The Mirage Andretta is a perfect place to rest and be enriched. We are a homestay hideaway in the mountains. Wake up to the sound of birds, open the curtains and see the snow-capped Himalayas. You can either stay cozy and read a book or go for short strolls through the village. Visit Tibetan temples, the local pottery workshop or take a trip to Dharamsala & McLeod Ganj. There are local tea plantations to tour or for the more adventurous, beautiful hiking and paragliding opportunities. We also have a beautiful glass surrounded Yoga Shala with amazing views and a soon to be completed outdoor swimming pool. We have 3 buildings on the large terraced plot with 11 rooms between them. The tranquillity of the area is next to none and for many decades, artists, writers, and poets have retreated here to contemplate the deeper aspects of life. Andretta is authentic northern rural India.
State Highway 17 Near Andretta Potteryj, Woodlands Artists colony, Andretta, Palampur,, Andretta 176103 India
The Mirage Andretta
126 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Nestled in a small village amidst nature’s bounty, The Mirage is a perfect home stay for someone who doesn’t wish to stay at a property which is mere bricks and mortar. The Mirage offers you a feeling that you’re holidaying in the comfort of your own home. This is possible because of Denis, who is a great host. He’s ensured that the place doesn’t lose its authenticity and become a regular hotel/guest house. He’s extremely particular about how he wants his place to be and doesn’t want any fiddling with that. This place could be a perfect destination for travellers who are looking for peace and tranquility but could be a nightmare for people who want noise, crowd, unnecessarily plush mattresses, fancy menus etc.
Things I loved about the place:
1. Food here is authentic, simple, less spicy and oily and cooked with a lot of love. The menu is fixed but is customisable upon prior request. The timings of food are fixed, if you miss the time, you can simply remove your shoes, enter the kitchen and help yourself. This is something that I admired in particular as this shows that Denis is concerned about his staff and doesn’t overwork them by making them work till late for the guests.
2. The rooms are stocked with the best of books, so if you have a lot of time it won’t be easy to kill. Plus a place full of books has its own soul.
3. There is art all over, be it the art of nature, or the well curated and organic rooms.
4. Everyone at this property is super chill (including their dog sweetie) and makes you feel really welcomed and special.
5. Their heated pool adds charm to the place, specially after a few mugs of beer.
Will I come back here sometime in future? A definitive yes! Maybe with some more time and lesser people so that I can absorb all that this place has to offer even more.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Denis Harrap, Owner at The Mirage Andretta
Responded 9 Nov 2020
Dear Awani, It was a pleasure meeting you & your friends & I'm really grateful that you enjoyed The Mirage so much that you've written such a favourable review....thank you very much. I hope to welcome you back someday soon. Denis
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If like us, you are looking to stay in non-hotel place, Mirage is perfect. It has personality and an extremely warm one at that. Loved the traditional architecture, knick-knacks and the art and photographs all over. The service is homely, the food by the wonderful Arju is tasty and varied, served in a dining room and the drinks around the bonfire are heartwarming. The manager Pankaj is there to advise and help on anything. The wonderful owner Denis may share his brewed coffee, hearty bread and stories with you :-) The heated pool is glorious (we were unprepared as we hit this place on a road trip) and the yoga shala is a gorgeous zen glasshouse that makes you want to stay a week minimum. The views and greens around as well as the village walks and small treks near the river make it fun. There is a lot of history to this artists’ village in Andretta. Those with mobility issues should take the cottages, the White house has a short steep flight to the besrooms upstairs. All in all, highly recommended as a place to rest, read, and rejuvenate.
