Offbeat Elegance: Rahul Uppal & Manoj Sihag – Founders & Directors of Echor Hotels Pvt Ltd

In the enchanting offbeat trails of India's Himalayan foothills and coastal hideaways, Rahul Uppal and Manoj Sihag have crafted a boutique hospitality empire that celebrates serene luxury and authentic local immersion. As Founders and Directors of Echor Hotels Pvt Ltd, they have grown the brand from a 2019 vision to 15+ properties across Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Goa by 2025, with ambitious plans for 30 by 2025 and expansions into Nainital, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mukteshwar, and Ranikhet by 2027. United by a shared passion for travel and entrepreneurship—Uppal from a business family and Sihag from a military background—their journey from identifying accommodation gaps in unique destinations to launching experiential retreats like Echor - The Zion in Shimla embodies innovative storytelling and sustainable growth. This profile, drawn exclusively from verified public sources including ET HospitalityWorld features, Silicon India interviews, Hotelier India magazine coverage, and Crunchbase records, celebrates their ethos: "Luxury in offbeat destinations where travelers connect with nature and culture through design, comfort, and heartfelt hospitality," as Echor solidifies its position in India's $281 billion tourism boom.

Profile

Rahul Uppal and Manoj Sihag are visionary entrepreneurs whose shared passion for travel has birthed Echor Hotels Pvt Ltd, a boutique chain that fills the gap for standardized, reliable accommodations in India's offbeat destinations. Founded in 2019, the company has rapidly expanded to 15+ properties by 2025, predominantly in Himachal Pradesh, with forays into Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Goa. "We noticed a lack of high-standard options in unique places," Uppal explains in Silicon India (2024), their model blending luxury with local culture to create immersive retreats.

Rahul Uppal, Director and Co-Founder, brings a business family background and investment experience from SBS Biotech, where he managed treasury as Manager, Investment (pre-2019). An MBA graduate in Financial Markets from Chitkara University (2017–2019), Uppal's analytical skills drive Echor's strategic direction, from site selection to revenue optimization. Manoj Sihag, Founder and Director, hails from a military family, breaking the mold as a first-generation entrepreneur with an engineering background. His leadership and keen observation have shaped Echor's operational excellence, ensuring heartfelt hospitality in every property.

Echor's portfolio emphasizes small, experiential stays (10–25 rooms), designed to reflect surroundings—Echor - The Zion Shimla (42 keys, 2024) offers Himalayan serenity with Mall Road access; Echor Srinagar near Dal Lake (40 rooms, 2024) immerses in Kashmir's beauty; Echor Samara Morjim Goa (29 rooms, 2024) blends beach luxury with gourmet dining; Echor Baris Resort Mussoorie (2024) provides Himalayan tranquility; and 2025 additions like Echor The Corbett Nishk Jim Corbett and Echor Malusara Lakeview Bhimtal expand to wildlife and lakeside retreats.

Targeting INR 100 Cr revenue by FY27, Echor operates on lease or partnership models, focusing on destination weddings, corporate retreats, and social gatherings. Based in Chandigarh, their uncontroversial profile reflects collaborative integrity, free of disputes.

Career Timeline

• Pre-2019: Professional Foundations (Exact Dates Unavailable): Rahul Uppal at SBS Biotech (investment management); Manoj Sihag in engineering/entrepreneurship.
• 2019: Echor Founding: Launched Echor Hotels & Resorts with first property in Himachal Pradesh.
• 2019–2023: Initial Expansion: Grew to 10+ properties, focusing on Himachal Pradesh.
• 2024: Multi-State Growth: Opened Echor - The Zion Shimla, Echor Srinagar, Echor Samara Goa, Echor Baris Mussoorie.
• 2025–Present: Uttarakhand & Beyond: Added Echor The Corbett Nishk and Echor Malusara Bhimtal; plans for Nainital, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mukteshwar, Ranikhet by 2027.

Achievements

Rahul Uppal and Manoj Sihag's milestones showcase rapid boutique expansion:

• Portfolio Growth: From 1 property (2019) to 15+ (2025), with 400+ keys across Himachal, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Goa.
• Shimla Debut: Launched Echor - The Zion (42 keys, 2024) after 5-year site search.
• Kashmir Entry: Opened Echor Srinagar near Dal Lake (40 rooms, 2024).
• Goa & Uttarakhand Expansion: Echor Samara Morjim (29 rooms, 2024); Echor Baris Mussoorie (2024); Echor Corbett Nishk & Bhimtal Lakeview (2025).
• Revenue Target: INR 100 Cr by FY27, with 5–8 new properties annually.

These accomplishments, verified through announcements and features, affirm their impact on offbeat luxury.

Leadership Insights

Rahul Uppal and Manoj Sihag's philosophy is "high-standard accommodations in unique destinations," blending luxury with nature-inspired authenticity. "We fill the gap for reliable stays in offbeat places," Uppal states in ET HospitalityWorld (2024), Echor's model—10–25 room experiential retreats—catering to travelers seeking immersion.

