This 100-year-old property in Landour beckons travellers to soak in its heritage

Amidst the hustle and bustle of city life, our heart yearns to escape to places where time moves at a leisurely pace. For me, Landour in Uttarakhand is that ‘paradise in the hills’. 

Even after visiting the cantonment town numerous times, my fascination with it never ends. The charming colonial structures, long walks on winding roads, and then some more—it's my ideal itinerary to unwind and catch a breath now and then. 

During my recent trip, I also gave my heart away to a space I’d most certainly call a ‘home away from home’—La Villa Bethany. 

Husband-wife duo Amarjeet and Sunita Kudle discovered the 100-year-old structure in a state of disrepair way back in 2009. After years of restoration, the couple (formerly hospitality professionals in Delhi) opened the property to the public in May 2011.

This charming property has been on my bucket list ever since I stumbled upon a few images on social media. I must admit it's far more stunning in reality. At first glance, it's likely to remind you of the quaint, thatched-roof cottages in an Enid Blyton novel.

But there's so much more to it once you dig deeper. YS Life tells you all about it.

A home for rest and healing

La Villa Bethany was originally constructed in 1905 by a Dutch-Pennsylvanian medical missionary Dr Frandsen Valberg as a home for leprosy patients. The stigma associated with the disease meant patients could not return even after getting treated as their families would not accept them.

The name ‘Bethany’ fits right in; its biblical meaning—a place of rest and healing. Today, the property provides resting and healing, but of a different kind. 

The bed and breakfast that draws travellers today from across the world wasn't something the Kudles had ever envisioned. 

It was a chance decision by the city-bred couple to leave behind their life in Delhi and move to the hills at a juncture when they had flourishing careers. At the same time, they were always in favour of their daughter being brought up in a small town, away from the humdrum of a concrete jungle. 

“We came to Landour for a holiday in 2009 just to get away from the madness of the city. On a walk along the Upper Chukker, we happened to spot the structure that was one stage before a ruin. The roof had half fallen, and there was no path to access it. But something about the house spoke to us,” recalls Sunita, who calls herself the innkeeper of La Villa Bethany. 

On asking around, they learnt that the home was under a Christian mission—who were on the brink of selling it because they couldn't manage it. After much convincing, Bethany was handed over to the Kudles on a 40-year lease in 2009. 

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Restoration efforts 

After taking over, the Kudles kickstarted the restoration of La Villa Bethany at their own expense. First, they had to construct a pathway to access the property. In its current form, one can reach La Villa Bethany by taking a few steps and a winding path (from the main road). 

“It's also steep, so we had to figure out how people will come up and down. We also got a custom golf cart built that could ply on this path,” says Sunita. 

While the couple retained the original exterior of the house, they refurbished the interior from top to bottom. Since Mussoorie has stringent laws regarding construction in the area, the Kudles had to be mindful of any additions. 

Sunita adds, “One of the biggest challenges was that there were only two bathrooms on the property. How does one fit in bathrooms without increasing the floor area?” 

The villa underwent several nips and tucks to be deemed fit for habitation. In fact, the Kudles ensured to use original construction materials as much as possible. 

“We used a lot of slate but didn't buy it. Previously in Uttarakhand, the village houses all had a slate roof, but after the casualties during the Uttarkashi earthquake, people started getting rid of it. Instead of mining more slate, we got it from the villagers and reused it,” she adds. 

Charming accommodation 

During the chat, Sunita shared that every part of the house pays homage to the founders of Mussoorie and Landour. There's the Captain Young’s dining room, Mackinnon's study, Pahadi Wilson’s Cabin, or the Royale Gardens—each recreating the magic of the colonial era. 

As far as accommodation goes, La Villa Bethany has seven rooms, which the couple offer as five units, including a three-bedroom unit they often generally split up and goes by the name, Falconer’s Floor. 

There's also the Bedell Suite and Shaw Suite with vintage colonial interiors, a wood-burning stove and a private balcony overlooking the Doon Valley. 

You could also choose to stay at the Pahadi Wilson's Log Cabin—a cedar and pinewood cabin, with a king-size bed on the lower floor and two single beds on the mezzanine. It has a private sitout terrace that makes you feel you are in the woods! 

But my favourite has to be the Bag End’s Suite—a thematic suite paying tribute to JRR Tolkien’s Hobbit Home. A well-thought-out accommodation, it has everything from pyrography artworks (done by Amarjeet himself) to literature around the Hobbit. It also comes with a private terrace that offers some of the most stunning views of the Doon Valley. I was also fortunate to catch the first winterline of the season. 

What else? 

The Kudles encourage guests to consider La Villa Bethany as their home. The villa’s dining room is the centre of all action, where travellers from across the world converge at breakfast and dinner time to share stories while savouring homestyle meals from different regions across India, prepared by the local kitchen staff. 

My favourite was the Sindhi meal comprising of a tangy Sindhi curry and aloo tuk (crispy spiced potato slices).

So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and head to this heritage property that exudes colonial charm in generous measure!