34 ReviewsA New Zealanders vision, The Mirage is a multi-function residency hosting travellers, yoga groups and artist/acting workshops. The Mirage is a cluster of traditional Himachali mud houses which have lovingly been restored to an inviting homestay with fully modern amenities. Set amongst dense foliage in the artists colony of Andretta, against a backdrop of jungle & bamboo groves of the Shivalik Hills, The Mirage is a veritable museum of hand picked Indian furniture and artefacts with the mighty Dhauladhar range and its snow-capped peaks looming like a curtain across the Kangra Valley. <br/> Andretta artists colony was started some 75 years ago by an Irish woman named Norah Richards, who acquired the land from the District Commissioner of Kangra in 1935. A fascinating story which links Andretta today directly to Bollywood via some of Indian cinemas greatest actors, Norah Richards was brought to Andretta at the insistence of Jaya Dayal of Lahore University, the man who built the Mirage in 1948. According to the late cine actor Shammi Kapoor, he was in love with her & she with Shakespeare. (Google Andretta Artists Village for the full story) <br/>
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Andretta Chowk, 45km away from kangra,Palampur,Himachal Pradesh,IndiaA New Zealanders vision, The Mirage is a multi-function residency hosting travellers, yoga groups and artist/acting workshops. The Mirage is a cluster of traditional Himachali mud houses which have lovingly been restored to an inviting homestay with fully modern amenities. Set amongst dense foliage in the artists colony of Andretta, against a backdrop of jungle & bamboo groves of the Shivalik Hills, The Mirage is a veritable museum of hand picked Indian furniture and artefacts with the mighty Dhauladhar range and its snow-capped peaks looming like a curtain across the Kangra Valley. <br/> Andretta artists colony was started some 75 years ago by an Irish woman named Norah Richards, who acquired the land from the District Commissioner of Kangra in 1935. A fascinating story which links Andretta today directly to Bollywood via some of Indian cinemas greatest actors, Norah Richards was brought to Andretta at the insistence of Jaya Dayal of Lahore University, the man who built the Mirage in 1948. According to the late cine actor Shammi Kapoor, he was in love with her & she with Shakespeare. (Google Andretta Artists Village for the full story) <br/>
Rating from 34 reviews
Sleep QualityRoomsServiceValueCleanliness 
Rafaela R on 18/12/2017 15:02
The Mirage is a great place to feel at home away from home. Itâs really cozy and calm. Dinner was delicious, felt like eating at someoneâs house. I was there in December and having a fireplace was the best!
mrspp on 13/12/2017 18:22
I adored this place, with it's beautiful mini-jungle grounds, its quirky (yet so tasteful and so homeful) interiors, and its gorgeous verandahs. Food was decent. Service was decent. The yoga studio looked wonderful, suspended above a canopy of green with glass walls. Please note there is nothing to do in Andretta that you would want to do unless you have very specific interests...it is possible apparently to do a little walking but travelling alone iat the end of monsoon season and not having the best sense of orientation I didn't attempt this. If you do happen to be passing, it would be worth a detour to spend a night or two here in lovely surroundings, very soothing and peaceful, with both nature and art/architecture (the owner's passion for both shine through in the decor, the books in the library) at your disposal.
Shiva D on 31/10/2017 19:30
If you want a peaceful environment full of greenery then this place is definitely a must visit. When we entered the village the roads were not so good but as I stepped into this place everything here was so damn good.
insta_kaydee on 31/10/2017 18:00
A visit to Mirage will leave you with good memories for a lifetime. Tucked away in a small village, this place will leave you spellbound. I stayed in the White House which was made of mud. The rooms were aesthetically appealing. The decor had a rustic charm. The rooms were filled with books, artificats, collectibles, film posters, paintings, etc. Every minute spent at this place was invigorating. Dennis, who runs this place, is a great host. Will visit there again.
67prabhan on 19/07/2017 05:33
This homestay is tucked in nature and surrounded by lush greenery - a nature-lover's paradise! The 2 lovely dogs and wonderful hosts made it a wonderful weekend for me. Enjoyed meals in the house, and quiet time in between.
Recommend this place to anyone who would like a few days off from city life!
