A carpenter and builder by trade, Mohinder has constructed many buildings in the Dharamsala area, including the new Tibetan Parliament building. He also takes responsibility for the maintenance of the temple above Jagatram Niwas.

Rekha and Santosh are also siblings. They undertake the day-to-day running of the guesthouse – cooking traditional Himachali meals and ensuring that Jagatram Niwas is always more than a ghar (house), but rather a home. Rekha and Santosh hail from the nearby village of Naddi, near to Dal Lake – one of the area’s sightseeing attractions.

Originally from England, Matthew now lives with the Singh family in Heini. Matthew is also a writer and journalist and has worked closely with Dharamsala’s Tibetan community over the years.