Vaatalya is a heartwarming journey of over a decade, where a family traded city life for a richer existence on a 9-acre haven since 2007. Instead of leasing to industries, we embarked on the challenging path of crafting a sustainable retreat. Our commitment led us to harmonize with available resources, discovering the beauty of self-sufficiency and the joy in embracing the changing seasons and our community. This fulfilling adventure endures, as we persist in our quest for self-reliance and meaningful connections.

We are not a hotel or a resort, we are a community retreat.

A community retreat is a nurturing space where people gather to temporarily disconnect from their daily routines, seeking physical, mental, and emotional rejuvenation while fostering a sense of belonging and shared growth within a supportive group setting.

Vaatalya means "House of Wind". Vaatalya is a combination of 02 Sanskrit words. "Vaat" means "wind" & "alya" means "dwellings".

We collaborate, we research, we educate and we inspire change.

We follow the Triple Botton Line approach of our work.

From a journey that started back in 2007, in 2022 we are now running our operations, innovation & creating experimental solutions with various students and professionals from local, government & private sectors via our work exchange and internship programs.

While we generate funds for this work from the paid travelers who stays with us, our 04 business models at Vaatalay give us an ecosystem for the functioning of this community beautifully.

To read more click here

Vaatalya is located in District Solan, Himachal Pradesh. We are 60 km from Shimla, 102 km from Chandigarh & 345 km from New Delhi. We have a parking facility at our retreat and one can come via self-drive or simply rent a taxi. Only the last 800-1000 meters stretch is a hard mud road and the rest of it is a scenic drivable road. In case you are coming from any cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, etc you can simply take a flight/train to Chandigarh and reach Vaatalay in a duration of 3.5- 4 hrs.

PS: We do not own any taxi service, however, we know reliable taxi drivers who can drop you at Vaatalya. We do not charge any commission for this and you may pay the driver directly. Ping us for details.

To know more click here

We create an evolving dining menu, where we invent healthy ways to cook food using local, organic, and innovative ingredients mostly grown on farms or sourced locally. All meals are farm-fresh, vegetarian meals except for occasional eggs for breakfast. Food is cooked fresh in every meal by our in-house cook & is laid out in family style for all travelers & served in a common dining space as per specific timings. The food we cook is delicious, warm & healthy food.

We have a small menu to order for munchies & beverages as well. We do not have an in-room dining facility, however, a snack menu to order is available in the dining space. If you would like us to prepare non-vegetarian meals, please do let us know in advance. White meats are available at INR 850 per plate (serves 02 people) | 1050 per plate for Red Meats (serves 02 people)

The design, construction & architecture of the entire retreat is done by the family themselves with the help of local artisans & its community members. We have blended this ancient form of sustainable architecture in combination with modern facilities to ensure that we do not compromise on the basic comforts of life.

These are the accommodation types that we offer:

1. Stone Cottage Rooms

2. Mud Hut Rooms

3. Dorm Rooms

4. Comfy Dome Camps

Visit the website for more details or call us for details as to what accommodation would suit you best as per the purpose of your travel.

Know More - Click Here

We are off the grid, but have constructed fully equipped, hygienic, wastern style flush toilets and showers to our travelers.

We have organic good cell phone signal in a few indoor & outdoor spots. Sometimes it's not the best due to weather conditions. Airtel signal works well. We have installed signal boosters in common spaces, so your phone hot spots and wifi dongles can work well. WE DO NOT HAVE WIFI AT VAATALYA. But you can always carry your AIRTEL WIFI DONGLES if you would like to work. Contact us for more details.

Worry not. We have prepared a list of packing guides and other essential information that is sent across to you post your reservation to ensure you are fully equipped and planned with information.

Our high-quality quilts, blankets, and hot water bags ensure winter warmth. Rooms are thermally insulated for summer coolness and winter snugness. Gas heater in the dining area for extreme winters. Heaters and electric blankets available (extra charge)

We have NO power back up. The electricity is gone for a maximum duration of 10 hrs in 30 days. This could be due to repair work or force majeure circumstances. We have backup solar emergency lights and advanced high-range torchers. Due to the dense forest cover, the weather is mostly pleasant in summers, enough that no fans or coolers are required. Get your torches please.

Vaatalya is situated at a height of approximately 2066 mts / 6781 feet (approx) above sea level. The nature of the trip is adventurous due to unforeseen climatic conditions and terrain. Any questions in relation to your physical or mental suitability for the trip must be reviewed by your personal medical practitioner for approval. We cannot offer advice on the medical nature. Visitors with pre-existing medical conditions are strictly advised not to make reservations in Vaatalya, and if all they do, is at your own risk. Vaatalya reserves the right to deny any client on reasonable medical grounds.

Basic medical facilities are always available at Vaatalya. In case of emergency, it will take approximately 30 minutes to reach the nearest hospital. 108 facility is also available. It may delay in extreme weather conditions of snow or heavy rains as the location is disconnected.

Yes. All room bathrooms have water geysers. We have solar geysers installed in designated areas as well. However, water is not a luxury due to the mountain top location. Use it wisely.

The days are usually sunny and the nights are chilly. As per the location, there is nothing to stop the wind flow which leads to usually cold weather in the evenings in case it turns windy. The weather alters within a fraction of time in the mountains. Mountains have their own charisma.

This is the usual weather as per season in Degree Celsius:

Spring & Summers: March to June: 15 degrees to 28 degree

Monsoon: July & August: 14 degrees to 22 degree

Autumn: September to November: 10 degrees to 22 degree

Winter: December to February: -ve/Minus 02 degree to 8 degree

In case you require any driver's accommodation, it can be arranged near Saryanj at INR 500 per person per day with all 03 meals. Saryanj is 4 km from Vaatalya. As the accommodation is also home of a local, do inform your driver to be modest and humble. The driver may make the payment directly to the accommodation owners.

To live and work at Vaatalya requires one to move away from the norms of conventional social-economic systems and enter into a more "giving" space where personal needs and desires are secondary to the collective good.

..a place where the needs of the spirit and the care for progress would get precedence over the satisfaction of desires and passions, the seeking for pleasures and material enjoyments.

In our mountain top retreat, we say sorry, we like to have fun, we like to say please and thank you, we give big hugs, we chase dreams, we forgive, we make mistakes, we give second chances and we say I Love you often.

Click here to know more on Retreat Rules