A Family Legacy in the Shivalik Foothills
Every property has a story. At Gaj Retreat, the story begins not with a hotel group, but with a family — and a piece of land they have called home for over a thousand years.
The roots of Garhi Manaswal trace back over a thousand years to the Dod Rajputs, a Chandravanshi Rajput clan associated with the ancient regions of Punjab, Rajasthan, and present-day Pakistan. According to local history and oral tradition, the lineage connects to Raja Basu Chand’s descendants around 988 A.D, who gradually settled across the Beet region before establishing themselves in Garhi Manaswal due to its naturally fortified landscape surrounded by ravines and khuds.
The area carries deep historical significance, with links to ancient kingdoms, Odumbara tribal settlements, early Rajput migrations, and temples such as the Mata Hari Devi Temple and Mata Sei Devi Temple, some believed to date back to the 4th–5th century.
Over centuries, the village evolved from a strategically protected settlement into a culturally rooted community shaped by Rajput heritage, folklore, warfare, migration, and spiritual traditions that still echo through the region today. Even today, descendants of the Dodd family continue to live and operate in Manaswal, carrying forward their deep connection to the village.
Gaj Retreat stands as a reflection of that love and attachment to their roots, thoughtfully established in Manaswal as a tribute to the land, heritage, and history of their ancestors.
Gaj Retreat is nestled in the historic village of Garhi Manaswal, surrounded by the serene landscapes, ravines, and untouched natural beauty of the Punjab hills. The village itself traces its roots back over a thousand years to the Dod Rajputs of the Chandravanshi lineage, carrying a rich legacy of heritage, folklore, and ancient traditions. Built on ancestral land that has remained connected to the Dodd family for generations, the property was envisioned as a space that preserves the spirit of the village while offering a peaceful escape into nature. Every part of Gaj Retreat reflects a deep personal connection to Manaswal, from its location amidst farmlands and hills to the warmth and simplicity of its atmosphere. More than just a retreat, it was created as a tribute to the family’s roots and to share the timeless beauty, history, and calm of Manaswal with others.
Our Journey
1000+ Years
Roots in Manaswal
The family's connection to this land extends back more than ten centuries — through generations of local leadership, agricultural stewardship, and deep involvement in the surrounding community.
1990s
25 Years of Hospitality Begins
The first hospitality venture, Gaj Resort in Himachal Pradesh, pioneered destination tourism in North India — understanding that guests seek experiences genuinely different from the life they left behind.
Adventure Tours
Himalayan Expeditions Begin
A specialised Adventure Tours division was established for off-road expeditions to Lahaul-Spiti and Ladakh. Over 20 years of successful guided journeys across India's most demanding terrain.
Gaj Retreat
The Eco-Resort Opens
Built using local materials and local manpower, minimising carbon footprint and ensuring economic benefit remained within the community. An eco-resort from the very beginning.
Radisson
The Affiliation
Gaj Retreat became a member of Radisson Individuals — a globally recognised hospitality affiliation ensuring verified quality standards while maintaining unique character and identity.
A Journey Through Time
Origins of a Legacy
Raja Basu Chand
Over a millennium ago, the foundations of Garhi Manaswal were shaped by the Dod Rajputs, a distinguished Chandravanshi lineage tracing its ancestry to the descendants of Raja Basu Chand.
Their journey across the northern regions of the subcontinent was guided not only by movement, but by purpose carrying forward a legacy defined by resilience, honour, and a deep connection to land and identity.
The Land That Chose Its People
Garhi Manaswal
In time, this journey led them to Garhi Manaswal a landscape naturally sculpted with ravines and khuds, offering both protection and possibility.
Here, amidst quiet strength and untouched terrain, a settlement took root. What began as a strategic refuge gradually evolved into a place of permanence, where life unfolded in rhythm with the land.
A Living Tapestry of Culture & Faith
Mata Hari Devi Temple & Mata Sei Devi Temple
Over centuries, Garhi Manaswal became more than a settlement—it grew into a cultural and spiritual landscape shaped by ancient kingdoms, early Rajput migrations, and indigenous influences.
Sacred spaces such as the Mata Hari Devi Temple and Mata Sei Devi Temple, believed to date back to the 4th - 5th century, continue to stand in quiet reverence timeless markers of devotion, continuity, and belief.
A Legacy Preserved Through Generations
Dodd Family
Through the passage of time, the connection to this land has remained unbroken. Generations of the Dodd family have continued to live, nurture, and protect Manaswal, ensuring that its stories are not forgotten, but lived.
This enduring presence lends the village something rare—a sense of authenticity that cannot be recreated, only preserved.
Gaj Retreat: A Tribute to Belonging
Gaj Retreat
Gaj Retreat was born from this very connection. Set on ancestral land, it is not simply a destination, but an expression of belonging.
Thoughtfully created amidst farmlands, hills, and the quiet beauty of the Punjab countryside, the retreat reflects a deep respect for its surroundings and heritage. Every detail carries intention honouring the past while offering a space for stillness, reflection, and escape.
A Member of Radisson Individuals
What Gaj Retreat Is Today
Gaj Retreat spans acres of beautiful forest land on a private plateau at Manaswal — offering the combination of accessibility (2 hours from Chandigarh, 5 hours from Delhi) and genuine remoteness that is increasingly rare in North India.
It is a place that guests return to — for different reasons, in different seasons, at different stages of their lives. That consistency, built over 25 years and anchored in the family’s thousand-year connection to this land, is what makes Gaj Retreat what it is.
