Growing up in Old Delhi, Nakul Sen’s haveli was surrounded by craft and culture. Artisans came and went, silver foil makers worked quietly in corners, and the act of creating was a part of everyday life. Perhaps that’s where it began — his instinct to create. From running a fashion boutique under his own name to working on film sets for Delhi-6 and Aks, and now hosting us at his tranquil boutique retreat hidden away in the hills of Lansdowne, Nakul’s journey feels like a natural continuum. The Sen, located near Kotdwar in Uttarakhand, eases you into an unhurried rhythm. The climb up the narrow, albeit slightly rickety, stairs becomes a transition. With every step, the mind clears, and the noise of the city fades away to a distance. This calm suffused my stay. I remember falling asleep watching the stars through the skylight of my room, and waking to birdsong and a soft wash of sunlight across a towering four-poster bed. Here, you are never quite indoors. The pine trees frame every moment, and the forest becomes part of your experience. From the glass walls that dissolve boundaries to the living spaces revealing themselves gradually, each decision at The Sen is by design. Invariably, it all began with a sketch. The property was discussed, debated and often argued over with his partner Shagun, whose expertise in retail lent clarity and structure. Without formal training in architecture, Nakul brought in a civil engineer to ground the ideas technically, but the soul of the space remains entirely his.
"The light shifts, the trees move gently, and time seems to slow just enough for you to notice it. You begin to realise that nothing more is needed"
