Mountain Retreat That’s Worth the Journey: In Deepak’s Own Words, the making of The Amaya.

Some places make you feel welcome the second you walk in. The Amaya makes you feel something harder to name, like the part of your brain that never fully switches off finally goes quiet. Sitting at 4,600 feet above sea level on 25 acres of private pine forest near Darwa Village in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, this luxury Himalayan retreat is a 24-key property opened in 2022 by Deepak Gupta, with architecture by Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai. There is no grand lobby, no practiced welcome speech. Just pine trees, mountain air, and a stillness that most people have not felt in a very long time.

Built by Hand, Rooted in the Land

Bijoy Jain did not arrive at this project with a finished plan. He and his team spent months on the forested site first, walking the land at different times of day and across different seasons, getting to know it before deciding what to do with it. Every structure at The Amaya went up entirely by hand, without cement, using local stone, brick, and lime plaster. Artisan Jean Marc Moreno brought traditional French restoration techniques to the copper roofs. Swiss artisan Reudi Kerbs worked alongside craftsmen from Malda on the lime-plastered walls that give each space its particular warmth. Nothing about the property looks placed on the landscape. It looks like it belongs there.

Inside, marble, stone, and wood pull from Japanese and Nordic minimalism while staying completely Himalayan in feeling. Rooms across the chalets, suites, and villas have no televisions and no telephones. It sounds like a small thing until you are actually there and notice how much lighter a room feels without them. Most guests stop reaching for their phones within an hour, without even noticing it happened.

Over 5,000 native trees have been planted across the 25 acres. Abandoned terraces have been brought back for organic farming. Stone walkways connect the villas to the wider grounds, passing through pine canopy and opening up to Himalayan views that stay with you long after the trip is over. The property sits on the edge of ancient woodlands with Darwa Village nearby and the mountains filling every direction you look.

What This Place Actually Believes In

The team at The Amaya reaches out ahead of every stay to ask about preferences, what guests like, what they need, and how the kitchen should be stocked on arrival. By the time someone walks through the door, the space has already been shaped around them. This sustainable luxury resort runs on a simple idea: good hospitality is not something you notice. It is something you feel without being able to point to why.

Wellness treatments start with a conversation, not a printed menu. Meals follow the rhythm of the day and what the season is offering. Guided walks move through the pine forest and into Darwa Village, giving guests a real look at the culture that has always lived here. The team, many of whom come from surrounding communities, pays attention to the small things, knowing when a guest wants company and when they want to be left alone.

Food follows the same thinking. A farm-to-table philosophy puts Himachali cuisine at the center, using seasonal produce, local ingredients, and cooking methods that have been part of these mountains for generations. Amaya Labs gives the kitchen team space to explore and quietly update regional recipes without stripping them of what makes them worth cooking. Also on the property, operating as its own separate entity, is The NAAR, a 16-seat fine dining restaurant in Kasauli co-owned by chef Prateek Sadhu and Deepak Gupta. Reservations go quickly, and booking ahead is worth doing early

In Conversation with Deepak Gupta

Deepak Gupta spent decades in banking and executive search before he made a decision that probably surprised a lot of people around him. He walked away from all of it and bought land in the Himalayan foothills to build something that felt worth building. The Amaya is not the kind of project someone takes on for the return. It is the kind someone takes on because they genuinely need it to exist. We got a chance to ask him questions and hear it in his own words.

What is the story behind The Amaya, and what inspired you to create it?
"The story of Amaya began with a longing for reconnection. After decades in the corporate world, Mr. Deepak Gupta sought a quieter way of living, closer to nature, away from the pace and noise of city life. From this desire emerged a vision for a sanctuary in the Himalayan foothills, where guests could slow down, reconnect, and rediscover a sense of stillness. Amaya was conceived not as a conventional luxury resort, but as a thoughtful relationship between people, place, and nature. Set amidst the terraced hills of Himachal Pradesh, it embraces the landscape through local materials, traditional techniques, and a deeply sustainable approach. Designed by Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai, Amaya brings together local craftsmanship and contemporary simplicity. Its structures were built by hand, without cement, using stone, wood, lime plaster, and other materials rooted in the region. Today, Amaya is a quiet expression of its original vision, a place to step away from the demands of modern life, breathe with the mountains, and rediscover the beauty of living slowly."

What does The Amaya mean to you personally beyond being a place to stay?
"For Deepak Gupta, The Amaya is more than a business. It is the expression of a personal journey from a high-powered corporate career to a life driven by purpose, simplicity and connection. After decades in banking and executive search, Gupta chose to leave behind conventional markers of success and create something more meaningful in the Himalayas. From its materials and artisans to its carefully curated library, every detail reflects his values of authenticity, tradition, and conscious living. For Gupta, true luxury is not opulence, but space, silence, thoughtful hospitality and a deeper connection with nature and self."