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Denis Harrap, Owner at The Mirage Andretta
Responded 5 Feb 2021
Thanks so much for your lovely & generous review. Come again after April 1st & the pool will be back in action. Safe travels, Denis
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We stumbled upon this place on one of the blogs and after getting more details from the host on phone, we thought this place is secluded enough and seems to have a great chill vibe to get away from chaotic city life, especially in Covid times. SO 4 of us (two couples)just packed our bags and headed here...Denis and team were fantastic hosts. The key things that stood out here were: 1) The heated pool: although the pool only maintained warm temperature, it really added luxury and fun to our stay - you could literally chill by the pool all day with your wine, and food! 2) Food: EXCEPTIONAL is the word! we were treated with exotic continental and Indian food with great variety and taste that is actually difficult to find even in Delhi! The dessert were also ridiculously good! 3) The vibe: Overall the place is very unique located in this artsy village, Andretta, known for its pottery and chill vibe. You have open areas which are lush green and you could bird watch and plan with Sweety, the dog all day. You can also stare at the amazing view of the Dhauladhars and read a book while sipping great masala tea. 4) YOgashala: my wife is a yoga teacher and she was mesmerized the tastefully done Yoga Shala. She spent hours there practicing and taking classes and told me energy of the shala was just something else. 5) Host: Denise and his team are great and make all the effort to make your stay wonderful. They give you enough privacy and always there to help! 6) Rooms: we selected individual cottages, but one can stay in the two beautifully done central buildings as well. The rooms are average (not luxurious) and get the job done. Made of mud, the feel of the rooms is quite unique. But am sure in peak winters you could feel uncomfortable due to lack of central/powerful heating facility.
The only area where we felt, the place could do better was some late night service (till 11 pm), but do understand the restrictions of a home stay in the hills. But the bon- fire is so much fun, you dont feel like getting up till mid night!
Overall this has been a truly remarkable stay and Denise and his stories will make it even better!
PS: the way from Delhi, especially after Chandigarh is confusing, so check with the host for directions!
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Date of stay: October 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Denis Harrap, Owner at The Mirage Andretta
Responded 5 Feb 2021
Dear guys & gals, Thanks very much for your great review. The pool is excellent & rest assured that winter’s are very cozy in the mud structures. Rooms are heated & all beds have electric blankets. Plus both houses have fireplaces keeping things warm. Looking forward to seeing you again soon. Denis
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A beautiful concept of a heritage property in gorgeous surroundings. Makes for lovely views all around and a quaint idyllic setting to relax and rejuvenate. A heated pool in the midst of this is a huge plus. The dogs are an adorable and affectionate add on. Yet, we decided to cut short our planned stay within a day of being there.
1) The property is in desperate need of deep cleaning and drycleaning, one needs to understand that a cleaner, well maintained property does not make its antique value less appealing. Also, while the locals have a free run of the property/anyone can visit to use the wifi or common areas, this isn’t a great attraction for the privacy of or usage for in-house guests. 2) The rooms needs a round of renovation for basic amenities, like fans in each room given the much warmer climate these days. And better ventilation in the bathrooms to make them less smelly. 3) The staff are polite but not well supervised, so rooms tend to be poorly cleaned and the staff is often hanging around waiting to be tipped for each little thing. They aren’t keen to oblige with requests that are quite normal, e.g., it look a lot to get them to open the heated pool on both days - they kept dissuading us from using it when there was little else to do. 4) The owner is an interesting personality but didn’t seem very involved in the running. He isn’t open to feedback either and can be quite rude in his attitude and words in responding to what isn’t going well. Dissing each request as an “Indian” problem certainly isn’t the solution. Perhaps an open minded, positive, improvement oriented approach could start here.
