanda Devi trek all because of Kishore. I am writing this review while heading to Mumbai with a heavy heart and a tear in my eyes as I will miss this place a lot. But Il keep coming to this place I know that for sure.

The experience begins with an enchanting hike through the woods with Manish giving you an insight of the flora and fauna (esp types of deodar and other trees). The forest gives way to a ridge where you see mud huts… The mud huts are very rustic but thoughtfully built using the native Garhwali technique. It takes you back in time to the forgotten culture. The amenities are basic yet does not compromise on any convenience. Great good.. amazing . Very friendly , courteous and caring staff. The view from the huts is just mesmerising and if weather is clear one can see Major peaks in yamunotri and Gangotri range. A must visit for someone who loves nature.. respects environment and wish to reconnect to oneself.

Manish’S place is Awesome and beautiful Scenery you can look and feel from there… Trekking experience and stay was too good

Manish is a superstar host. He gave my parents, both over 65 years with knee problems the confidence to walk through the mountains and the forest. The place itself is a hidden gem. The walk through the forest fills your lungs with absolutely pure air and multiple fragrances of trees and flowers. There are panoramic views of the mountains, you can watch sunrise and sunset from your room. The food is a winner. It is best to drive here from dehradun, although we came from Delhi. I would love to be back for some serious treks this time. Manish also has host of local knowledge and personally sees to it that the natural equilibrium of the place is maintained.

Staying at ZeroStay is memorable experience for me….Away from all routines, staying in middle of nature & relaxing is unique thing at this place. It’s 20 min away from road with nature walk through forest which starts your journey to cottage. Cottages are very natural with all basic amenities as per local conditions which is makes this special. Manish communicated all things prior which I find helpful & given clarity for my requirement. Food was awesome esp. pahadi chicken which was local cuisine & swaala in breakfast as they told

Perfect humble setting atop a mountain, a very enjoyable short hike through the forest to reach the place Thoughtfully crafted accommodation and settings, with local touches Very helpful host and great food with lots of local preparations and specialties, worth a visit for all the lovers of mountains

Zero stay Kanatal was a brilliant experience. Nestled in the middle of the hills, it offers a spectacular view of rolling bounties and a lovely view of the Himalayas if you are lucky. The food is brilliant, so is the hospitability by the hosts, both Manish and Vaibhav. It is a 20 minute trek from the main road, but for those who may not be able to trek, one can take a mule or even use it for luggage at a nominal cost. This is the kind of place where you can just relax, stare at the clouds, lay back on the grass or go for a trek and really connect with nature. The accessibility is also very good – just a 2.5 hour from Dehradun city.

The stay is at an amazing location, away from the hustle-bustle of the city. One can sit back, relax with their friends/family at this place, have amazing home cooked food, go for nature walks or even play sports like cricket, carrom etc. In short, best place to sit back and relax.

A perfect getaway from city into peaceful environment and get connected with nature and yourself. A stayed here with my wife and 3 children and all loved the house as well as food. The host and whole staff is very caring and warm hearted.

Great place. Beautiful scenery. Lovely to have someone show us around the forest and village. Even in bad weather we enjoyed ourselves. Great place for families to relax together. Food really tasty. Just needs to be a little clearer on how it is billed. Beautiful hospitality.

A paradise for the nature lover. Wonderful people out there, Deepak ji, Imran ji, Kishore and other staffs as well. Fresh food cooked with love which naturally increases the taste many fold. Can’t describe my stay in words, because it’s an experience to be felt and not to be described. Far from the shore of the cities, in this place you will experience how the people stay and live the tough life and still they are happy as compared to the people of cities who in spite of having all the facilities, keeps crying for all small things. The stay in the farm taught me how to be happy and satisfied with what you have. A must visit only for those who loves nature and want to experience the village life of hills.

We LOVED our stay at Manish’s place! We chose it for the proximity to breathtaking natural beauty and weren’t disappointed. What we didn’t necessarily anticipate was how comfortable the hut was (we slept especially well), and that the food would be absolutely **amazing.** Our guides and cook were all cheerful, friendly, and accommodating. We also appreciated the honesty of Manish and his team when they returned our money after we had significantly overpaid them for our cab without realizing it. We highly recommend both the host and the place.

There are so many beautiful places on Earth. You’ve got to see them to believe them. Kanatal is one such place where cool breeze is the only sound you hear, fresh air is all that you breathe in, and the purest form of water is all that is available. This, coupled with treks through dense forests guided by Manish, makes ZeroStay a wonderful place that any nature and peace-loving person would never want to give a miss. ZeroStay here actually means “zero stay.” Sit back and relax, enjoy the spectacular views of the valley with some rare species of birds flying around, and snow-peaked mountains at a distance (of course if the weather is clear). They serve Garhwali dishes, which I felt were delicious. You get to interact with locals. The life of people here inspires you to always be happy, no matter what stress you are under. You would want to stay longer; one-night stays can be hectic, especially for families. This place is only for people who want to spend a few days away from the busy and stressful life in cities. Don’t expect a five-star lifestyle here, but for those who really want to “zero-stay,” this place goes beyond those “five stars.”

It was amazing! The climb uphill was not too tough, but did make us go out of breath. I mean we are not really the fittest of people. The hosts Manish and Megha were delightful, patient, and helping. The view all through the climb was breathtaking and once we reached up to the kitchen, we were welcomed with fresh Rhododendron juice! Took all the strain away! The cottage was gorgeous, the rustic appeal and the solace made the stay especially memorable. The staff was helping and caring without being intrusive, especially Ramesh. The place had a happy and positive vibe about it, and we ate, drank, and roamed around to our heart’s content. The only thing is, there was too little time. I intend to go again, soon and for a longer time. They give you full access to their kitchen, and I really want to get in there the next time. Rani the beautiful dog was adorable and friendly and the mule who carried out luggage up was such a happy soul, as was his caregiver! An ethical place that lets you soak in all the happy things. A big shoutout to Manish for all that he is doing for the local community without compromising on the ecological balance.

Manish and his team are very helpful and nice host. They helped us in all the possible ways. The amenities are very basic but if you are looking for a simple authentic stay in nature, then this is the place for you. Breathtaking views of the mountains and very interesting hiking trails close by. The food was organic and cooked with love using local products. We enjoyed our stay. Anna and Udit

Great experience! Excellent location to unwind!

