Let the name Kuflon Basics not deceive you. It is anything but basic. Its rich. Rich in fresh air. Rich in greens, berries, and wilderness. Rich in spaces for relaxed reading, strolling, or doing nothing. Rich in taste (of the amazing home-cooked food). And above all, rich in the warmth of the consummate hosts—Anil and Shree, and Shifu, their 5 year old daughter.
Everything that needs to be said about Kuflon has already been said. Every single soul who has stayed at Kuflon Basics so far has been touched in some way or other. Since 2004! The three large volumes of guest books are a testimony to that. So, what more can we write?
Kuflon Basics was suggested to us by a common friend (of us and Anils), when we wanted to stay place in the hills, away from tourist spots, and to take long walks/hikes through the valleys, villages, and the forests. And it could not have gotten better than this.
The homestay run by the Anils, Kuflon Basics on the slopes of a hill, facing a mountain, with the Assi Ganga river flowing through the valley in between. Behind the cottage is a forest along the mountains that raise to Shiladuni, a trekking destination. Anil, the quintessential mountain man from Uttarkashi, quit his corporate banking career, immediately after starting it, to become a naturalist/guide at one of the national parks in the plains. Perhaps, the call of the mountains was irresistible. Soon, he was back in the mountains to give shape to his dream. What started with a tent in 2004 is now a beautiful home stay with space for accommodating 5 families, apart from his own. For many years in the beginning, there was no electricity even, and it was rustic and basic in literal terms. A few years later, Shree also joined the adventure.
Apart from the five rooms and a separate dining areas is the hub, a central place that acts as the visiting room for the guests and the family to spend time. There is a well-appointed coffee/tea/snacks station where the guests are encouraged to help themselves. At the centre is a fire place. Wooden sofas/chairs all around, with a couple of swings thrown in. Also, a bookshelf with a range of books to pick from. With all these, any time is a hub-time. But it’s pre-dinner and post-dinner when the hub becomes more lively. Everyone (including the family) gets together, have soup or a drink, and chat. During one of our nights there, an Israeli couple (Shay and Chloe) on honeymoon was there as guests. Over drinks, soups, and some homemade kosher bread made my Chloe, we shared and listened to each other’s unique and romantic stories of meeting their partners.
Lazing around the hub or reading are not the only things you can enjoy at Kuflon Basics. You can take a long walk along the road by the river, hike through the village, or explore the waterfalls tucked inside the forest behind the cottages (a good 20-minute hike through the forest). Or simply climb the rock by the side of the hub and gaze at the mountains with awe.
Before we checked out, we had already planned our next visit, with an intention to stay for a longer duration and do a few treks.
Also Read
Our stay with Steve Lall and family at Jilling Estate, Uttarakhand. (The Renegades of Jilling)
Our stay with James and family at Maplepine Farms, Meghalaya. (Handmade Homes and Homemade Meals)
