An Engineer’s Dreamy Homestay In Kashmir Is A Tribute To The Magic Of Their Wonderful Homeland

Engineer Insha Kazi returned to Kashmir from the UK to show tourists how wonderful and picturesque her hometown is. On her old land, she built Cheese Cottage, a homestay that honors her love of the valley.

When asked about your dream vacation, what image comes to mind? Does that include a nightly campfire in the sprawling grounds? Miles of orchards and gentle falling snow? Just imagine the cold and the warmth of a hot yaknikofta. If so, we would say it is not a dream but a paradise in the valley of Kashmir.

Cheese Cottage has an eclectic ring to it, both in its name and the beautiful experience it offers its guests. With its sleek and elegant wooden interior and plush furnishings, this cottage looks like it took a lot of its inspiration from a storybook. And behind this beautifully designed two-story piece of art of hers is Insha Kazi. Her pride in her hometown is evident in every corner of her home.

The 32-year-old civil engineer, who graduated from the UK with a degree in marketing, returned to Kashmir in 2015. She founded what would later become her one of the first fashion and design schools in the Valley, with the intention of spreading her passion among young people in her hometown. Since 2016, the SSMD School of Fashion & Design in Parishaspora has produced a large pool of talent who know how to carve out a niche in the world of fashion and interior design.

According to Insha, the main aim of all her work has always been to unleash their creativity and create employment opportunities for Kashmiri youths who just need an outlet. This also applies to cheese cottages.

 

Ruined royal capital

In 2000, Insha’s parents stumbled across his 1943-built country mansion in Tangmarg, Kashmir. The land attributed to Maharajah Hari Singh Ji, the last reigning king of Jammu and Kashmir, was left in ruins under royal control. Insha’s parents took one look at the land and realized that with the right eyes, a veritable paradise was being created. In the same year they purchased land and began planting an orchard in the ruins.

When Insha returned to Kashmir, she was amazed at the beauty of this country. “Tangmarg has a rich dairy history and my first thought was to set up a cheese factory to tap into local resources and skills. The scenic Tangmarg will be a wonderful destination for tourists,” says Insha in conversation with The Better India.

In 2020 Insha started building a cheese factory and started producing Gouda, Kalari and others. However, a month later, the COVID-19 lockdown hit and the store had to close immediately. As soon as one door closes, another opens. As Insha sat and wondered how such a beautiful space could be left unused, she realized that there were many avenues that opened up for her. “Looking at the snow-capped peaks of the valley and the creek flowing out of the property gave me an idea of ​​what I wanted to do with the space,” Insha says of her dream of designing a home here. Cheese Cottage Homestay is a haven for those who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of the valley while opting for a quiet getaway to the mountains. But what’s most appealing about her homestay facility, Insha says, is the opportunity to infuse her own love of art into every inch.

Inspiration was everywhere

Insha, an arts patron, said that when she was in college, she was thinking about how culture can be seeded through art. Therefore, their design philosophy was to choose local materials such as Deodar wood and walnut wood, which are native to Kashmir and known to be less perishable. Having lived in Europe and studied Western art, she wanted the cottage to reflect European industrial-era design—jewelry upholstery and Gothic interiors.

 

“We commissioned a local basket maker to design things like basket plant holders and bathroom baskets. But we used it in the form of a sink or something,” says Insha. At that time, Insha just wanted a place for her family. She had no intention of staying with her host family. But after the construction and furnishings were completed and she posted the photos on social media, people started pouring in their inquiries. All the inquiries were the same. “Can I make a reservation for one night here?”

And in September 2022, The Cheese Cottage has grown from Insha’s dream to the dream vacation home of many around the world. “This 30-acre property of hers looks like it came right out of a period drama,” she noted while taking us on a virtual tour of her home. “There are two deluxe rooms and two standard rooms. “The antique clocks and provincial French chairs around the house, the exquisite chandeliers, the dramatic lighting, the gilded mirrors and paintings, and the structural lighting. It’s the main attraction,” she says. Guests love to sit by the fireplace, and the hallway is filled with chintz armchairs, life-size paintings, and vintage décor that Insha has sourced from Kashmir and local markets in Europe, creating an instantly welcoming atmosphere. Drift.

For adventurous guests who want to explore the great outdoors, Tangmarg’s Durung Waterfalls is the place to be. This waterfall springs from a glacier and freezes completely in winter, forming large icicle structures that double the beauty of the place as much as possible. Insha adds, “Guests often have picnics by the creek or enjoy historical walks around the city.There are plenty of activities for everyone.”

She says guests always expect a hearty meal after a day of adventure.

“We are known for waste hak (red amaranth cooked in Kashmiri spices), dagis hand (stew of mashed dried dandelion leaves), kanguch plavu (mushrooms boiled in bland rice), maruchawangan. Traditional dishes such as korma (mutton braised in red chili sauce), daniwal korma (mutton braised in yogurt and coriander) and waz kokur (specially cooked chicken), as well as burgers and pizza , pasta, eggplant in tamarind sauce, etc.” Property. With acres of walnut, pine, oak, apple, plum and pear trees, The Cheese Cottage is a wonderful place for nature lovers.

Milk, on the other hand, comes from the cows raised here. All this for Rs 25,000 per night.

One of the guests, Ms. Shabam, described her experience as “a lot of fun.” “We had an amazing view of some of the prominent mountains of the Himalayas.Shivraj, the caretaker, will welcome you and help you explore the surrounding area. He’s also a great cook. He cooked us some wonderful local dishes. Don’t forget to explore the nearby village of Nagaon. A small village with its own culture. ”

Insha, on the other hand, is proud of her loving work, saying her house has been packed since she started having guests. “I grew up loving Kashmir, and even if I went abroad, I would always come back,” she said. Now, I am very happy to have the opportunity to inspire others about my hometown. ”