The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal: A super cup of tea and treasured times in the mountains
The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal is run by 37-year-old Upasana Todi Prakash, originally from Kolkata, who now live in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. “I have an MBA in finance and was all set to climb the corporate ladder, but the tea gardens and mountains were calling out to us! Moving here feels like the best decision we made, not just personally, but also for my husband and my entrepreneurship journey,” she shares.
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Tea time
Their family has been in tea for four generations, and they owned Wah Tea Estate since 1953. “I wanted to create a space where people could experience life on a working tea estate and the serenity of the Dhauladhar mountains. So we built The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal on our own land, right inside the tea garden—it’s entirely family-owned. We opened The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal in 2017, so it’s been about a decade now,” she shares.
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As a family, Todi Prakash’s parents-in-law Deepak and Neerja Prakash, and her husband Surya and she oversee everything personally, from tea production and estate management, where they are currently in the process of turning fully organic to hospitality, and the overall guest experience along with marketing and retail. “We’re a hands-on family, deeply involved in everything from hosting guests at our homestay to guiding tea tastings at the estate and overseeing our café on the estate,” she says.
Love of the place
It’s incredibly fulfilling to share for the family their way of life with people from around the world. She says, “I love hearing their stories, watching them slow down, and seeing how deeply they connect with the land and the calm of the estate. We also love knowing that guests have left learning so much about the effort it takes to make every cup of perfect tea!”
It’s a working tea estate, not just a homestay or a resort. Guests live amidst tea bushes, wake up to birdsong, and learn about tea from bush to cup. The architecture is eco-friendly, inspired by local Kangra homes, and each detail is thoughtfully handcrafted. They also have a large organic permaculture garden, where they grow 70 to 80% of the vegetables, herbs and fruits they offer to guests at the homestay and café.
At The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal they keep it personal. From welcome tea to custom meals and curated experiences, everything is warm, mindful, and hosted with care. Guests are often surprised by the level of personal attention.
A day at The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal
Guests usually start the day with a walk around the estate or yoga on the lawn, followed by a farm-fresh breakfast. They might take a tea tour, do a tasting session, or go birdwatching. Afternoons are lazy with books or board games, or spent sight-seeing our gorgeous region with a myriad of different activities, and evenings are spent around a bonfire or under starry skies.
The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal offers guided tea tours, tastings, and cooking sessions upon request—especially Himachali or local meals.
“The architecture is vernacular; we’ve used slate, mud, and wood. Meals feature Himachali dishes. Our staff are from nearby villages, and they share stories and local traditions quite organically with guests,” Todi Prakash says about how Himachali culture is embodied in the stay.
Their Kangri Dham thali is very popular, and guests also love siddu (steamed wheat buns), khatta meat (local mutton curry), and local seasonal vegetables prepared home-style at The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal.
Celebrate life
Holi is a big celebration at The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal, and guests love participating. Sometimes, guests also coincide with local fairs or weddings and get a chance to witness traditional music, attire, and rituals.
Each room has modern comforts—luxury bathrooms, Wi-Fi, all weather aircons—but the soul of the space is Himachali. “We avoid anything overly commercial and keep the experience grounded in simplicity and warmth. The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal was built using sustainable materials from the estate—mud, stone, and wood. We compost, limit our use of plastic, and grow much of our own produce organically,” she reveals.
Most of the team is local—from chefs to guides. She says, “We source ingredients, décor, and materials locally. Guests are encouraged to buy crafts directly from artisans when we direct them to nearby markets. We have worked with local potters, weavers, and farmers. Some guests enjoy visiting them or taking part in short demos or workshops. When couples become friends, not just with us but with each other, that is the best outcome of the experience for us. We have had guests who became friends, and now travel the world together.”
Initially, staffing and training in hospitality was hard since Palampur is a small town. But with time, the family built a loyal and well-trained team who now treat the place like their own.
Guest love
Most guests say the calm, the warmth of The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal team, and the connection to nature make their stay unforgettable. They often describe it as a sanctuary or a retreat.
“We communicate in English and Hindi, but have managed all languages well with translation apps. Hospitality is a universal language, and warmth goes a long way in bridging any gaps. We want to deepen our connection with slow living and offer more wellness-focused experiences—like yoga retreats, longer-term creative residencies, or artist stays. We also want to expand our permaculture focus, and integrate more of the menus and experiences around the organic garden,” she says.
The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal is in the midst of setting up a tea museum for guests to learn more deeply about tea. This will be an in-depth knowledge base starting from ancient times to current tea trends and practices around the world.
Words of wisdom
Based on her experience, Todi Prakash has advice for those who want to set up a stay in Himachal. She says, “Respect the local environment and culture. Build something rooted in the land. And be prepared to be hands-on—hospitality is not a remote job. In the early days, guests would often think Palampur was just a pit stop. Now, people come specifically to stay here and unwind. We’ve seen honeymooners become parents and return with kids—watching these relationships grow is deeply special.”
The authenticity is The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal’s USP. “It’s not a manufactured experience. It’s a real tea estate, a real home, with real people who care deeply about what they do. And that genuine connection is rare and unforgettable,” she ends.
To book a stay at The Lodge at Wah in Palampur in Himachal contact 9831443282
