A home on the mountain
Buari Gaon, a hidden Himalayan gem, offers the unique luxury of time, pristine nature and authentic experiences, led by the village women.
How to Reach
Nearest Airport – Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
By Road – Travel to Chinyalisaur, followed by another cab ride and then a short trek
The Story
Bakri Chhap began with Rupesh Rai, a former hotelier. He and Pradeep Panwar launched the initiative in Panwar’s village in Uttarakhand, partnering with local women affected by migration. Today, Bakri Chhap’s village homestays have become a sanctuary for solo female travellers, with an almost 27 per cent rise in footfall, says Rai.
Festive March
If you are travelling in March, don’t miss the Ghasiyari Festival (March 7-9) at Buari Gaon, a lively celebration of women’s strength and mountain traditions, with a grass-cutting challenge, a rural fashion show, and folk music and dance.
The Goat Wedding
This quirky yet traditional ceremony celebrates the role of livestock in rural life. A popular tradition in the region, it is a wedding unlike any you’ve seen before.
Ever dreamt of a vacation spot so remote that even your phone gives up trying to find a signal? Or one where you are “forced” to forget the office as the Internet is left far behind? Where the only “work” to attend to is lazing around in the serenity of the Himalayas, feasting on home-cooked food, and exploring uncharted mountain paths?
Welcome to Buari Gaon, a delightfully isolated village tucked away in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal mountains, where your itinerary reads like a blank page and your to-do list is beautifully empty!
The four-hour drive from Dehradun to Matholi, the nearest drop-off point, is nature’s own blockbuster with dramatic mountains, forests, and rolling meadows by the Bhagirathi River. The real adventure begins with the local welcoming party — your unexpected neighbours may include spiders, chameleons, frogs, and millipedes. Don’t be surprised if a few grasshoppers drop by or if the village dogs become your guides. Occasionally, a snake might slither by to check if you’re settling in well!
From Matholi, a brisk 150-m walk leads you to a cosy cottage in Buari, run by local women who have transformed the village into a thriving eco-tourism hub.
The Women
From Matholi, a brisk 150-m walk leads you to your cosy cottage, where a group of women greets you with warm smiles and hugs. They are not just hospitable hosts but the driving force behind the village’s sustainable tourism initiatives. Pride flashes across their suncreased faces as they share how they have transformed their once-abandoned village into a thriving eco-tourism hub.
Even until a few years ago, this village wore a deserted look, with residents preferring the hustle-bustle of towns and cities. A few local women, supported by the group Bakri Chhap, reclaimed the land, reviving both their heritage and livelihoods. Buari Gaon and its homestay isn’t just another rustic getaway but represents resilience, sustainable living, and a powerful transformation led by women. From managing homestays and organic farming to producing artisanal crafts, sharing folk tales with guests, and even leading treks, everything is done by the women here! “We are not just caretakers but entrepreneurs,” says Babita, one of the hosts.
The Stay
Buari offers the luxury of an authentic mountain experience. The beautifully restored stone and wooden cottages are designed with a local aesthetic. Natural stone blocks the cold, while locally woven mats keep the floors warm. But it’s the ever-shifting hues of the mountains, framed perfectly in the window that become addictive, tempting you to linger just one more day. Meals are freshly cooked on wood-fired stoves, using organic and indigenous ingredients. Chutneys are hand-ground using a stone mortar and pestle, vegetables are roughly chopped to retain their flavours, and lentils are slowcooked until their aroma fills the kitchen. Feast on wholesome red rice and millet flatbreads with aloo ke gutke (a traditional potato dish), gahat ki dal (lentils), and the famous bhangjeera (hemp seed) chutney.
Tasks at Hand
Here, the day begins early with the sun’s first rays and the cheerful chirping of birds. Wander into the kitchen, where the women treat you to delicious food while sharing stories from their daily lives and the wisdom of the mountains.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, ask any of the women to lead you on a trek through countless trails offering breathtaking views. Also, try your hand at traditional farming activities to experience firsthand what it takes to grow food in this terrain. The women will guide you through the process, sharing age-old techniques passed down through generations.
As the sun sets, trade the day’s hard work for an adventure under the stars. A moonlit trek through quiet trails, far from city lights, leads to a cosy bonfire, where village elders bring the Himalayas to life through folk tales and ancient wisdom. Buari isn’t just about a vacation; it’s about slowing down, breathing in the crisp mountain air and connecting with the land authentically.
Other Quest