The property is as advertised. In a locale which is untouched by civilization yet. The view is astounding. The hospitality is homely and super warm. They took us out on treks in the nearby hills. Deepak made the trek extremely animated and kept my son enthralled throughout. The food was ethnic and they had us licking our fingers. They even went the extra mile to teach my wife to cook a local dish. A special note of appreciation to the entire team who went out of the way to make the trip for me, my wife and five-year-old son truly memorable.

Its great place…..superb mountain view…..pleasant atmoshphere…..amazing experience……delicious food…….great hospitality…..must visit…..and please stay atleast 3-4 days to explore…..Manish will give u great information about place and trees,which is really (Website hidden by Airbnb) 100 out of 100

Had a great time here! The location on a hill top at the edge of a forest with great views of a number of peaks in the Garhwal Himalayas, was awesome! I had gone with a friend. We had a 2 bedroom cottage to ourselves. This cottage has the best views. The hosts are extremely hospitable and warm and made us feel very comfortable. The cottage we stayed in was used by villagers earlier as a temporary shelter, and has been refurbished. Accommodation is basic but comfortable. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Food is also quite good. I loved the rhododendron drink that they serve!

Hospitality is super awesome, 7 star service. I travel very frequent and stay at various places, this is the best I can expect, ambience is designed by an nature artist. Location is very good for nature Lovers. This place has lots of positive vibes. we would like to stay again.

This place is magic. Food is absolutely delicious. Amazing hospitality – Manish took me on a hike since I was traveling alone. I came here as a solo female and felt completely 100% safe. My only regret is not having stayed longer!!

 Manish is a great host. Since we were visiting during the snowfall, we were quite worried about the road conditions. But, Manish being quite proactive in his approach, made sure that we were kept updated about the road and weather condition. Once we reached the location, everything was super smooth and taken care by Manish and his team Had an amazing stay with great hospitality, location, view, food and a cricket match on snowy pitch :).

On behalf of all the group members who traveled to Kanatal and stayed at this great property, I would like to take a moment and thank Mr. Manish (Owner of the Farmhouse) and all other people for the great hospitality and a great lifetime experience.

About ZeroStay (Kanatal)

Zero stay is not a hotel but a great private farmhouse kind property which bit far from city hustle-bustle. From Chamba (Uttrakhand) this is around 15-18 KM far. No vehicle can reach directly to the property because there is a 1- 1.2 KM simple jungle trek from parking, which is mainly the most exciting and beautiful part. The most beautiful part is the position of the property, it is at the top of the hill so everybody can imagine the view from this property. It is having 3-4 duplex cottages made of mud which provides a hill-village kind of experience. Each cottage is 10-20 mtr far away from other cottages and having all the facilities.  The kitchen area is awesome, it gives feel like you are in a village. One of the great properties & visits of mine.

About the Experience & Journey

We were there 4 families (13 People – 8 Adults, 2 kids of 10 yrs+ and 3 Kinds of 4-5 years) in this trip and started from Delhi at around 2 AM in the morning on 25^th Jan 2019. Was in touch with Mr. Manish from the booking day and monitoring the weather condition on a daily basis as it was snowing heavily and 3-5 ft of snow was there in the property & trek. As per Mr. Manish’s suggestion, we carried all required clothes, shoes, medicines etc as it was freezing cold in minus and the condition was very adverse. There was no way we can reach till property (Parking Point) as due to heavy snowfall road was blocked and vehicle movement restriction was there by police. Somehow, with the guidance of Mr. Manish we reached a parking point where the great thing was Mr. Manish himself was present with his 6-7 people to welcome & help us for the snow trek. Generally, there is a mule service from parking to the property to carry luggage but due to heavy snow, that service was not there. We were traveling with little kids and in tension that how the trek will be with little kids but all issue got sorted by Mr. Manish & his members.  It was a beautiful experience, till that time again snow started and we proceeded towards ZeroStay with a little bit of fear and also excitement. But after reaching the property, we forgot all the hassle we faced. It is heaven.

A very adverse situation, 4-5 ft of snow, live snowfall, no proper walking route, minus temperature etc. but once reached the property, we got all the things readily available in no time. Hot milk for little kids, hot tea-coffee served for us, a ready bonfire to survive from the freezing cold. Thanks will be a very small word for all the arrangements & hospitality, as we were treated like family members and all the people, stretched themselves very far to provide us extra comfort and fulfilled all our requirements which should be required to fight that cold.

Next day onward there was a sunny day & very clear sky. The beauty was unexplainable and it was like heaven. A great breakfast arrangement was done in the kitchen area and we spent maximum time in the kitchen as it was giving us a totally different feeling. The best part was all mobiles were dead and we were giving quality time to each other.

In the evening a great arrangement was done for our get together party. Great food, light music, bonfire made that night something special. Looking at their arrangement nobody can say that the situation was very adverse. There was no electricity due to heavy snow but with their power back up system & the solar system did the job well. Overall it was a spellbound experience which became possible because of Mr. Manish & Team. On the returning day also all of them helped us to trek till parking where our bus was parked.

Like to mention names of all the members who made this trip a lifetime memorable trip. Thank you all for this great family like treatment –

• Mr. Manish (Owner)
• Amit (Team member helping in management/administration)
• Kishore & Ramesh (24 hrs at service)
• Bharat, Balwant, Sanju & Jasbir (Great food & services)

Once again thank you all for this great experience. See you soon. Adding few pictures of our trip.

I would love to rate ZeroStay 6 out of 5 If possible.  It is a must visit place for those people who love mountains and want to enjoy nature.  This place is value for money and I will love to visit this place very soon again because of their food/Hospitality/location/wonderful views.

Hi Manish, we had a great stay 🙂 very prompt service and warm staff. Shall visit again soon.

First of all we would like to thank the Zero Stay owners for making our trip a memorable one.  At this place you feel like you are in different world all together.  Reaching this place is a Beautiful walk through forest and then the hospitality you get is just wonderful.Food is mind blowing and the candle light dinner organised for us was the best one we ever had.  Guys you are doing wonderful job…. just keep doing the same and we are coming back for sure.