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Date of stay: April 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
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Response from Denis Harrap, Owner at The Mirage Andretta
Responded 9 Jun 2021
I'm sorry everyone, including me & my staff, had a bad experience. This was the worst group I've had in 12 years, & that's some record to beat! 1: Booked for 8 people in 4 rooms for 2 days. 13 people arrived very early ( had asked them not to reach before 10:30 as other guests had to checkout & rooms prepared. 2: Half of them weren't happy as they said they were expecting a 5 star hotel. This is clearly a homestay & their group leader knew this. I offered to return 50% of their deposit & suggested a hotel. They decided to stay anyway. 3: They demanded breakfast. This had not been discussed & no preparations made. We made it anyway & got nothing but complaints. Among them, they didn't like our homemade bread & insisted on my getting packed bread from the shop. I did. 4: The group then moved to the swimming pool area, produced a large sound system & started blasting music. I asked them to turn it down. No result. Then the police called me and insisted that it be turned off. It was. First time the police have ever called me in the 15 years I've lived here. 5: At the time of the evening meal, the group leader insisted on us serving all the leftovers from lunch as well. I had to tell him that the dinner was served and that's how it is here. In front of his group & my kitchen staff, he threatened to beat me up & "put me on the ground" & had to be dragged off by his friends. I told them that they should leave in the morning. Later he apologised & asked to stay. I accepted his apology. They stayed. 6: in this poisoned atmosphere I left them alone as much as possible. The demands continued...icecream, watermelon, endless snacks & room service, which, as a Homestay, we don't provide. i explained, but they ran my staff off their feet. My staff are too nice & don't know how to say no. My staff have NEVER been tipped at any other time than when a guest leaves. They sure don't stand around waiting for them. it's simply not done. 7: They dragged 1/2 of the furniture in the White House into the garden. I put it back. They dragged it out again. Whatever other comments this person, & the next reviewer have made, are only distractions from the real situation. 8: There are fans in every room; the bathrooms don't smell; I, after living in India for 25 years, certainly don't "diss" problems as Indian problems. What I do see as a problem are these kind of spoiled young rich people with such a sense of Entitlement and absolutely no respect for anyone but themselves. They throw their rubbish everywhere &, after they did check out as planned, not a day early, they left the White House trashed with chip packets & cookie wrappers, bottle tops etc etc all over the floors, as if a childs birthday party had taken place. I guess they have servants where they come from to pickup after them. Spoiled rotten. 9: Final note; 2 days later I get a Whatsapp from the leader saying what a great time they had & asking if I would host him again & apologising again for threatening me. Its on record if anyone doubts it. 10: I simply stand on our record as witnessed by the dozens of positive reviews here on TA. This crowd simply don't belong here.
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Our stay at the Mirage was a fantastic experience. The property is cozy, with lovely blooms all over and a fantastic view of the Dhauladhars. The location is excellent, coz staying in Andretta one can experience what it is like to live in an artist’s village. The White House where we stayed is a mud plastered, cozy villa with beautiful paintings and artifacts adorning the walls! Even the main heritage house where meals were served is so tastefully done with warm meals being served on request ! They even arranged for barbecue and had a heated pool where the kids had a nice time inspite of it being cold ! Mr Dennis shared lots of stories from all over the world and even helped us with bookings for paragliding or conveyance to the airport when there was a strike! Would definitely recommend the Mirage for an offbeat stay whenever one visits Dharamshala !!!
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My partner and I stayed at the Mirage Andretta for 3 nights, and regretted not booking for longer. We fell in love with the peace, the greenery, the food made lovingly and served with radiant smiles by the local cooks and of course the pet dog, Sweety whom we stole for walks!
Denis very kindly gave up his own room once we told him we are on our honeymoon, and the room besides being tasteful and supplying an excellent selection of books, had the most beautiful view of the Dhauladhar range.
We missed lounging in the heated pool by a week, but we have recommended it highly to our friends and will certainly stay again if we return to the area.
Thanks so much for the hospitality!
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Denis Harrap, Owner at The Mirage Andretta
Responded 1 Apr 2021
Dear Phalguni, Hope your married life is off to a good start!!🙏 Thank you for passing on your recommendation to your friends. Word of mouth is the best I can hope for!! Best wishes to you both. Denis
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We loved the place as love at first sight can be. As a party of 10, we made White house our exclusive stay. its cozy sitting area, oodles of space for adults and kids alike, mudjestic (mud, majestic & rustic haha ;) rooms all enhance the ambiance of this serene retreat. Our cocktails and dinners were always scenic thanks to the overview of the Dhauladar range. The Yoga shala added the spirituality quotient to our senses with the sounds of the birds chirping, that 360° panorama of the forest while u meditate and rejuvenate in tranquility. If you ve had enough of these (which u dont) the heated pool awaits. The Andretta pottery, which is just a walking distance, was another feather in our caps and for all those raring to make magic with mud and clay.