How has the surrounding landscape and culture shaped the experience here?
"The Amaya's identity is inseparable from its setting: 25 acres of terraced hills, pine forests and historic agricultural land near Darwa in Himachal Pradesh. For Mr. Deepak Gupta, the landscape is not a backdrop but the foundation of the retreat's philosophy. Rather than imposing on the land, The Amaya works with it. Abandoned terraces have been restored, native vegetation revived, and traditional materials and techniques thoughtfully incorporated into the architecture. Local stone, wood and lime plaster allow the buildings to blend naturally into their surroundings, while the design draws on Himachali traditions and the rhythms of mountain life. The connection extends beyond architecture. Regional ingredients, village walks and encounters with local communities invite guests to experience the living culture of the Himalayas. In Mr. Gupta's vision, The Amaya is ultimately a dialogue between people and place, where nature, heritage and mindful living come together."

What does true hospitality mean to you, and what are the little details that make guests feel genuinely cared for?
"At The Amaya, hospitality is less a performance than a practice of genuine care. It is rooted in empathy, emotional intelligence, and a simple belief: that true luxury lies in making every guest feel seen, understood, and completely at ease. The experience is intentionally intuitive and unhurried. From the moment of arrival, warmth and attentiveness create a sense of belonging. The team, including many from the surrounding communities, is encouraged to observe and anticipate the small details that make a stay personal, from a preferred morning tea to the desire for solitude or adventure. This thoughtful approach extends to every aspect of the experience. Meals are shaped around individual preferences and the rhythm of the day, while wellness treatments begin with a conversation, allowing each experience to respond naturally to the guest. Across the property, secluded spaces, stone pathways, and open-air settings invite guests to discover their own pace. At its heart, Amaya's hospitality is about being present without being intrusive. It creates the space for calm, connection, and a renewed sense of well-being, redefining luxury not through excess, but through the quality of attention and the warmth of human connection."

What do you think makes The Amaya different from a conventional luxury hotel?
"The Amaya's distinction lies in a quieter, more intentional idea of luxury, one rooted in sustainability, authenticity and meaningful experiences rather than excess. Sustainability is central to the retreat, with hand-built structures, restored terraces, organic gardens and locally sourced materials reflecting a commitment to working with and regenerating the land. Its minimalist architecture, influenced by Japanese and Nordic design while grounded in Himachali traditions, creates spaces that encourage stillness and connection. The culinary experience is equally rooted in place, with seasonal, locally grown and foraged ingredients shaping thoughtful menus. Wellness extends beyond treatments to include yoga, meditation and the simple restorative rhythm of mountain living. Above all, The Amaya offers deeply personal hospitality. For Mr. Deepak Gupta, luxury is not about what is added, but what is felt: a sense of calm, belonging, and connection that stays with guests long after they leave."

Luxury means different things to different people. What does luxury mean at The Amaya?
"At Amaya, luxury is redefined as something quieter and more meaningful, not excess or opulence, but the freedom to slow down, reconnect and experience life with greater intention. It is the luxury of space, silence and time, expressed through minimalist design, open landscapes and uncluttered interiors. More importantly, it is the luxury of connection, to nature, local culture, oneself and others, through simple experiences such as a walk through the orchards, a conversation with a local artisan or a shared meal. For Mr. Deepak Gupta, luxury also carries a deeper responsibility: to care for the land, support local communities and leave something better for future generations. At The Amaya, sustainability is therefore not a feature of luxury. It is at its heart."

If you had to describe The Amaya in three words, what would they be?
"Symbiotic. Minimalist. Restorative."

Three Days at 4,600 Feet

A stay at this wellness retreat in Himachal Pradesh opens with a welcome drink and a Farm to Folk lunch made from what the land has ready that day, and the afternoon runs at whatever pace a guest chooses, between the Finnish sauna, steam room, and limestone pool with nothing on the schedule. Day two moves through a guided horticulture tour of the gardens and orchards, optional spa treatments, and a walk toward Darwa Village through the pines, then closes over a seasonal dinner at the restaurant or a Himachali Dham spread outdoors when the evening feels right for it. The final morning stays open, with the wellness facilities available for one last session and late checkout on the table for anyone who needs a little more time before heading back down. Three days is enough to understand what The Amaya is about, and never quite enough to stop wanting more of it.

What Stays With You After You Leave

Deepak Gupta did not leave a career in finance to start a hospitality business. He left to build something that he actually believed in: a boutique hotel in Kasauli where the land is looked after, the people around it are part of the story, and every guest walks away with something real from their time there. The pine forest, the hand-built walls, the organic terraces, and the quiet that runs through all of it were never accidents. They came from  someone who cared enough to do it properly, and it shows in everything the property is.

Symbiotic. Minimalist. Restorative. Three words that take about five minutes at The Amaya to fully understand.