SoylMansion

A traveler seeking a spiritual journey in the midst of untouched nature will find this place in Sid’s opinion.
A traveler wanting to challenge fears, step out of comfort zones, and explore their own psychological conditioning will find it in Vishakha’s view.
And for those who long to experience authentic village life in a riverside Himalayan hamlet—a place with fewer than 1,000 residents that remained unconnected by road until 2024—our local team believes this is the place to be.
SoylMansion is a riverside cottage nestled in the pristine village of Soyal, near Manali. Built by Sid, a lawyer from New Delhi who left behind city life to follow his mountain dream, it is now home to him and his wife Vishakha, a PhD in Gender Studies, who joined him in this Himalayan journey.
Soyal is a village with a unique history—once part of the Hippie trail, it still holds many abandoned homes from the 1960s and 70s. SoylMansion and its team are lovingly restoring these old hippie houses, keeping their artistic charm and elegance alive.
We also cultivate apples, plums, apricots, herbs, vegetables, and wild berries, bringing farming into harmony with the way we live. Today, SoylMansion serves as a guest house, hosting travelers from across the world through retreats, eco-tourism, and immersive farm-to-fork experiences.
Volunteers stay at Casa Rio, a riverside hippie house from the 1970s that once belonged to Nile, an Irish traveler who made this valley his home.
Volunteering here means becoming part of our daily rhythm. Tasks are shared based on priority, weather, and individual skills, ranging from helping run the project to assisting in farming, hospitality, or creative restoration work.

Sid and Vishakha personally run SoylMansion, supported by a small team of local staff from the village. Our team is made up of young Himachali men and women in their early twenties, who come in the mornings and return home to their families in the evenings. They are warm, well-mannered, and deeply rooted in the culture of this valley. We ask our volunteers to treat both the staff and villagers with respect and openness—in return, you’ll find them incredibly friendly and welcoming. At SoylMansion, volunteers are not treated as outsiders but as teammates. There is no hierarchy here—everyone’s opinions, ideas, and inputs are valued equally. We encourage open communication and collaboration, believing that the best experiences are created together.