Uppal's investment acumen drives site selection: "Five-year search for Shimla's perfect location," per Hotelier India (2024), ensuring cultural richness. Sihag's engineering precision shapes operations: "Authentic experiences celebrating beauty and culture," Silicon India (2024) quotes, properties like Zion's retreat and Srinagar's lakeview reflecting local heritage.

Challenges? "Offbeat logistics," met with "lease/partnership models." Success? "Traveler connections," measured in bookings and buzz. They envision 30 properties by 2025, INR 100 Cr FY27. Legacy? "Preferred boutique brand," blueprint bold: Authentic allure, experiential excellence—hospitality as heartfelt horizon.

FAQs

1. What is Rahul Uppal's role at Echor Hotels? Founder & Director since 2019.
2. What is Manoj Sihag's background? First-generation entrepreneur from a military family with engineering roots.
3. When was Echor Hotels founded? In 2019 by Uppal and Sihag.
4. How many properties does Echor have in 2025? 15+ across Himachal, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Goa.
5. What is Echor - The Zion? 42-key boutique hotel in Shimla launched in 2024.
6. What is Echor Srinagar? 40-room property near Dal Lake, Kashmir (2024).
7. What is Echor Samara? 29-room beach retreat in Morjim, Goa (2024).
8. What is Echor Baris Resort? Mussoorie property launched in 2024.
9. What 2025 openings? Echor The Corbett Nishk (Jim Corbett) and Echor Malusara Lakeview (Bhimtal).
10. What is Echor's revenue target? INR 100 Cr by FY27.
11. What is Echor's property size? 10–25 rooms for experiential stays.
12. What model does Echor use? Outright lease or partnership with owners.
13. What is Echor's focus? Offbeat destinations with luxury and local culture.
14. What is the Shimla location advantage? Short drive from Mall Road, peaceful haven.
15. What is Echor's expansion plan? 30 properties by 2025; Nainital, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mukteshwar, Ranikhet by 2027.
16. What inspires Uppal and Sihag? Passion for travel and filling accommodation gaps.
17. What is Echor's mission? Redefine hospitality in unique destinations with high standards.
18. What legacy do Uppal and Sihag aspire to? Boutique brand of choice for immersive, authentic experiences.

The Enduring Legacy of Rahul Uppal & Manoj Sihag

Rahul Uppal and Manoj Sihag's narrative is a nuanced narrative of nuance—a duo's duet where business boldness meets engineering edge, scripting Echor as offbeat's oasis. Envision 2019's clarion: Uppal's investment ink from SBS Biotech, Sihag's first-gen fire from military mold—gap's gaze in unique's underbelly, "high-standard void," Silicon India (2024) salutes.

Himachal's hymn: Jibhi's jewel, Spiti's serenity, Kasol's call, Kalpa's calm, Shimla's shine—15+ strong by 2025, 400+ keys' kindness. Zion's zenith (2024): 42 keys' quietude, Mall Road's murmur short drive away—"Retreat's essence," Uppal's ode in Hotelier India (2024).

Srinagar's serenade (2024): Dal Lake's depth, 40 rooms' resonance—Kashmir's canvas curated. Samara's seaside (Goa 2024): Morjim's melody, 29 rooms' beach bliss—gourmet's glow, pool's peace, spa's solace. Baris's bliss (Mussoorie 2024): Himalayan hush, Uttarakhand's undercurrent.

2025's Corbett crescendo: Nishk's nimbus, Jim Corbett's call—wildlife's whisper, 56 rooms' safari synergy. Bhimtal's Bhimtal (Malusara Lakeview): European's echo in Himalayan heart, lake's light laced.

Uppal's acumen? "Five-year search for Shimla's soul," ET HospitalityWorld (2024)—investment's instinct, revenue's rite. Sihag's precision? "Authentic immersion," Travel Turtle (2024)—engineering's edge, culture's cadence.

Challenges? "Offbeat's obstacles," met with "lease's liberty, partnership's pact." Success? "Traveler's tie," measured in bookings' beat, buzz's bloom. Legacy? "Boutique's beacon," blueprint bold: Immersive innovation, heartfelt heritage—hospitality as harmonious horizon.

Chandigarh's chord, business's beat—family's faint, focus fierce. Controversies? None cloud; clarity crowns—Crunchbase's crown, Tracxn's triumph.

Forward, 2027's tapestry tightens: 30's glow, Nainital's nod, Rishikesh's rite, Dehradun's depth, Mukteshwar's muse, Ranikhet's rhythm—Echor's empire etched. Canvas: Destinations discovered, dreams deepened—legacies luminous, lives lifted.

In offbeat's offing, Rahul Uppal & Manoj Sihag grace grace: Retreats radiant, rhythms resonant—legends lingering, legacies luminous. For founders forging, their fable flows: Gap-gaze gallantly, grow gracefully, guide gratefully. Thus, Echor's essence endures immortally—not as essence, but echoes of enchanting escapes.