From royal ruins to fairytale retreat: How a Kashmiri engineer built ‘Cheese Cottage’

Bonfires at night, fruit orchards for miles, snow falling over the valleys, and hot yakhni kofta. For many, that’s a dream vacation. In Kashmir’s Tangmarg, it’s daily life at The Cheese Cottage.

The homestay is the work of Insha Qazi, 32. A civil engineer with a UK marketing degree, she returned to Kashmir in 2015. She first started SSMD School of Fashion & Design at Parihaspora in 2016, one of the valley’s first fashion and design schools. Her goal: create employment for Kashmir’s creative youth.

The Cheese Cottage followed the same intent. In 2000, Insha’s parents found a ruined estate in Tangmarg dating to 1943. The land once belonged to Maharaja Hari Singh Ji, the last ruling king of Jammu & Kashmir, and was under royal family custody. They bought it that year and began planting orchards amid the ruins.

Today, the two-floor cottage blends polished wooden interiors and luxurious furnishings. Insha says every corner reflects her pride in Kashmir. Vintage details meet modern comfort, set against sprawling fruit orchards.

For Insha, the project is more than hospitality. It’s about showing what’s possible when local heritage, creativity and opportunity come together. The cottage now offers travelers a taste of Kashmir’s paradise — no dream required.