Just wanted to say thank you. It was a beautiful experience for both me and Aigul. Just the vacation we both needed. Pure ans fresh and peaceful

We booked this cottage to immerse ourselves for a few weeks of self-led meditation, yoga, spiritual practice and nature. This secluded location in the mountains was the perfect place! On arrival, we were extremely pleased with the simple mud cottage: it was large, clean and quiet. Overall, pretty basic, but it had all the essentials that we were looking for, like electricity, kettle, clean water and western toilet. All meals can be supplied and everything is cooked fresh. We had porridge, puri bhaji or stuffed parathas for breakfast; dhal, sabji, rice and chapatis for lunch; and fruit for dinner. Very happy with the food provided, which was all delicious! Manish, Major and their local helpers were all friendly and accommodating. Nothing was too much trouble for them. They made us feel very much welcomed in their mountain retreat. What we didn’t expect from our AirBnB stay was to be given the opportunity to experience a Himalayan village festival that happened to be going on during our time here. Manish & Major invited us to join them in 3 local villages over 3 days, where we were hosted as special guests by local villagers whom they hadn’t even met prior to that day! Never before had we experienced such a wonderful sense of hospitality, community and family. A real eye-opener, compared to how we seem to live in the western world. As if that wasn’t enough of an unexpected off-piste treat, Manish then took us to the nearby monastery for a morning visit and class with the resident Saint. Such wisdom ensued that we ended up returning there for a further 2 weeks of long days, soaking up the priceless teachings as well as offering our service of sweeping, cleaning, stacking bricks and even filming a short documentary! Overall, this wasn’t just a great place to stay, it was a fantastic experience that came out of the blue. Sometimes you just need to go with the flow of life and see where you end up, as often the most unique and profound experiences (like the festival and monastery) aren’t advertised anywhere. Thank you Manish and Major! If we could give you 10 stars, we would!

Being an avid traveler I always look out for offbeat places to visit. I prefer cottages in forests than concrete rooms in hotels. In a world where sustainability is more of a marketing hack than anything else I found a very pleasant surprise at ZeroStay Cottages in Kanatal. Far from the maddening crowd, there are two cottages made in traditional Garhwali architecture right in the forest. An amazing view of snow capped mountains, unreal sunrise and sunsets and a bright star lit night sky are just on the top of the list of things I loved. Manish Jain, the owner, has more love for mountains, sustainability, Garhwali architecture and culture, organic farming and a peaceful living than anyone I have ever met. The place is a clear reflection of his ideals and totally devoid of any hypocrisy. One of the very few places that is the way it should be. A short stay of three days took me to a whole different world and it was better than I could have ever imagined. The food is made with traditional Garhwali recipes and is probably the best I ever had outside home. Mornings with tea and sunrise, noon with trekking and an amazing lunch and evenings with bonfires and interesting conversations. That was more or less the routine I had. One can trek to Surkanda Devi Temple through the forest or take a walk to the villages around. Manish was extremely nice to accompany us on the visits and introduced us to local people, cuisine and much more. It’s a must visit for people who love forests, sunrises and sunsets, star gazing, trekking and soaking in the sun. I would rate it as the best visit of many. Hats off to Manish to develop such an amazing place and hope to visit it again very soon!

“There’s nothing out there that gives me more joy than staying in the mountains, close to Nature and living “in the moment” usually we find ourselves occupied with a plethora of unnecessary thoughts – I wanted to get rid of all that and have a one to one conversation with inner self , my search for a such a heaven ended at Zerostay Kanatal. The place’s managed by Manish and a few native pahadi staff, pays its ode to mother nature and bestows it’s inhabitant a sense of realization that ” what are men compared to rock and mountains”. With a breathtaking view of the snow-capped majestic Himalayas, gorgeous flora and fauna, you would want to stay here forever. The whole infrastructure is build on the principles of sustainability, simplicity and homemade. You can volunteer and work at the organic farms here, see the most humungous pumpkins, radishes (you’ve ever seen) and taste the sweetest peas that there are in the whole world! Manish was kind enough to guide us for treks.

Day 1 we trekked all the way from Zerostay to Sukannda Devi temple situated at the highest hill (in around 30km of area), the distance we trekked was about 8-9 km through a patch thick pristine forest and mind blowing view of the snow-capped Himalayas against clear blue sky, we came back to hot and fresh traditional pahadi food ( made out of vegetables plucked from the organic farms) simply delicious!

Day 2 Manish took us on a trek through the forests and the nearby villages , we enjoyed interacting with the locals, checking out the farm yields and petting animals at their farms!. We had a nice warm evenings with bonfires and melodious pahadi folk songs!

Overall my experience at ZeroStay is something that’ll stay in heart for the rest of my life and the fragrance of good memories made here would induce me to visit the place again from time to time!”

ZeroStay & Manish are Fabulous. Their hospitality and enthusiasm to make sure the guests feel elated at the stay is overwhelming. “Nestled between the view of pine trees and beautiful mountains, with Himalayas to spot at the horizon, the experience is nothing short of heaven. And if you go there at the right time – you’ll be blessed with snow. February for instance. Moreso, the clean rooms with a touch of Vintage , the delicious Garwahli cuisine and lovely chai, anytime available service, and Manish taking us on a short snowy adventure through the woods, where we just enjoyed the snow made us feel grateful for having chosen this place. Manish even helped us when our car broke down while leaving ( right from getting us a mechanic to repairing it… he was there) – ZeroStay is unmatchable and definitively a benchmark for good hosting and great hospitality. Living at Zero Stay Kanatal is just the perfect escape you need. Must Go. One of our best trip ever.

One of the most beautiful places i have ever visited. Perched on a ridge with views across forested and terraced valleys with snow covered peaks to the north, just spectacular. The only sounds are the birds and the wind. Accomodation was clean, the food was fresh and delicious and the hosts were very welcoming. Hope to return one day!

Staying at Manish’s place was an unique and out of world experience in the lap of nature. Cottages have been tastefully and innovatively designed, using local resources, to give a feel of staying in a village hut but with all basic comforts including western toilets and solar power backup. The staff was very positive, courteous and forthcoming in providing services & making the stay comfortable. Only requirement was to tell in advance, whatever one requires and there was never a no. Food preparation by Kishore and Bhola was like home cooked food which all of us relished, especially Alu Muli ki Thichoni and Chicken Pahari. Bonfire in the evening requires a special mention. We were lucky to sight Barking Deer from our Cottage and also hear its unique sound at night. Trekking through Cedar Jungles, Apple orchards and farms was an awesome experience. Away from the polluted and crowded cities, its a perfect recipe for a memorable vacation, where one could connect with oneself in absolute silence, peace and tranquility of mother nature. Will definitely visit again.

