Frequently asked Questions
Gamru village is 1500 metres above the sea level and about four kilometers from Mcleod Ganj.
The villa is connected with a metalled motorable road accessible to small cars. Larger cars need to drop off guests 100m from the villa.
By Road: Drive or take an overnight bus from Delhi via Chandigarh which takes about 10 hours. The Villa is 2km away from the ISBT.
By Train: Reach Pathankot followed by a taxi ride to Forktail Villa that takes about 3 hours.
By Air: Fly down to Kangra airport followed by a taxi ride up to Forktail Villa that takes about 30 minutes.
We will be happy to arrange a taxi to pick you up. However, please do ensure that you tell us your needs well in advance.
We have free internet access, the speed is usually good on most days but then you also get days when it crawls or on storm days the link has a tendency of going down. We request you to use it responsibly and not use it for streaming and large downloads.
Phone signal here is very good and most networks work well here.
The kitchen is fully equipped. We also have a refrigerator, lots of pots and pans and basic supplies for cooking. We have a small bar counter adjoining the kitchen and you can get your own drinks.
Basic groceries can be bought in Gamru village itself should you wish to cook your meals.
The drinking water comes from a nearby mountain spring and we have a RO filter installed in the kitchen, Dharamshala has a water shortage problem so we request you to be sparse with both hot and cold water.
Please turn off the lights and appliances when not in use.
While we have taken every effort to make the villa warm, welcoming, and comfortable, it is by no means a hotel or a resort. It is a family home in the truest sense - so, while the house is completely self-contained, we will unfortunately not be able to offer hotel-like facilities such as room service, food and drink on demand, generator or daily cleaning and turn down.
We can accommodate most reasonable requests, with adequate prior notice. The villa will be cleaned and bed and bath linen will be changed once every three days.
We can also provide a cook at an additional cost of Rs 1500/day. All groceries to be purchased by the guests.
The villa is located in the middle of a local village.
While you are welcome to enjoy yourself, make a barbecue in the garden, have some drinks and a great time - please note that making large fires, playing loud music, trashing the house, causing disturbance and inconveniencing neighbours - are a big no-no.
All music should be restricted to low volume post 10 pm.
Please be a considerate guest towards the house, the neighbours and the forest that surrounds Gamru village.
The villa is a live house and has a large garden around it - so, "creepy crawlies", rather, bugs and insects, are an integral part of the eco-system here. If you spot them inside the house or out in the garden, please do not be alarmed. Virtually none of them are harmful or poisonous. Please do not attempt to kill or squash them and request the host for help. Also, the garden has a lot of bird nests (mostly sparrows) please make sure not to disturb or touch any of them.
If you need your clothes laundered, you could inform the host who will be able to help you.
The village has a good laundry and clothes are typically returned within two days. Or you can choose to use the washing machine in the laundry room but again you might have to use the machine on the “Express-15” mode as most other modes are very high on water consumption.
For a complete list of activities offered in-house - click here
When you rent the villa, you will have complete access to the house and all the amenities in it - giving you complete privacy and freedom. However, please be mindful that this is a lived-in house and the host's personal belongings - such as books, CDs, curios, artifacts, etc. might be around. I request you to treat all belongings with care and caution as many of the items in the house are irreplaceable and of heritage and sentimental value.
Other things to note:
- We do not have a TV in the house
- We do not have an AC in the house. The villa is constructed out of mud which naturally keeps the elements at bay.
- No parking on property – You can park in Dharamshala market which is 5 mins drive and 10 mins walk from our villa. Our driver will pick you from the parking and drop you back on the checkout date at no extra cost. For the remaining dates, you can call a taxi or walk to the parking lot. Most of our guests prefer taking a cab everywhere as it is hard to drive on the narrow steep roads and taxis cost 150 to 250 rupees for most local places.
Basic Essentials
- Towels, bed sheets, soap, and toilet paper
- Heating
- Hot water
- Iron
- Laptop friendly workspace
- Washer
- Wifi
- Extra pillows and blankets
- Hangers
Kitchen & Dining
- Coffee maker
- Cooking basics
- Pots and pans
- Oil, salt, and pepper
- Plates
- Kitchen
- Cutlery
- Refrigerator
- Stove
Guest access
- Host or the caretaker greets you
- Private entrance
Outdoor
- Verandah
- Front yard
- Backyard
Safety
- First aid kit
- Fire Extinguisher
Not included
- Air conditioning
- TV
- Toiletries