An intimate, cultured and elegantly furnished homestay tucked away in a sedate south-east Delhi enclave, Dharohar is a delightful, wonderfully located sanctuary in the sprawling, diverse and often chaotic capital.

Although homestays are proliferating in the city, few offer guests such beauty and charm, or in fact the real feeling of being at home, as Dharohar.

The apartment, which occupies the second floor of a three-story building in GK-1 – an upscale neighbourhood in south-east Delhi – is both large and intimate, with gorgeous interiors reflecting the owner’s background as a classically trained dancer and artist.

Oriental antique rugs cover the marble floors, and artifacts both antique and contemporary are scattered everywhere: terracotta figurines, wooden puppets from Rajasthan, paper mache boxes from Kashmir, and beautiful paintings are all wonderfully matched with the decor.

The word ‘sanctuary’ is bandied around a lot, but in this case it truly applies: Dharohar is the perfect home to return to after a day spent shopping and sightseeing, or a night out eating and drinking. The sense of stillness and peace one discovers inside instantly relieves the pressures of the city outside.

The owner is usually present, but when she is away, Papiya, her caretaker and cook, takes over, making sure the household runs like clockwork and the guests are well looked after.