ZeroStay, run by Manish, will not appeal to everyone. It will certainly not appeal to those who like the synthetic luxuries of the modern world and could not care less for the mesmerizing beauty of nature. And, that is exactly how it should be. Firstly, the 30 minutes uphill/downhill trek from the road to the cottages, which passes through a dense deodar forest will put them off. Secondly, they might not like the very basic mud plastered cottages with bunk beds on top. Then, the lack of crowds and loud noise might make them uneasy. But, these were the very reasons why we liked ZeroStay. To us, sleeping on a cot under the shade of an apple tree on a Himalayan afternoon, gazing at the tall trees of a deodar forest in the middle distance, was high luxury. To us, trekking through that same thick deodar forest, reaching an adjoining oak forest and then circling back around the mountains into a pine forest, was high adventure. To us, eating the local dal, subzi and thick rotis, was a high gourmet experience. To us, conversations with Manish about local customs, farming practices, about the local way of life, about how he successfully got out of the Gurgaon-Noida kind of rat race to start ZeroStay, was time well spent. Trekking stories heard from Deepak and Vaibhav, seasoned trekkers and Manish’s partners, about trekking four days through rain to find 700 year old human skeletons at Rupkund; about how the 30-day Kalindi Pass snow trek always claims at least one or two human sacrifices; whetted our appetite for trekking. Among the many offbeat/wild holidays we have had, ZeroStay at Kanatal, Kaudi Range, ranks somewhere near the top, thanks largely to the down to earth hospitality of Manish. In today’s world of fake smiles and empty promises, Manish stands apart with his poker face but genuine care, with his few words but full dependability. A good person to have as your host and guide, definitely.

We had a wonderful time at Manish’s and were very sorry to leave. The location is spectacular and the whole experience exceeded our expectations. This is nature at its most beautiful and everyday is different with the changing colours of the landscape as the sun rises and sets behind the mountains. The cottages are cosy and comfortable and surprisingly warm at night with homely touches and wonderful views. And the dining area has been thoughtfully designed to make you feel like you’re in a traditional Himalayan home eating from copper tali plates and clay pots. Every meal is freshly prepared from delicious local ingredients and served in abundance with the best masala chai. From the moment we arrived to our last trek to the road we were so well looked after by all the team and loved our walks with Vaibhav into the hills and forest. We’re already planning our next trip and can’t wait to come back!

The place is only special when the people running it are good at their job. One can very well see from the images how beautiful the place is, but here I’d like to make a point on how amazing the owner and the helping staff is. They’re careful, intelligent, thoughtful and really respectful. Manish, the owner is great. He helps with everything, and is always one step ahead of you in taking your care. I’d recommend it for all age groups, be it a college trip, corporate getaway or a weekend gift to parents. Thanks a lot Manish for making our stay amazing. The team came back really fresh and happy, and that’s all I could have asked for. We look forward to staying with you again, hopefully soon.

Two words that we would use to describe ZeroStay are Tranquil and Radiant.

It was sheer luck that we were able to locate ZeroStay and get in touch with Manish Ji. Like a true samaritan,
he guided us throughout our journey and kept us informed about the weather conditions and shared a checklist with us well in advance.

It is approximately 8 hr drive from Delhi and best part starts uphill from Chamba till Kanatal which is approx 16 km. We were lucky enough to witness snowfall for around 10 km which accompanied us till we reached ZeroStay. After parking our vehicle near Vijay Milan Math, we walked on snow. It was a beautiful experience similar to walking on feathers. During the journey, we were eagerly waiting for the property which remained a mystery till we arrived. Amongst vast expanse of white sheet, stood an exquisite mud cottage. When we arrived the lights were off and the cottage was glowing in the light of snow.

As a mark of respect to nature, all the resources used are in their true form. Mud and stone walls & bed, mud flooring, brass utensils, clay pots, tree trunks being used as table and chairs and home grown organic vegetables from ZeroStay.

One may either choose to trek to nearby locations or laze around in sun with a book is a choice to make. Food is freshly cooked basis the menu available and served in clay pots, which further adds to the flavor.

True to its name, ZeroStay will eventually make one believe that if natural resources are optimally utilized and luxuries are minimized, one does not need much to live happily after !!

Just perfect location for a very nice refreshing getaway. It is sad we did not get a lot of time. I really do not want to go back. You really feel that oneness with the forest, the land, and the people out here make you feel that connection, they do not hold back, to help you feel a lot more one with them. As a concept, I really like it, up in the hills, away from all of the noise. As I pointed out yesterday, silence really scares me, but this wonderful silence can rejuvenate you. Only sounds of birds and wind that make you feel peaceful. The accommodation is really nice, very authentic, you feel like you are in the village, which you do not get very often, very spacious as well for something that is so small as to be called as a cottage. I think it would accommodate families very well. I hope that we get rains and the crops grow and we can also see how the crops look like. It is a very interesting thing you know that you have so many varieties of crops right up here in the mountains, and with tough weather conditions, you are able to accommodate so many different delicious fruits and vegetables. The villagers were really nice. I was very impressed. They wanted us to come to their place. They wanted to feed us. They wanted to give us, and after knowing the fact, that it is so difficult for them to actually go and get the water from down there, after coming to know it is very heavy to carry it, but then yet they were so willing to share whatever little they have, it makes you feel like very welcoming, their hospitality is really very commendable, other than that I do not think anybody would want to leave this place. Thank you for having us over here.

I think you really appreciate the simplicity of life and how self-sufficient people here are, and how we, I mean, when we compare our lifestyle with theirs, they seem so much more happier than we are, in just having everything around them, for them, rather than us we keep striving for lot of things in life, but they are very self satisfied, happier than us. Coming here I think it is really peaceful and serene, and you get a lot of time to meditate, just you know, not think, for once in your life, and the trek is wonderful, I enjoyed the treks a lot whatever short treks we had, I think it was fun, the jungle trek was amazing, the heat does not get to you, and when you look at these huge pine and cedar trees, you in comparison with them, just makes you wonder how huge this whole universe is and how much variety and beauty. Will surely plan a longer vacation here next time.