Dhauladar trek with the robust Denis (aka karta-dharta of Mirage) as our superguide will always be memorable. He took us through the thorniest bushiest forest to ultimately the picturesque closeup of the Dhauladar range...a sight for sore eyes. We would constantly see Denis at work. He's the handy man, the electrician, the best meat shopper (he sourced us the best meats at times from far away..no kidding) with Ajju doing full justice with his cooking. But our favorite times will always be Denis' company stretching through the night with his adventurous tales, his why nots and umpteen laughs. A special call out for our girl Sweety, Denis' loyal German Shepherd who accompanied us everywhere and was great companion to the kids. Thanks Denis for welcoming us to your extended domain and helping us make it our own. We leave with a memory to cherish and always return to the beautiful Mirage !
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Date of stay: October 2020
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Denis Harrap, Owner at The Mirage Andretta
Responded 8 Nov 2020
Hi Arjun, Thank you very much firstly for coming & 2ndly for your kind review. It was lovely to you & your tribe here. I had as much fun as you did. Hope to see you back someday.
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I visit Mirage, Andretta every year. This was my fourth visit and I have nothing but praise for this beautiful abode. The place is quite and serene, the food homely, organic and yet surprising with its wonderful flavour. The house reminds you of olden days with its wooden floors, comfortable beds and charming old pictures and paintings. I highly recommend solo travellers looking for a week of tranquility and silence to visit. Sweetie the dog has been my travel companion in all these visits and you’ll see her welcome you with open arms when you visit. I have indulged in painting workshops, gone on short hikes in the farms nearby. I’d prefer to stay here and visit Dharamshala. It’s a wonderful place and I hope to visit it every year. Denise is a wonderful host and a wonderful human being. I hope you get the chance to sit with him and hear his stories. Such a remarkable life.
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Denis Harrap, Owner at The Mirage Andretta
Responded 8 Feb 2021
Dear Prateek, Thank you for your kind words....it’s always a pleasure having you stay. Glad your art project with Gauri Sharma produced such great results. Look forward to seeing you again. Cheers.
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I stayed in and worked from one of the single room cottages at Mirage all of Feb 2021 and I absolutely loved every day of my stay. From waking up to the beautiful views of the Dhauladhar range, playing with the resident dog Sweetie (who loves her little treats), to baking cakes with the extremely hospitable and welcoming staff, meeting other guests over evening bonfires, hiking over weekends and enjoying my morning eggs with a good cup of French press, my stay was remarkable in every way. Mirage is an oyster of solitude in a pandemic crazy world and provided me with the quiet and peace I needed to work. I do hope to return someday soon with my family and relax under the ample sun of Mirage at Andretta.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Denis Harrap, Owner at The Mirage Andretta
Responded 1 Apr 2021
Dear Avanti, So pleased you were here & became part of the family. Thanks very much for your kind review. Hope you can make it back with your family some day. Denis & staff.
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We stayed at the White House at the Mirage , comprising of 8 adults and a kid. The property is well kept and maintained , the staff are well trained and hospitable. The temperature controlled swim pool is an added USP that one will not find anywhere else in Palampur. Me , my family , my friends lived the afternoon pool session. The 2 dogs - Sweetie and Cutie are very lovable and an extention of the experience at the Mirage
The only issue at the Mirage is the high headedness and arrogance of the owner/ In charge - Denis, a Newzealander.
Extremely unflexible and uncooperative with possibly (Indian) guests when it comes to converting the overall experience to a 'WOW' experience . Lacked even basic courtesy to see his guests off after a 5 night stay.
But for Denis , the stay was comfotable and enjoyable.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
Thank you for your message. We are not allowed by TA to give our email or website address. You can google us or call us on: +91 9805702026
.
Regards
Denis
There are more places to choose from in the Andretta area.
PRICE RANGE
₹10,109 - ₹12,355 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
IndiaHimachal PradeshKangra DistrictAndretta
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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