Our Journey

Hello, I’m, Ashwajeet Shetty the founder of Wanderlust Cottages and Cafe.

My journey began amidst the clicks of keyboards and the hum of servers at Igate Patni Computers from 2010 to 2013, followed by a brief stint navigating financial landscapes at ING Vysya Bank until 2014. Yet, it was the call of the Himalayas that ultimately lured me away from the corporate maze. In 2014, I traded my necktie for a backpack and embarked on a journey that took me trekking across India and exploring over 35 countries worldwide. 

In 2016, fate led me to Spiti Valley—a haven of rugged mountains, ancient monasteries, and the warm embrace of its people. From the moment I set foot there, it felt like coming home. The pristine landscapes, the whispers of the winds carrying tales of old, and the genuine smiles of the Spitian folk stole my heart. Building our cozy cottages in Spiti was a saga in itself. Picture this: battling blizzards while juggling construction materials and coaxing reluctant yetis (aka elusive labourers) out of hibernation. Each day brought its own adventure, from dodging avalanches to deciphering the true meaning of "snowed-in." 

Fast forward to June 2023—the month we were all set to fling open our doors and welcome the world. Enter Mother Nature with a sense of humor. Unprecedented rains swept through Spiti, turning our freshly painted property into an unintentional waterpark and transforming the roads from Manali and Shimla into muddy slip-and-slides. As if that wasn’t enough, the rainstorm played the ultimate prank by cutting off our electricity for five whole days. Candlelit dinners were charming for about the first night—after that, it was a crash course in gourmet cooking over a campfire. But here’s the beauty of Wanderlust Cottages and Cafe: we thrive on challenges and camaraderie. Our motto—“For the Traveler, By a Traveler”—is more than just words; it’s a promise to create experiences that resonate. Whether you’re up for trekking ancient trade routes, cozying up in Spitian homestays with a hot cup of chai, delving into the mystique of centuries-old monasteries, or losing yourself in the mesmerizing Milky Way during stargazing nights, we’re here to turn every stumble into a story and every guest into a friend.