Value for money! Amazing place to stay amidst beautiful and mesmerizing view. Owners are very friendly and supportive. Excellent service. Would definitely go for round

This was one of our best trip because of beautiful location and our amazing and super cool host. We are definitely going to visit Manish very often now. Thanks for all your help Manish and thanks to our cool guide Vaibhav too for taking us on Jungle Trek. The Staff is very helpful and all nice and honest people. Perfect place for party and to spend quality time with Friends and Family

We, family with a kid, stayed at ZeroStay for a couple of nights. It was great to see Manish, getting involved himself, in ensuring that we are treated to the best the place has to offer. It is scenic, isolated. We had to hike through a nice forest trek to reach here. That alone makes the stay “different” from the myriad other resorts where you just park and enter the property. Manish practices what he preaches. rare quality. Fortunately, we backed his plans with our best efforts. We shall always remember the *tough* Surkanda Devi trek. Its a great place to unwind, forget about the distractions, have simple food, be in the nature. Keep it the same, Manish. Thanks Manish for showing around the mountain trails, the locals lifestyles and delicate balance of nature. It is inspiring what you plan on doing with zerostay. All the best ! on personal note, we suggest to install handrails on the stairs to attic. It shall make it safer for kids, who want to climb to it, every other second 🙂

If you are looking for a calm and peaceful place to stay in and with all possible facilities. This has to be the place for you. Kudos to the host Manish for keeping this place so raw that you cannot find it in any resort. The best thing is, you will never get a ‘NO’ as an answer for anything you need. Food is awesomely cooked by Kushal singh. We cooked one meal for ourself and whole staff participated without even asking once. Such crisp hospitality. Coming to the view. You cannot get any better view than this place, i can bet on that. That snow cladded shivalik range view is breath taking. Cottages are spacious and can easily accommodate 5-6 people. They arrange bonfire just outside the cottage. Every word in the description is true. No fake pics or any exaggeration. Just go for it.

This was my second visit in two months. The place truly lives up to the name – rustic life at its best with wonderful views. Do remember to take Manish on those beautiful village treks nearby!

Guys..this can be a ultimate place if you are looking to spend 2-3 days in nature’s lap. Go in a group of 5-6 people and just relax and rejuvenate. Very helpful and polite staff. Food was amazing. No negative point to mention.

This was our first Airbnb experience and we couldn’t have asked for anything better. We were looking for a place that would be away from the chaos and cacophony of the touristy destinations and I found Zero Stay at the right time. The cottages are on Himalayan terraces that you can reach after a blissful jungle hike. Walking down the silent forest was a beautiful experience and we had our share of adventure as well. The food served at the stay was delicious. Kishore took care of us like family, and the Pahadi Chicken is a must try! The veggies that were served are locally grown. Manish is an incredible host – warm, friendly and punctual. I’m surely going back to this place again, probably during the winters because Kishore has tempted us with his description of how the entire place dresses in white in the months of Jan and Feb.

It was great to be at your stay, Manish. We loved it and we look forward to be back during Jan. You have my number, so maybe you can let me know when it snows and we’ll drop in. It was a perfect weekend and the jungle adventure would be a chapter for all 4 of us to cherish forever. Thank you so much has for hosting us. Also, convey my regards to Kishore. We loved him.

It is great to have escape like this. Host(Manish and team) is very cooperative. Value for money! A perfect combination of jungle walk, night life, clouds and mountains

Its a perfect place for a wanderlust to stay. First pleasant surprise is the jungle walk towards the cottage and before you overcome the awe of dense forest, you get the view of a lovely cottage situated the top of a mountain. Its designed beautifully with a two tier bedding arrangements made with bamboos and equipped with all the basic necessities in desi style. The Host Mr Manish is really a super host as he do everything to make your stay great. Food is great too, do not forget try the locale daal and sweet dish. At the end of our stay, only two things were in our mind, one was to extend our stay and other was to come again. so its a highly recommended place from my side. I would request all to not throw great gifts like wrappers, bottles, eatables on the trail to cottage or anywhere in the forest 🙂 . PS: those who hate walking and experiencing something which can be pleasant or unpleasant. Plz stay away from it and try regular hotels at Musoorie itself.

A perfect place to unwind and connect to nature. The views are stunning. The treks and the villages around are a treat. Manish is a perfect host who takes great care of you and leaves no effort to make sure each one in the family is happy. Superb place

ZeroStay is an excellent place to enjoy nature and a breathtaking view of the Himalayas. There is a view of dense Deodar forest from the cottages. The sunrise and sunsets are really worth watching. Apart from scenic beauty one can get insights on the lives of hill folk and their customs. Its a good destination for those looking for a unique all round experience in the Himalayas.

For any wanderlust looking for peace n calm from the city life, zero stay is THE PLACE for you. Surrounded by lush green forest and quietude. The place is clean with friendly staff. Expect simple but delicious homecooked food. There is a small trek through the forest to reach the cottage. People averse to walking or looking for a people lively place, please reconsider the choice. Overall had a wonderful time reconnecting with nature and myself.

“In the lap of the Mother Nature” Wow, four holidays in hand! But, the question was how to spend these precious days in the complete mood of ‘Fursat ke raat-din?’ I asked my parents as where they would like to go? My father shot back, “If possible, a locale away from the hullabaloo of the city where there are green woods, sweet chattering of birds, cool breeze and tranquility.” “I have found a place exactly like that- the ZeroStay at a remote village in Tehri Garhwal near Kanatal!. It is a bit away from the motor road in the lap of a dense forest of cedars, oaks and rhododendrons.” We all agreed and ZeroStay at 8500 ft was our sojourn for four days. A perfect place of our dreams for complete relaxation. Manish Jain, the owner (more a friend, philosopher & guide) took us to ZeroStay through a dense forest to the hilltop village with only a few scattered kuchcha houses/ huts. Lodging was cosy within the mud walls with basic facilities. Dining and cooking with ethnic touch was arranged in different huts. Shining sun cooked daal-chawal for us with its solar power. And, drinking water? Ah, the real mineral water from the natural spring in the nearby dense forest. Our routine included personal interaction (which is minimum in the city), nature, walks, Himalaya Darshan with a range of 180 degrees! Bird and butterfly watching and nature photography. We saw a lot of birds there including chirping flocks of Sparrows, Bulbuls, Chukars, Whistling Thrushes, Tree Pipits, Laughing Thrushes etc. and the starlit sky with prominent Orion constellation in the night. We preferred local food and even prepared Aloo Parathas! Our 4 day sojourn was more a nature therapy for our soul and mind. We recommend ZeroStay for those who wish to zero down to long forgotten mother nature and enjoy warmth of love in her lap.

