Two hillside havens, one perfect wedding story above the clouds

Imagine reciting your wedding vows in cool, crisp climes, high above, on a mountain. Where the air is heady with the fragrance of apple blossoms. Tall cedar trees stand tall across the region even as the mighty snow-peaked Himalayas surround it protectively.

Sounds dreamy, right? Well, at dusitD2 Fagu, it’s all real — and in person, even more magical. Situated high above the tranquil hills of Himachal Pradesh is dusitD2 Fagu — everything that a grand wedding venue should be, and then some. Not only for the unbelievable location (though, believe us, the endless orchards and snow-dusted peaks are worth all the heart emoji’s you can find on your phone). What we loved was the great attention to detail that’s meticulously planned especially for the bride, groom and all their guests. Rest assured, here at dusitD2 Fagu, there will never be a single dull moment!

Starting with the essentials: How can we be at a place in the mountains and not have great views? Well, ‘Fikar not’, because literally every room in the hotel, the lobby, restaurants, gym, swimming pool, suites and the bathrooms too, have striking views of the surrounding natural beauty that will leave you spell-bound. No matter what category of rooms you pick, you’re assured phenomenal views. Choose from – Deluxe, Superior, Junior Suite and the marvelous Presidential Suite. 

The views here come with a jaw-dropping sunrise and sunset even. Both have outstanding characteristics while being equally mesmerizing. Imagine veils of mist dropping slowly into the arms of the surrounding mountains even as the golden sun dips down, but not before changing thousands of glorious shades ranging from bright yellow to orange, fuschia and finally purple before the midnight blue ascends upon the tranquil property. The morning sun wakes up the lazy mist and helps raise it to the skies to melt into the cottony clouds. 

Discerning foodies, don’t worry, there’s plenty for you as well! World-class dining specially curated by their team of multi-talented chefs led by Chef Amit Dogra and Chef Arijit at dusitd2 Fagu’s 24-hour restaurant the Dusit Gourmet which features a feast including the best food your guests will still be raving about long after the final dance. Imagine global gourmet cuisine, freshly prepared local ingredients, and rich desserts — essentially a party for your palate. Don’t forget to try their signature Himachali Thali (Dhaam) featuring mutton in yoghurt curry, tudkiya bhaat, chicken saag, pumpkin curry, dal mash and so much more. 

And did we forget, there’s Soi, whipping up all the specials of Bangkok street food straight from Thailand! Try their famous Pad Thai, mouth-watering dimsums, spring rolls, pot stickers, fiery coconut curries that are finally, perfectly complemented by traditional Thai desserts. 

Now for the wedding hopefuls. There are two glorious banquets that can accommodate everything from a mehendi session with music and laughter to a sangeet evening that’s straight from a movie. The ambiance? Plush, chic, and infinitely adjustable to your fantasy theme. The outdoor lawns overlooking the mountainous valley are perfect for a golden-hour reception. Nothing can be more surreal than that!  To unwind a bit pre-wedding (or post-party detox!), there is a heavenly Thai specialty spa — the kind where all your stress simply disappears with every stroke by the expert masseuse. There’s a heated indoor swimming pool for those lazy lounging moments, or even a pool party. And for those who are guilty of being sneaky fitness buffs (we see you!), getting in a pre-festivities sweat session, there is a state-of-the-art gym that won’t fail you. 

At dusitD2 Fagu, everything is grand and glorious. Now if you’re looking for something more intimate but equally stunning, then look no further than Royalpine Rosastays. Tucked in the heart of Kasauli hills and a neighbour of the famous Lawrence School, Sanawar, this impressive resort is just two hours drive from Chandigarh airport. It is built on a gradient that provides sweeping panoramic views of the Kasauli hills, not to mention mind-blowing sunsets from their Sunset Deck. The USP of this resort is the fact that the entire property is clad in luxurious “Knotless” pine wood specially imported from Finland.

The multi-cuisine restaurants serve divine food made from freshly sourced ingredients. What’s interesting is that they have their own microbrewery where they craft their own beer available in a unique blend of flavors. The resort has the dazzling Royal Room Banquet Hall that perfectly accommodates 80-90 guests. And there are four varieties of rooms to choose from including the Royal Villas, Royal Suite, Royal Deluxe Room and Royal Family Attic Room which has a cute mezzanine with a special bed for the kids. Needless to say, this resort has all the amenities that one looks for to seal the deal- so there is a 10-seater jacuzzi with stunning valley views for the loungers. Imagine taking in the gorgeous sights, with a smooth crafted beer in hand. And there’s more! There’s golf cart access across the property for the guests, then a dedicated play-area for children, a state-of-the-art gym with steam and sauna facilities, a spa and much, much more!So when someone once said the famous adage “the hills are calling”, they clearly were pointing to these two glorious getaways in Fagu and Kasauli. Nothing can be more magical and mesmerising like these two properties for your dream wedding. Which brings us back to what was said at the start…. “Imagine reciting your wedding vows in cool, crisp climes, high above, on a mountain.”