Cloud 7 Hotel The Forest Shimla opens in the Himalayan hills of India

Kerten Hospitality has opened Cloud 7 Hotel The Forest Shimla, set among the forests and hills of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, according to a press release from the group. It is one step in a push into India, where Kerten is aiming for 1,000 rooms across its Cloud 7, hosme and The House Hotel brands. The idea is a hotel shaped by where it stands: Himachali hospitality, regional food and work by artists and craftspeople from Shimla and beyond, from commissioned pieces and local photography to handmade ceramics and rotating exhibitions.

The detail you'd notice is the rooftop Observatory Bar, a whisky and cocktail lounge with low seating, handmade walnut furniture, warm copper touches and a nautical telescope at its centre, for picking out Himalayan peaks by day and the moon and constellations after dark. Drinks draw on Himalayan botanicals, and a daily sunset gathering, the Cloudfall Sessions, pairs a soundtrack with a signature cocktail, a featured whisky and canapés, open to local residents as well as guests. Food, overseen by the group's Michelin-starred chef Jaume Puigdengolas, centres on sharing plates and seasonal menus built on produce from nearby farmers.

The hotel opens with mountain-facing rooms and suites; a spa, pool, gym, wellbeing suites, two private cottages and nine more suites are to follow in later phases, with no dates given. Check what's finished before planning a wellness stay, but for a view and a nightcap under the stars it already sounds promising.

Our summary of a story from Hotel Online, published 26 October 2026. Read the original

Photos: Hotel Online