Stay in:
Particularly in the colder months it makes much more sense to stay here rather than in a conventional hotel. The open fire roars, board games and books pile up, and marshmallows and hot chocolate are de rigueur. Did we mention the hearty home-cooked food?!

Don’t worry about feeling cut-off, there’s Wi-Fi throughout, and the lounge room has the house’s only TV.

If you do venture out, you can easily walk or just ask for a taxi to be called, a trusted third party is the provider.

Out and about:
With a host like Madhavi you have at your disposal an excellent local guide, she knows the entire area and can show you some incredible places or point you in the right direction, from traditional tourist ‘sights’ to lovely forest walks.

Shimla, though commercial and crowded, still has an old heart, thankfully pedestrianised and with many lovely colonial buildings. The town hall, church and Mall Road are certainly worth seeing and the Coffee House is a great hangout and not overpriced.