RARE India is a community of conscious luxury boutique hotels, palace stays, wildlife lodges, homestays and retreats in India and the subcontinent. The new additions to the RARE Community of 100 owner-led, sustainable-luxury, small and boutique hospitality brands include Blue Book at Gethia in Kumaon (Uttarakhand), Camp Kooncha in Sariska (Rajasthan), Cranganor History Café & Riverside Retreat in Muziris (Kerala), LUNGMĀR Remote Camp (Ladakh), Qayaam Gah in Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir), Rann Riders by Kaafila in Dasada (Gujarat) and The Mirage in Andretta (Himachal Pradesh).

RARE India’s founder Shoba Mohan says: “The last couple of years have witnessed the emergence of RARE 2.0, where our focus is to create a community of owner-led, sustainable, boutique properties and travel experiences. The RARE Community is made up of like-minded partners who excel at creating destination specific design, personalised hospitality and offer great service even as they journey towards a sustainable future. We welcome on board these little gems spread across India from the Trans Himalayas to hidden valleys in the lower Himalayas right down to the saltpans of Western India.”

below listed are the properties that have recently joined the RARE Community:

Blue Book at Gethia, Kumaon, Uttarakhand: A name inspired to hint at experiences within, Blue Book at Gethia welcomes the guests into nature’s land of wonder and health. Located at the road’s end in the Kumaon hills off Delhi-Nainital, Blue Book at Gethia is curiously contrary – cool climes and warm spaces, with nature yet cozy inside, heritage and modern all at once.

Camp Kooncha, Sariska, Rajasthan: Camp Kooncha is a seasonal retreat ideal for northern India winter and spring months, located in a beautiful valley about 20 minutes from the south gate of Sariska National Park. The camp offers visitors a unique chance to live in the middle of unspoiled wilderness, bordering the Tiger reserve to experience wilderness in exclusivity while camping in luxury.

Cranganor History Café & Riverside Retreat, Kerala: Located in the region of the old port city of Muziris, which historians and archaeologists are now uncovering to be ancient India’s gateway to civilizations with a history dating back over three millennia, Cranganor’s style of architecture known as tropical modernism is the perfect base to explore the ‘magic’.

LUNGMĀR Remote Camp, Ladakh: The LUNGMĀR encapsulates the remote bush camp experience in what is one of the most phenomenal wilderness areas on the planet. Nestled deep in the Ladakh Range of India, beyond medieval Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries and past ancient shepherding hamlets, its spectacular location and timeless Silk Road feel strike the perfect balance between remote luxury and rugged adventure. Supported by an elite team of specialist trackers and conservationists, the LUNGMĀR is a base for perhaps the greatest quest of all: a search for the snow leopard.

Qayaam Gah, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir: Set on a secluded ridge high above the Dal Lake, Qayaam Gah is an intimate stay with an elegant design inspired by Sufi mysticism. This serene retreat is accessible only by a country road winding through forests and hamlets and it is set in a restful space that mimics a paradise garden centered around a cascading fountain.

Rann Riders by Kaafila, Dasada, Gujarat: Operated by Kaafila Luxury Camps, past masters at conservation-based lodges, guests can be sure to experience “beyond the usual hotel”. With painstaking focus on quality of stay and guest experiences, in its new upgraded version Rann Riders by Kaafila proposes to engage guests in the full potential of experiences of this region of Kutch.

The Mirage, Andretta, Himachal Pradesh: The Mirage is a residence that can be many things to a traveller.  Located in the artist’s colony of Andretta in Kangra valley, the heritage homestay is a cluster of restored Himachali mud houses and hosts travellers, yoga groups as well as artists for acting workshops throughout the year.