New Delhi, Oct. 18 -- Some cars you evaluate, others you feel. The Nissan Tekton declared itself in the second category within kilometres thanks to its chunky steering, hushed cabin, and reassuring ride.

I was driving up to Saroga Woods, a homestay perched at 8,000 feet, above the village of Thanedar, run by two old friends, Anu and Kartik Budhraja. In 2005, I had mentioned this little corner of the Himachal Himalaya to them as a holiday spot; they fell in love with it so thoroughly that they gave up their jobs in Singapore, and moved their lives here in 2012. Now they have a lovely home set into a hillside overlooking apple plantations all the way down to the Sutlej. They run it as a luxury homestay and it remains one of my favourite pl...