Shel is a contemporary home with a traditional soul.
The first of its kind in the area, Shel is a luxury homestay consisting of three en-suite bedrooms with unparalleled views of the surrounding countryside and is located at a walking distance from the Indus River. What stands today as a traditional facade was once a generational home built of wood and mud bricks. In our endeavour to be sustainable, we re-used a lot of the materials that came out of the old house thus making a new home with old materials. Our interiors are deliberately minimal so as to not compete with the mountainscape around us, it is a stunning yet functional haven, filled with bespoke design features consciously put together to weave a story.
The house has full-height windows that flood the rooms with gorgeous light at all times of the day – just imagine the sunsets here – and the highlight of the rooms are undoubtedly their balconies.
The quiet neighbourhood means you'll have plenty of privacy at Shel as well as all-important home comforts making it the perfect setting-off point to explore Ladakh. Each room, corner and every detail tells a story - curated through locally sourced ‘finds’, but designed with absolute minimalism in mind - the suites were built to respect the idea of space, but enrich it too, with our personal experience of regional and cultural Ladakh.
If you’re looking for a taste of Ladakhi heritage, this home ticks all the boxes. Inside, the traditional features and locally sourced curios give a refined and elegant feel – but there are plenty of modern home comforts and design elements, too. Whether you're gathering for a home cooked meal around the dining table or drifting off after a long day in the swoon-worthy bedrooms, there's more than enough space here to spread out and get comfortable. Our staff is always at hand to help out with any and every requirement of the guest.The chef at Shel has over a decade of experience and is very happy to customize seasonally evolving menus for guests based on what they feel like having.
In addition to the three rooms, guests also have access to a library, a drawing and dining area, rooftop spaces and a lovely sun-dappled garden area.
Shel is located on a private estate at walking distance from the magical Sindhu (Indus River) and the Shey marshes - definitely the best place for birding in Ladakh. At Shel, reset, restore and rejuvenate yourself. Rise with the morning sun to the symphony of bird song and go to bed under the glittering multitude of a thousand stars.
Shel, which translates to mirror, acquires its name from the ancient royal capital of Ladakh - Shey, formerly known as Shel. The village was named after the Palace which casts a rippled reflection in the Holy Pond that lies below it.
The minute you check in, we are fully booked!