Amazing place to stay, been very close to nature in 2 days…clouds passing by.. chilling breeze around, view of Hills from the cottage, same hills but you will always find it breathtaking. Even you will find view of Himalayas when it is clear sky. We were lucky to see the full moon rise during bonfire, I suggest people to enjoy this experience rather than luxury resorts stay in any other tourist spots. Manish and Megha has been the great host and the food was awesome ..local pahadi food

The place is at a quiet location in the jungle. You feel a breath of fresh air as you begin your trek towards homestay. The lungs have an easier time inhaling purest form of air in the midst of trees here. If you guys love trekking, this is an awesome place to be. The place is also great for someone looking for some solitude in life. Manish is a great host with penchant for old hindi songs. If you are interested, would go out on treks with you and show you the jungle around. I hope to be back soon!

Staying at the peak of a mountain at 8500 feet above sea level was lovely, cold and refreshing. Away from all the din, one could hear the forest sounds, birds, animals and the whistle of the breeze coming from cedar and pine forest range that is near it. The cottages were reachable after a short trek from the main road. Cars are parked on the main road in a private area and drivers could stay down there easily with food and other arrangements. One may have to carry small eats, snack packs etc but there is supply of ala carte snacks and food on order. Adequate blankets and quilts are provided to withstand cold weather but visitors are advised to carry some light woolens and head gear to enjoy the bonfire in the open. Though this depends on the season of visit. If one is fit enough for a 4-5 hour trek then on could go to the temple located at a visible altitude from the stay from where you could get a fascinating view of the region and if you are lucky enough the distant peaks of Himalayas. It is a fabulous stay with a rural setting and modern amenities. Manish and Team’s hospitality, homely customised local food and minute care is probably the best that one could find anywhere in this region or any hotel/resort. Best suited for people who really want some peace, rest and quality time with family and friends

ZeroStay exceeds expectations of what a quiet getaway, up on the hills and away from busy everyday life should be. Simplicity at its best, the stay, the food, the people were amazing to say the least. Manish is an inspiration, his view of life and concern for the environment is truly commendable. The views from the room is hard to forget, the views of the valley during sunset are amazing. We were even able to catch a glimpse of the snow cap mountains. You can trek to the forests which Manish will be very happy to take along. It’s sure a place that you will want to get back to. You have to trek a mile to get to the place and while doing so, you will be out of breath but that sets you up for the experience where you disconnect from the usual madness and brace the magic of Zerostay!! Thank you Manish

This is the perfect place for escaping the bustle and enjoying the stunning beauty of the mountains and forests in Uttarakhand. Manish and Megha have a wonderful approach to life and eco-tourism. They are great hosts with a wonderful sense of humour. They took us on hikes and prepared delicious food every day. The cottage is beautiful and really in keeping with the surroundings. It’s tucked away far from the traffic, nestled in the mountains. The perfect getaway. Thanks so much guys!

OVERALL. Simply fantastic to go alone, go with your partner and to go with large families. All the time spent at Zerostay will remind you how life can be wonderful to experience when human aggression, domination, greed for money, lust and all the other miserable city life habits are left behind and nature is put ahead. No man can teach what a mountain can. They keep you fit, healthy and honest. They remind of the simplicity of life. They show you how being nice to others is the greatest virtue you can attain. And one must always remember. We never conquer the mountain. We only conquer ourselves. ACCOMMODATION: Nice mud cottages with attached bathrooms and solar backup. Clean and warm carpets and blankets. Nice sit out with a bonfire setup. Electric kettles and room heaters available on request. FOOD: Freshly cooked food everyday. You might wonder why you are being asked about what you would like to eat one day in advance. That is because restaurant styled frozen stale food is not served. RECREATION: Dodge ball, cricket, trekking into the jungle, trekking to Surkanda Devi, village walks, star gazing, peak watching and more.

A great host with detailed mindset. Staff is properly trained and kind enough to take care of all your requests. Kishor kumar – a mind-blowing cook. Conceptually designed kitchen with cleaned utensils. Property was maintained beautifully and comfort was as soothing as our own home.

Having a property, off-the-road, is a great idea. Interaction with villagers quite interesting. They are quite helpful, ready to interact any time, quite talkative. Food, especially the village food was prepared quite well and quite delicious also. Accommodation is very close to village houses, so feel like you are staying as one of them. It is a successful idea to build house as per climate. I would suggest please expand fast. I would like to see/harvest crops next time when I come here.

We walked through jungle to reach property. It was very wonderful walk. Very warm welcome from the staff. We got very late, but they were still awake for us. Location is just amazing, at hill top, surrounded by mountains and clouds and forest from all sides, what else you want. You feel life. You get a break from your day-to-day routine. You recharge yourself. We went to village, we observe the way of living of people over here, how they live, how they stay healthy, very self sufficient, it is very good to see for us and for future generations to know how to be self sufficient, we should learn from these people and this is our heritage and we should preserve it, and the initiative like this will help preserving that. I would really encourage all the parents to send their kids to such place so that they should see for themselves practically, what healthy living is. Concept is very good. I really like it. The cottages were very nicely made. Whatever we need is there, whatever we want is not there, so clutter is not there basically. Attention does not get distracted. Like TV is not there, in fact it inspired me to take phones off from my kids also. Basic amenities are there, and team is managing quite well. Farms are there. I wish if we could spend some more there and then we could have know their farming practices. Very clearly one can see that how village, livestock, and forest is connected to each other. Looking at villager’s lifestyle here, one can clearly make out that you do not need money to be happy. Usage of renewable energy products is very appreciating. One should stay for at least 1 in 12 months in such place. If kids come in group here, they will have good time to bond with each other, as there are no distractions.

Please maintain it as it is with least resources, best management.  Keep same activities.  It is very good.

Manish and Deepak ji are superb host. Surroundings are just awesome. Thanks..you are a superb host.

