Living the Mountain Life Made Me Humble!

It was back in 2018, when tired of my stressful and physically draining job in video production, I wanted to take a long rejuvenating break and do something that'll allow me to be closer to the hills. I've been travelling solo since I was 19. And Himachal Pradesh is like my firdaus (paradise) of happiness. So when I heard of a volunteering opportunity in Mudhouse Experiential Hostels in Jibhi, a very tiny village in the Kullu district of Himachal, I knew it was time to pack that rucksack and leave the city behind.

I know it all sounds very dreamy initially — living in the hills, working in a Backpackers’ Hostel as a cafe manager, hosting people from different parts of the world. I was living in the same bubble too. But I soon realised that travelling solo in the hills and actually LIVING the mountain life, are two very contrasting things.

My boss, Manpreet Deswal (left most person in the picture above), was really caring. And so was my kitchen help Biru Bhai, who occasionally used to whip hot aloo paranthas (with extra aloo) for me whenever I missed my family back in Mumbai. I wasn't used to walking 9 kilometres to do groceries for the hostel meals, or cooking for 30 people in one go, or cleaning washrooms, or washing a barrage of dishes in the freezing Himachali winters. But with their constant support, I gradually mastered it all.

In the picture above, you can see me with the kitchen staff – Biru Bhai and Pritam Bhai. At first, I must admit, all I wanted to do was come back home and be pampered by my family. The restless Oindrilla in me did not realise that these things take time. Settling in a new place, as opposed to travelling through one, takes patience and hard work. Making a foreign land your family takes time. It took some time for me to realise that this whole journey of volunteering as a cafe manager in this beautiful hostel, was actually transforming me as a person. It was preparing me to be flexible and open to any challenge. In time, I found my own favourite spots in Jibhi like this branch (image below) enroute the Rainbow Waterfalls at Jibhi.

Check out my go-to-bridge for watching the ripples in the water.

Meet Nanu, the eldest member at Mudhouse, and a story-teller who never ceased to regale us with fascinating mountain tales.

I even learnt to make pancakes for the guests at Mudhouse. My one month in Jibhi, was nothing less than a dream, now when I think of it. I've made homes out of people who've welcomed me with selfless smiles, I've made homes out of pretty landscapes that tell a story, I've made memories with all the travellers I've served, I've explored hidden trails post-midnight and looked at the stars shining down on me. I've sat on rocks and cried and laughed hysterically. And I think I can now proudly say that maybe, I really belong there. In the hills.

So whenever I get a chance, I rush back to my Jibhi, my home, and I'm greeted with the same love by my small hostel family there. We make pancakes and paranthas together. We take guests to Jalori Pass and introduce them to Jayprakash Bhaiya's rajma and kadhi chawal, we climb the Raghupur Fort, we watch the sunset, and everything inside me magically heals. It's all suddenly okay. So maybe, it is all about opening yourself up to new, and challenging experiences. And allowing those experiences to change you, for the better. My mountain life humbled me and for that, I will always be grateful and I will always keep going back.