This summer, once again we have partnered with Himalayan Homestead to provide you with a 5-day, immersive experience, including pottery, nature and forest walks in the hills.
Himalayan Homestead is an eco-friendly, boutique homestay located in Sasbani, in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. It is situated in remote and rustic surroundings, nestled amongst the oak forests. The crisp mountain air, the tranquility of forests and the unending greenery is sure to instill a sense of calm and joy.
The retreat is designed to be an experiential vacation, which will help you unwind and experience a new skill as well. We welcome you all to stay with us amidst the oak forest from
27th September - 2nd October 2024
Friday - Wednesday
About the retreat
During your time here, we aim to provide you with a deeply immersive experience. Working with clay offers a wealth of different processes that give us the opportunity to create unique, tangible pieces. This retreat is designed to rejuvenate you away from your usual hectic schedule in a serene environment.
Here's what you can expect in your time here :
5 days of crisp, fresh air amidst the Oak forest
Wake up to the majestic view of Nandakot and Panchchuli peaks
Experiencing a new craft, letting go of your inhibitions and creating your unique pieces in clay
Live in rustic, yet cosy and comfortable cottages
Fresh, organic, home cooked food and bakes
Nature walks and hikes in the morning and evening (maybe both, if you're up for it!)
Connect with a bunch of likeminded individuals, make friends for life
Sit by the bonfire, play games, share stories and enjoy the sounds of crickets and cicadas
I have done this twice before, and I can assure the connections made here are magical! It is a perfect get-away to relax, get pampered and experience something new.
WHO IS IT FOR? DO I NEED PRIOR POTTERY EXPERIENCE?
You don’t need any prior experience of working with clay, this is designed for absolute beginners. The sessions are designed to be a relaxing experience. We will be using various techniques like coiling, pinching and slab work. We will also be using the wheel (we have the kick wheel at the studio) and you can choose to use the one you enjoy the most for the pieces you create.
CAN I BECOME A FULL TIME POTTER AFTER THIS?
No, one week is not enough time for you to become a professional or even a hobby potter, this is meant to be an experiential vacation. If you’re interested in taking up pottery full time or even as a serious hobby, I recommend a 3-6 month course to begin with. This is only meant for people looking for a rejuvenating break and a memorable experience or maybe a stepping stone to you onward pottery journey.
BUT… AM NOT A CREATIVE PERSON
Oh trust me, you are!
This is a safe space for you to come as you are….and just have fun!
Accomodation & Food
You’ll be staying in beautiful and comfortable cottages. Large comfortable rooms and bathrooms. Accommodations will be on a twin sharing basis.
We have five cottages, fully equipped with blankets, electric kettles and geysers. Each of the rooms have their own storage and bathrooms and a small balcony. The rooms overlook the hills and you can hear the bird songs all around you.
We will be serving healthy, vegetarian food celebrating seasonal and local produce and some in-house bakes. Our meals are enjoyed at the dining hall together in the warmth of the fireplace. We do not provide room service or a la carte menu.
We will be allocating rooms once we have all the participants confirmed.
Itinerary
Day 1 | 27th Sept
Arrival. You get settled and rested. After our evening chai and snacks, we'll unwind, have a round of introductions and a basic orientation.
Day 2-3-4-5 | 28th Sept - 1st Oct
Our mornings would begin with a hike/walk (optional, ofcourse). We begin our pottery workshops after breakfast and work till the evening.
Day 2 & 3 are for exploring different techniques and getting a hang of the material
Day 4 & 5 we will work on our final pieces together that we'll keep to fire. We will also load the kiln together at night.
You can each decide to keep 3-4 pieces that you have made in your time with us. The pieces will be fired a few weeks after our retreat and shipped to you. Figuring out these logistics in the hills is tricky, so it might take some time.
Day 6 | 2nd October
Departure after breakfast.
How to reach?
The Himalayan Homestead is located in village Sasbani, District Nainital, Uttarakhand.
By Road : Homestead is an 8-9 hr drive from Delhi.
By Air : It is a 4.5hr drive from Bareilly Airport
It is a 2.5-3hr drive from Pantnagar Airport
By Train : Delhi to Kathgodam is an overnight journey through Ranikhet Express. There is also a Shatabdi from Delhi. Homestead is 2.5 hrs from Kathgodam station.
*Himalayan Homestead is a short 15min hike from the main road.
**Once we receive all confirmations, we will help you plan your travel in a way that all the participants can book a cab together from the airport / station. This will help you get to know each other and also split the cab fair! We will also connect you to local cab drivers.
Hear from our previous batch :
"This retreat is one of the highlights of my life over the last few years, and not just for pottery. It's mesmerizing to watch Anumita do her art, and despite having done two pottery workshops earlier, this is the first one where I truly grasped the basics. She's so patient and the days are so well planned that the whole experience was zen-like. I don't know if I'll retain the pottery skills, but we made friends for life here.. go ahead, take the plunge. It'll be a beautiful experience."
VARSHA
"5 days of complete solitude while learning pottery overlooking the hills. Anumita is patient and so passionate about pottery and it inevitably rubs off on you. Namita, the host was absolutely wonderful. She baked some yummy cupcakes and breads for us during our stay. Best part is the pottery studio out in the balcony with a gorgeous view. The trek to the home stay is not easy, so would recommend carrying good shoes. You have to take any plastic waste you bring, back with you as it’s an eco friendly property.
10/10 would recommend!"
YUKTI
"The pottery experience was one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had. I came back with my heart full. Anumita was wonderful throughout. She made everyone feel at ease. Working with clay was not only alot of fun but very therapeutic. It was a meditative experience that left me feeling very centered. Anumita's presence and expertise made all the difference.
I highly recommend this to those who are looking for connection with others and themselves ❤️"
VIDHI
I only do this once a year and to keep the group intimate, we have limited seats.
So, are you ready for a 5-day immersive experience in the hills?
Psst : If you're a studio insider, don't forget to use your secret discount code for a 10% off. If you're not, you can sign up now and grab your discount code.
Cancellation Policy
- The entire amount will be refunded if you cancel on/before 31st July
- 50% of the total amount will be refunded, if you cancel on/before by 31st August
- 20% of the total amount will be refunded, if cancel on/before 13th September
- There shall be no refund, if you cancel after 13th September
- If you are unable to attend for any reason, you may transfer your seat to another person (provided you inform us in advance). In case of such transfer, we shall not be refunding any amount.
