India, July 3 -- Sethan wasn't on our itinerary; in fact, we'd never heard about it before. But sometimes, the best journeys are the ones you never see coming. What started as a frustrating detour, due to an unexpected roadblock on our way to Sissu via the Atal Tunnel, turned into one of the most memorable discoveries of our trip. The credit goes to our local cab driver, who picked up on our growing disappointment and decided to take a different route. A few bumpy, winding kilometres later, we were on an uneven road that led us straight into Sethan Village - a quiet, hidden gem (back then) tucked high in the mountains.

Tucked away just 12 kilometres from the bustling Manali, Sethan is a tiny Himalayan hamlet that feels like a world apar...