Manirang Cafe and Homestay — Hotel in Himachal Pradesh

The Manirang Café and Homestay is one of the better organized homestays in Dhankar. At the time of review, the tourist season hadn't started in earnest and the terrace café was closed. The homestay, however, operates the year around. Located on the first floor of a three-storied building, it gives you a genuine experience of staying in a traditional Spiti house. Mostly built of adobe blocks and poplar wood, the ceiling has wood and thatch for insulation. Sleeping arrangements are in two communal dorms with comfortable mattresses arranged on carpeted floors. The larger room has a picture-window with a beautiful view of Dhankar village, the old and new monasteries, and the scenic mountains on the opposite bank of the Spiti river. The homestay is equipped with a shared modern toilet with WC, geyser and a shower. There's a dry Spiti toilet on the premises as well, if you want a genuine Spiti experience. Host Anil Kumar is building a family room with attached toilet on the third floor. At the time of review, it is still some months from being ready for visitors. Host Anil is a knowledgeable guide and has a vehicle. This comes in handy for solo travellers using public transport, as there's no reliable transport from Sichling, the nearest bus stop, to Dhankar, a distance of 9 kms. Charges apply. This being a homestay, you eat what the hosting family eats, so do be sensitive to local culture and the family's concerns. If you stay long enough, you can experience a range of local Spiti food like tigmo(Tibetan bread), kyu(a Spiti stew with dumplings), thenthuk, thukpa, etc. The food is simple and austere, the potatoes and peas in your meal have been locally grown. In season, you might want to stay on a room only or room+breakfast basis and try the cuisine in different restaurants in this small village, most with awesome views of the valley and surrounding mountains. Off-season, you'll need to have all your meals with the family in the traditional kitchen-cum-drawing room with a bukhari to keep you warm. All in all, a great experience, whatever the weather...

I have a very mixed feeling about our stay at this place. There were some elements of home missing in the 'homestay' As a homestay the accomodation is wonderful. We felt a sense of living in a Spiti house. Rooms were very neat and spacious. It is a pet friendly space & I was accompanied by my kittens, they had a lovely time on the terrace which was entirely to us. The food was homecooked so very soothing on the stomach. We had variety in dinner for our 2 night stay. But the breakfast was the same bread and omlette both the days. The small cafe and the eating space inside the house is very personal and beautifully curated. Yet the missing element is the home atmosphere. The warmth and welcoming gesture is missing in the host family. They seem very detached and commercialised to a large extent. So much so that on the last day when after breakfast we were ready to go, they were not present for goodbyes. The entire episode felt...

I recently had food here and had a mixed experience. The food was absolutely delicious and well-prepared dishes that truly satisfied my taste buds. However, the service was quite slow, which was a bit frustrating. Additionally, I recommend carrying cash for payments, as there was a network issue affecting UPI transactions. Overall, a great place for tasty food, but be prepared for a wait...