Manish’s place was off beat and in the midst of lush green mountains. A perfect getaway if you want to have a relaxed outing. The staff was very helpful and friendly.

The trek is beautiful. You don’t need to be athletic fit or anything. The place is cool and serene with a beautiful landscape. Staff is very polite and helpful. Cottages are neat and tidy with a beautiful authentic essence. Snacks and dinner served were freshly cooked and had the taste of your kitchen. Overall a serene and beautiful place. The place is not about lavishness or luxury, the place is about simplicity and peace. Had a great time. Just the kind of place I was looking for. Great hospitality. Staff is very decent and helping. Great cottages.

Beautiful camp! Manish was an excellent host and helped us arrange transport and took us on a great hike. Had amazing food prepared whilst there

Had a weekend stay here for a night. Like Manish said, if you are looking to come here for sightseeing, not a place for you. But if you are looking to unwind, with peaceful surroundings, hospitable staff & good homemade food, that’s what you’ll find. Thank you Manish & team. Hope to see you sometime soon

This makes for an awesome getaway trip. It provides the best escape that one craves for while in their strenuous work schedules. Manish is a great host and takes care of all your requests. Would definitely want to come back and relish these moments again 🙂 We had a great stay. Loved the picturesque view that the cottage offered. The hospitality was outstanding. The food was great too. To have offered that experience at a location like that is absolutely amazing. Thanks for making it a memorable trip for us, Manish. We’ll try dropping by again sometime in winters. Kudos!

Even though I had to cancel my visit at a short notice, Manish was prompt with his help and support throughout my planning process. Hope to make a visit as soon as I can.

It’s a lovely, beautiful place in the lap of himalayas, no place can beat this place at KANATAL. .. It was a great place to stay, It was Heaven on Earth, & above all MANISH & his team was a great Host…

Nice play to be at if you need a vacation away from daily life’s hustle bustle.

Loved his choice of music, desi fresh and local food. The trek and the huts with bunk beds. The overall feel of the place is great. Thank you Manish for looking after us so well. It was a memorable trip. I wish we could stay longer. Thank you again for the lovely list of songs you played that added to the charm. The choice of food was left on you, and was never a disappointment. The suji halwa was great. We are definitely coming back soon but this time for a longer stay.

This is the perfect place for escaping the bustle and enjoying the stunning beauty of the mountains and forests in Uttarakhand. Manish and Meera have a wonderful approach to life and eco-tourism. They are great hosts with a wonderful sense of humour. They took us on hikes and prepared delicious food every day. The cottage is beautiful and really in keeping with the surroundings. It’s tucked away far from the traffic, nestled in the mountains. The perfect getaway. Thanks so much guys! Thank you both for our stay, it was perfect and we really enjoyed getting to know you. Gervase & Polly.

If you want to find a place to get some time for yourself away from all the hustle and bustle of city life , be close to nature , cut off (almost) from mobile comms with a wonderful host to take care of you, look no further – just check in to ZeroStay for the most relaxing downtime you can have. Our family trip here was one of the best we had connecting with nature and each other. Thanks Manish, Vaibhav, Major Tomar and the staff for a wonderful stay. Cheers! Hi Manish…Thank you for the wonderful stay at ZeroStay. We enjoyed it absolutely – got the much needed downtime ! Hope to visit again soon

Manish is very helpful. Place is superb. Peaceful place. Food was amazing. Homly feeling. It was great experience. Trekking n picture perfect view.from bzy city life it was great experience.

One of the best places to stay in Kanatal. The stay made our trip amazing.

Great place – a short walk from the car park.

Right from our arrival at the place, everything was so perfectly taken care of and arranged according to our needs. The food, the treks, the cleanliness, the perfect aura around the place, everything is handwoven by this dedicated team. Such a serene place with scenic beauty at its best, am really happy I had chance to have rendezvous with nature during this trip. Thanks again guys , job well done. Thanks Manish, Major Tomer, Mr Rawat, Kishore and rest of the team for such hospitality and such a wonderful experience.

Place is so beautiful and quiet. People who want to relax and don’t want to much crowd then go for it. I also like the host and staff attitude. Services are awesome and rates are also minimal. People who like tracking, then this will be a good place because you can go surkanda devi temple by tracking 2.5 km of distance. So, whole place is very good and pleasant with lots of greenery. Manish you have very good attitude and your place is too pleasant. I really like your place and people working with you. I will definitely come to your place again with family. I also like to suggest you, if possible, please add the distance of your place from the road and the way to reach your place. This definitely helps few people to understand the fun to rach your place and also give some idea not to take the family members who nit able to walk or track. Thanks for Being a great host and services.

The place and the host, both were wonderful. It was completely relaxing to be in the lap of nature. The cottage also seemed like an extension of the scenic outdoors. Everything we needed was provided for and the food was healthy and delicious. the jungle nearby was beautiful and abundant. I would recommend this place highly to anyone seeking to soothe their exhausted nerves and to replenish the spirit. Thank you Manish.

The location of the place is fantastic. However, be prepared to trek from the road to the accomodation, which when done for the first time feels a lot more than 700 mtrs. The meals are basic but wholesome and tasty. The accomodation is well constructed and clean, however, the toilets are a tad small. Overall a great location and a good place to have as a base for various trekking excursions.

This is a place for those who love nature, quietness, village life and simple meditative surroundings. One has to walk for about 15 minutes through the dense forest on a narrow path way from the road-head to the dwellings at Zerostay, carrying ones own belongings and therefore only back-packs or rucksacks are recommended. Those who are not used to walking around in hilly forested tracks and those who feel that they cannot live without TV or swimming pools, should stay away from this serene place. The proprietor of ZeroStay, Mr. Manish Jain is a true nature lover and a simple down to earth person. He loves his work and has a deep sense of responsibility towards conservation of environment. Manish, we felt very good to stay at your place. We liked the way you and your team treated us. What I liked most is your positive attitude towards life as well as the natural surroundings. You have maintained the place very well and it allows the host to spend quiet time in a meditative atmosphere. The food is also healthy as well as delicious. There was no wastage of anything and the whole place is eco-friendly. We would certainly like to come there again for a longer holiday.

