Experience

​In the 1800s, a Scottish forest officer named Duff Dunbar arrived in the Kullu Valley and saw what many overlooked—a paradise at risk. As colonial expansion and local industries stripped the land of its ancient deodar forests, Dunbar made it his mission to protect and restore them. His efforts laid the foundation for the dense, breathtaking woodlands that define Manali today.

So beloved was Dunbar’s work that for a time, maps referred to this region as Duff Dunbar. Travelers passing through would see a humble signboard next to the young deodar saplings he had planted:

“I am still in my infancy and crave your clemency.”

Even India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehruji, recognized the significance of these trees, choosing to be photographed under their shelter when he visited Manali in 1942.

Today, The Duffdun House stands on the very land that Duff Dunbar once called home. The towering deodars that surround us are more than just scenery—they are a living testament to one man’s vision and the legacy of preservation that continues to shape this valley.

When you stay with us, you don’t just experience Manali’s beauty—you become part of its history.