A serene, impeccably built, boutique orchard guesthouse in India’s famous apple-country, Seetalvan Orchard offers a haven for families and couples alike searching for a mountain getaway, while also laying claim to one of the finest views in the country.

Kotgarh, a few hours drive north of the state capital Shimla, 15km off the Shimla-Tibet highway, is the heart of Himachal’s orchard country, the place where the famous Samuel aka Satyananda Stokes began the apple boom.

Seetalvan itself is one of the orchards coming directly from the Stokes’ family line. The relatively recent additions of the guesthouse buildings – 4 private double rooms in one stone building, and 1 large four-bedroom cottage, alongside living room and dining room – sit between the family home above and the work-filled apple tree terraces below.

Although many guests tend to use Seetalvan as a stopover on a tour of the region, often only staying one night, it’s actually the kind of location that rewards an extended stay, allowing the view – one of the finest we’ve ever seen – to wash over you as you get lost in thought or sit with a book on the balcony, before enjoying an evening bonfire below the stars.

For the more adventurous and active, there are plenty of walking and hiking trails in the area and your hosts are happy to help with this. Not far away there’s also the famous Hatu Peak, where an ancient pahari temple sits, and from which fantastic views of the Greater Himalayas can be found.