The ZeroStay cottage is great for especially those who love nature’s (www.zerostay.com) a great get away from city life with a very reasonable and homemade food, but to enjoy the trip atleast give 2-3 days there to revive yourself and you must be able to trek , that’s a must … Manish please keep on doing the great job..A big thank you to you and your team,for great hospitality, specially to little Nitin☺. My son found a good friend in him.He still remember him.

While I am writing this review I fear that this place won’t be available to stay at next NYE seeing my review 😉 We, group of 7 including two couples decided to spend our NYE at this place. Mark my words, now each and every one of us says that this was best New Year Eve we ever had. From guiding us from booking, traveling and carrying stuffs we might need to saying us goodbye, Manish and his team was extremely friendly. You need not to care about meals as they provide it freshly cooked at very nominal price. In short you have to get to that place and everything will be taken care of. The small trekking from main road to place is beautiful one, and everyone would love to get clicked. There is a bed upstairs in house that is so wonderfully located that you wake up with sunrise and its enchanting view over mountains. Bonfire just outside house is something worth experiencing in night with music to add on. If you are going from Delhi/NCR, in a group, try booking a tempo traveler to reach there.. The visit can be around 2.5-3.5k per head for a weekend. We loved the chai (tea) served in kullhad (Clay Glass) which gives actually *ZeroStay* at this place. If you are reading this, then I would say it will be lifetime experience which you would love to share when you are back to your routine life. Good luck to Manish and team! Keep doing good stuff! 🙂

The place was just perfect. Location, hospitality, cleanliness were to the point. Manish and the entire crew are very helpful. On top of that, the food was just amazing. A must visit place!

If you are looking for extravagance and opulence, this is not the place. However, if you are looking for a home far away from the hustle bustle of city life, back to basics, a revisit to rural living, you can’t get a better place from zero stay near kanatal. Starts with a 700 mts trek through the jungle which by itself manifests into what you will be waiting for. This is not for the faint hearted, but for someone who is willing to explore adventure. The magnificent sunrise along with the majestic view of the Himalayas from the cottage, or as the golden rays of sunset that adorns the Himalayas, you should not miss this place. Food is an added advantage, basic, homemade, with home grown vegetables. Pure bliss. The chirping of birds, or the sound of the wind, or your own echo, shrouds this place, that is serene, calm and delivers nature at its best. Few places boast such a combination and to me, this was exquisite. A number of treks available, thru the jungle, thru the village, you just need to be physically willing. Or just laze around, warming yourselves around bonfire, just shifting your glimpse between cidar and pine trees, step farms and vastly spread out village cottages. This is simple living at its best with what nature has to offer. People are so warm, that their innocence touches you deep within. Don’t miss the surkanta devi temple trek thru the jungle that almost pushes your inner strength, or the trek to a stream that’s full of minerals – the origin can never be guaged, or the trek to the nearby village that consummates your thoughts into how people are self sufficient. Wonderful place, would visit again and again to rejuvenate, remind myself that I just a small atom in this universe. Manish Jain is a fantastic host, and serves you from his heart. Once in a lifetime visit for anyone who is looking at what nature has to offer. Realisations galore, if you are looking at where human beings are in the face of Nature.

If someone is actually looking for a vacation in the Himalayas, away from the usual hustle and bustle of a touristy hill station, this is the place. You can literally stay in the middle of nowhere yet having everything at your disposal. The calmness around in the lap of nature makes the location really ecstatic and suitable for a not so city lover tourist. The hosts are amicable and extremely hospitable to cater to your needs. The cottages are designed pretty well to make you feel sort of like a village stay. Adding to that the great food cooked by the inhouse farm grown vegetables makes it too difficult to make you feel to ever leave the place. Be ready to trek to the stay for around twenty minutes from the nearest motorable road. People who want a mix of treking and some chilled out time for relaxation should definitely try out this place. At the end who doesn’t want to stare from the bunk beds at the stars with the Himalayas in the backdrop? The entire concept of the stay promoting rural tourism is well thought of and worth appreciating. The decor, curtlery, food amongst other things have been well articulated in line with their main purpose of showcasing a village stay on the hills. Nearest available bus station is Chamba from where a car can bring you to the place. On request, the hosts themselves can arrange for a pick up on payment of a reasonable amount. Overall, a must visit place for a couple or a gang of friends who want to mix their share of experience of adventure and lazying around in the hills,and not to forget the bonfire in the evening makes it interestingly a different vacation which you normally expect to have, had you stayed over at any normal hotel in any hill station. Thanks Manish and Megha for all the help, hospitality and company. Hope to see you soon, this time may be with more people with us!

We have come to stay at Kanatal, place called ZeroStay Kanatal, resort run by Mr. Manish Jain, A resort set in a very idealistic and pristine location, untouched by Humans and totally in touch with Nature. It was a nice 20 minutes trek from the main road where you leave behind all your worries, your mobile connections, your network everything and here you are just yourself and your family, so all the activities that you do here are either with Nature or with your group. The resort by itself is located in a totally cutoff location, it is very well maintained, the facilities are good, and Manish and his crew are very hospitable, the food, the ambience, and everything is wonderful, it is a place that you must visit, the place where you must stay, and whatever activities you do here are with Nature, what you do is you Trek, you laze around, you enjoy, and you are one with nature for these 2-3 days, your phone will not pick up any network, there is no Wi-Fi, there is no WhatsApp, nothing, it is just you, your company, and Nature. We had a lovely time. We can see Majestic Himalayas. When you wake up, you see a beautiful sunrise, and the pine trees. We had a lovely trek to Natural water spring in Jungle, which is a source of water to all the surrounding villages. It was a wonderful and memorable trip. Will definitely come again, and at that time there is a beautiful Devi temple here, definitely we will trek and go to that temple. I just wish Manish and his crew all the best and I do hope that we come and stay here as often as we can. Thanks a lot to Mr. Manish and his crew.

This is the place where I can came every month. From delicious food to awesome natures view. It is the perfect place to connect with nature and enjoy the surroundings. This is for sure one of the most beautiful places i have ever visited. This place is truly twosome and I will surely visit again

Variety of Birds. Only noise you hear is that of the birds and the bees. Very caring and helpful staff.
Excellent food, we enjoyed it thoroughly. Loved the fact that agriculture is actually happening here.

We are a group of 13 people. We liked the location, the ambience, the village theme, staff is very nice and helpful. The food is just awesome. We stayed here for 2 nights and we had a stupendous time. We will surely come back again.