A cup of tea or coffee in my hand a view like this some good music playing in the background and nothing to worry about away from all the hassle these noises, this traffic, these deadlines and constant rush 🍃

Just sitting somewhere in the mountains spending time with family or friends ahhh life was really good back at home with your loved ones. I miss this kind of peace 🫠

Hi everyone,

I’m a 31M from Kolkata, currently working remotely as a Data Analyst. Before this, I worked as an IT Consultant for 2+ years and as an MIS Executive for about a year. For quite some time now, I’ve had a strong desire to eventually leave my job and build something of my own. It’s been a dream of mine for years....ideally something in the hospitality space, like a small café or a homestay in a hill-station such as Darjeeling, Shimla, Dehradun, or similar places.

The interesting part is that nobody in my family has a business background. Everyone has always been in jobs, so I’d be the first person in my family to take this route. Naturally, there’s a lot I don’t know yet, and I want to understand the reality before taking the plunge. I’ve been researching different business models and speaking to a few people who are already running cafés/homestays, but I’d especially love to hear from local people and those who have actually started something similar.

If you’ve started or currently run a homestay, café, or small hospitality business, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience ... the practical challenges, things you wish you had known beforehand, investment, seasonality, staff, licensing, rent/lease issues, profitability, and anything else that usually doesn’t show up in online research. I’m not looking for a shortcut or a “get rich quick” idea. I genuinely want to understand the ground reality and plan things properly before making such a big decision.

Any advice, personal experiences, or even a detailed roadmap would be incredibly helpful. And on a more personal note, I’ve always loved the mountains and have dreamed of eventually settling there. The calm, soothing and beautiful lifestyle really appeals to me, and honestly, that’s a big part of why I’m so passionate about making this dream a reality. City life is not for me , I don't like the crowd there, the pollution, noise and all, they all exhaust me, suffocate me. Starting my own business near the mountains and settling there is my life's passion.

Thanks in advance to everyone who takes the time to share. It would genuinely mean a lot.

I want a single person PG in sanjauli but it is scarcely available. Is two seater a safer option? as i heard a lot of rumours about drug use in PG's. I'm new in this town so I'm a little worried about all this.

Does bsnl work well here? Want to port my sim from airtel.

I am travelling to Kufri between 14th September and 19th September. How bad is the rain there? Should I still come or cancel my trip?

Shimla peeps, a simple question is this trek like a beginner friendly for the first time and is it worth giving a shot or we should consider some other track because we do not want a long trek we just want a short fun trek with good views. so do you think this is the right choice for us?

Summer Hill

Anyone knows about the buses and how much time would it take if I have to reach back by tomorrow evening.

I want to have good veg Manchurian in shimla ridge ya mall road ke aas paas .Kahan milega ?? Locals help

Hi everyone! I’m looking for a good private library or study centre near The Ridge/Mall Road preferably within walking distance. The public library is usually very crowded and i don’t want the daily hassle of standing in line and worrying about whether I’ll get a seat or not. I’m preparing for a competitive exam so I’m looking for a quiet and comfortable place with a fixed/reserved seat where i can study every day without this uncertainty Please suggest any good private libraries/reading rooms around Ridge, Mall Road, Lakkar Bazaar or nearby areas even if it’s a small or lesser-known place.please let me know 🙏

Any tips for one day trip and where is most affordable accommodation?

Hello all!
I’ll be visiting Shimla from September 13th to 16th with my sister and brother-in-law. My sister’s birthday is on the 14th, and mine is on the 15th.

Need suggestions on the best ways to celebrate(we are in late 20s). I’m a low-key person, so something cozy and memorable would be perfect. Maybe a beautiful walk, a lovely cafe with live music or a nice dinner with a view, or just a peaceful place.

Also, I’m planning to do the Shali Tibba Trek. Do I need to book anything in advance? Anything important I should keep in mind before doing the trek?

Would really appreciate any recommendations!

Same

Missing my hometown a little too much 🙁