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The Cedar House

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Mashobra, Himachal Pradesh

The Cedar House

A restored colonial cottage above Mashobra, let to one party at a time.

4.8 · 4 reviews From ₹6,500 / night

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A look around

Moments from the house

The Cedar House — The House, photo 1 of 7
The Cedar House — The House, photo 2 of 7
The Cedar House — The Deodars, photo 3 of 7
The Cedar House — The Deodars, photo 4 of 7
The Cedar House — The Deodars, photo 5 of 7
The Cedar House — photo 6 of 7
The Cedar House — photo 7 of 7

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Rooms

Where you will stay

The Blue Room
The Blue Room

The principal bedroom, with the original fireplace and a dressing room the previous owners had turned into storage. We took the storage out. The deodar floor is the 1906 one, sanded once and left; the shutters are original and still close properly against a July storm. Fire is laid each evening from October. Wood is by the hearth.

Sleeps
2
Size
380 sq ft
Room
Fireplace, Ensuite, Garden view, Breakfast, +3
₹7,500/ night View room
The Deodar Room
The Deodar Room

Looks into the trees on the north side, which means green light all day and no direct sun at all. The desk under the window is the reason several guests have extended. It is a real desk, not a hotel table, and the chair matches it. Coolest room in the house in May, and the one to avoid in January unless you like it cold.

Sleeps
2
Size
320 sq ft
Room
Garden view, Ensuite, Hot water, Forest view, +2
₹6,500/ night View room
The Veranda Room
The Veranda Room

Opens onto its own length of the covered veranda, with two chairs, a table, and the ridge running away south. This is where people take breakfast if it is not raining and tea if it is. Screened from the rest of the veranda, so it is genuinely private. The warmest of the three in winter — it faces the afternoon sun and holds it.

Sleeps
2
Size
300 sq ft
Room
Veranda, Ensuite, Mountain view, Private veranda, +2
₹7,000/ night View room

Facilities

What you can use while you are here

  • Hot water
  • Wi-Fi
  • Parking
  • Garden
  • Bonfire
  • Power backup

The hosts

The house was built in 1908 for a forestry officer and had been empty for a decade when I found it. Restoring it took three years and a great deal of arguing with carpenters about what to keep — the deodar floors and the shutters stayed, the partition walls did not. There is one party in the house at a time, so the drawing room, the veranda and the garden are yours. I live in the cottage at the gate and appear when you want me to and not otherwise.

Mashobra, Himachal Pradesh

About Mashobra, Himachal Pradesh

Mashobra is thirteen kilometres from Shimla on the Naldehra road, at around 2,200 m, and is mostly deodar reserve forest — the reason the British built here and the reason it is still quiet. Craignano's hilltop garden is six kilometres away, Naldehra's old nine-hole course twelve. Shimla is close enough to visit for an afternoon and far enough that you cannot hear it. May and June are busy; the monsoon and the cold months are when the forest is at its best.

Getting here 3 ways in

Nearest airport
Shimla (Jubbarhatti, 35 km) or Chandigarh (130 km).
Nearest rail
Shimla on the toy train from Kalka.
By road
thirteen kilometres from Shimla on the Naldehra road, under half an hour, tarmac the whole way.

There is parking inside the gate.

When to come

Apr–Jun
Oct–Nov
Apr–Jun
Long days and the garden at its best.
Oct–Nov
Clear and cold.

Nearby

Mashobra Forest

Mashobra Forest

2 km
Trek

Deodar on every side; the reserve gate is a short walk.

Craignano

Craignano

6 km
Sightseeing

A hilltop garden the Italians laid out, with a view to match.

Naldehra

Naldehra

12 km
Sightseeing

The old nine-hole course under the cedars.

Shimla Mall Road

Shimla Mall Road

13 km
Heritage

Close enough to visit, far enough not to hear.

Packages & experiences

The House to Yourselves

The House to Yourselves

₹21,000

3 nights / 4 days

Three nights, whole house, one party. Ira cooks and then leaves you alone.

  • • All meals
  • • Whole house
  • • Complete privacy
A Fortnight of Work

A Fortnight of Work

₹78,000

14 nights

Long-stay rate, the desk in the drawing room, and the wifi to use it.

  • • All meals
  • • Laundry
  • • Desk and fast wifi

Things to do

Arranged by us, run by people we know

  • Tandem flight from Billing

    Sample — Bir Billing Paragliding

    Takeoff at Billing, landing at Bir. Fifteen to twenty minutes in the air, and the drive up is included. Certified pilot, one passenger.

    Price
    ₹3,000
    Takes
    2½ hours
    Group size
    up to 1 person

    If you cancel: Flying is weather-dependent and is often called off on the morning. Nothing is owed: charging for a day the wind decided would be charging for our own risk.

    Ask about this

  • Sunrise dolphin boat

    Sample — Coastline Boats

    Out at six, back by nine. Tea on board. Dolphins are wild and are not promised.

    Price
    ₹800
    Takes
    3 hours
    Group size
    up to 6 people

    If you cancel: Cancelled by us for weather, nothing is owed.

    Ask about this

  • Motorcycle for the day

    Sample — Himalayan Bike Hire

    A 350 with helmets for two, fuelled and checked over. Licence shown at pickup.

    Price
    ₹1,400
    Takes
    10 hours
    Group size
    up to 2 people

    If you cancel: Nothing owed if the guest cancels

    Ask about this

  • Rafting, 16 km

    Sample — River Rafting Co.

    Shivpuri to Rishikesh, grade III. Guide, gear and safety kayak. Two and a half hours on the water.

    Price
    ₹1,200
    Takes
    3½ hours
    Group size
    up to 8 people

    If you cancel: Half the price is owed inside 24 hours, because the boat and the guide are committed.

    Ask about this

  • Snow scooter ride

    Sample — Solang Snow Sports

    Twenty minutes on a marked track with an instructor riding pillion. Boots and gloves provided.

    Price
    ₹1,500
    Takes
    45 minutes
    Group size
    up to 2 people

    If you cancel: Called off when there is not enough snow, at no charge.

    Ask about this

Run by local operators we work with. Ask us and we will arrange it for you — nothing is charged here.

Guest love

Guests remember

We had the whole house. Ira is present exactly as much as you want and no more.
Nandita K. Kolkata
The restoration is genuinely careful — nothing has been prettified. Rare.
James W. London
Worth every rupee for the quiet alone. The veranda in the morning is the reason to come.
Aditi B. Mumbai
Beautiful and very private. Bring warm clothes, the old house is cold in December.
Henrik A. Copenhagen

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Good to know

What time is check-in?

From 12 noon; early check-in on request.

Do you serve meals?

Yes — Ira cooks, and eats with you only if you ask.

Is it family friendly?

Yes, though the house is let to one party at a time.

How do we reach you?

13 km from Shimla on the Mashobra road; we'll share directions on WhatsApp.

House rules

  • Quiet hours after 10 pm
  • Carry a valid photo ID
  • Pets welcome on request
  • The house is let to one party at a time — no visitors overnight

Book your stay

Request your dates and we will share payment details to confirm your booking.

How much would you like to pay now?

The Cedar House

From ₹6,500 / night

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