Our Story

RUAH was born from two journeys that began long before they met. Aastha Ray, an independent corporate lawyer from Chandigarh with deep Himachali roots, always dreamt of building a home in the mountains, one that embodies the concept of community to bring people together through art, music, poetry, and authentic existence, and organic human connection- all things she is deeply passionate about. Since childhood, she often travelled with her family to her father’s hometown in Himachal, naturally connecting with the beautiful land of Himachal Pradesh, forming the bond that would shape her life. As she grew older, those family trips turned into her own solo journeys, long driving through winding valleys around Himachal with her laptop, paintbrushes, and journal, balancing structure with creativity and finding her truest sense of self in the grandeur of Mother Nature in Himachal Pradesh. Alongside her legal work, she continued to paint walls and canvases, and send her artwork across cities. Kaushik Reddy, an engineer and former game designer from Hyderabad, consciously chose a career shift into hospitality as an entrepreneur after traveling across India, Canada, and South America. His love for the mountains began during his trips to Himachal Pradesh as a child and a young adult, and grew deeper through his solo bike rides across India, and especially through his long rides between Himachal and Hyderabad, often on two wheels, which were his way of staying connected to the mountains while running his backpacker hostels in Himachal Pradesh- Bandal, Devuri and Sharchi. For Kaushik, a good life is built on authenticity, organic connections, and the freedom to live simply. His approach to hosting reflects the same ethos: warm, grounded, and rooted in genuine care for people and place. With years of hosting in the mountains, he’s created spaces where travellers don’t just stay, but belong- places shaped by intention, community, and the quiet joy of living close to the land.

Until 2023, Aastha and Kaushik were on their individual journeys, through the mountains as well as inwards, their stories met in Sharchi, where they instantly recognised a shared way of seeing the world. Finding their partners in Love and in Life in each other, they began building on their shared dream with their vision, planning, countless mountain drives, endless conversations about design, nature, and slow living, a strong support system of loved ones, and execution. Ruah now stands as both their story and their sanctuary — a calm, intentional cabin retreat inviting you to pause and come back to yourself.