Tell us a little more about your love story? How did you two meet and start dating?
We met each other exactly three years back in Delhi. I had just quit my job as a fulltime travel writer to work on certain ideas I had and Sambit had been working as a freelance filmmaker. We somehow fit into each other's lives at that moment perfectly. Both of us were ready to put all our time and effort into our passion project that you now know as The Doi Host. The initial idea was to open up a self sustainable homestay in a remote place in Uttarakhand and generate livelihood opportunities for locals.View this post on Instagram
Since we didn't have the means to start the homestay immediately for the first three years we conducted road trips based on the same model of generating employment for the locals. We were both somehow convinced that we can execute this idea of hosting strangers on journeys that we curate. I would say amidst all that troubleshooting on the road and having a great time on fantastic road trips we became very good work partners as well. Our time outdoors convinced us that we can pull off most things in life together. Now we finally have our homestay in Nathuakhan, Uttarakhand.View this post on InstagramCan you share a little bit about how the wedding was planned during the lockdown?
Just like most of the people around us we were also misled that 2020 just sounds really nice and we must do memorable things this year. We saw a tiger in Jim Corbett in January and a family of snow leopards in Spiti in February. 2020 was turning out to be a bucket list year for us. Getting married was also on our list of things to do for 2020 but the year turned out to be what it did unfortunately and all our plans were postponed. For almost four months we waited out the pandemic but the logical thing to do was to be with each other in this difficult time. So we decided to get married and not waste anymore time thinking about it. A wedding during a pandemic also meant an extremely minimal wedding and we were completely game for it.View this post on InstagramHow far did you have to go to include the budget, guests and arrangements?
It was a very small affair with only close family members so thankfully not a lot of time was spent planning it and we spent more time rather enjoying it. There were more people on zoom call than in my house where we were getting married. I'm glad we skipped all that hassle of an extravagant marriage that eventually happens in any traditional Indian wedding. It was a completely private affair with a few family members, two friends, and our dogs Aadu and Loochi.Did your mutual love for travel have any part to play in your lovestory?
We would absolutely not fit in each other's lives if we didn't share this love of constantly being on the road, seeing new places, and meeting new people. We have been extremely lucky to share this passion. We both also push each other to explore newer things constantly. We have woken up at 3am in the night to photograph night skies in mind-numbing temperatures, have been stranded together in godforsaken circumstances, made the best out of what we had during the road trips and always made sure that our guests had a great time. When you see each other pulling these things off each day, the mutual love and respect grows.View this post on InstagramAny short or long term honeymoon travel plans?
We have been at our homestay ever since the wedding. This is our honeymoon plan for now and we have worked on this plan for the last three years. These are quite exciting times for us because we can finally see the fruit of our hard work. The real honeymoon can wait. If things get better next year we plan to go on a longer snow leopard exxpedition and that can be our late honeymoon.
The Doi Host Couple Got Married During the Lockdown and Here Is Their Story
The writer and filmmaker duo, also travel partners and founders of 'The Doi Host' - Disha and Sambit, finally tied knots during the lockdown and we can't keep calm. So we had them answer some fun questions about their lovestory, travel adventures, lockdown wedding and honeymoon plans. Read on to know the details-
This post was published by Aqsa Aleem
