Join us on an exciting workshop on natural farming in the Kumaon Himalayas. Organised by the creators of Smell of the Earth, you'll learn - Permaculture Principles and Ethics - Map making - Zones and Sectors At the end of it, you'll be able to easily plan your own farm or garden. Join us on 29 Sep in the village of Khoont in Uttarakhand. Visit nayalap.com/permaculture or call on 76186 05671

There's a lot that we can write about monsoons in the Kumaon hills. About the grass-cutting season that's coming up. About the time to harvest the Ragi and the Jhungar. About the Taro leaves sprouting like umbrellas from the smaller fields. About the seeds of Palak and mustard greens that have just come and the great pumpkin times coming up. About the expectations of Sana hua nimboo under an autumn sun. There's a lot that we can write about this monsoon. But we just can't get over the beautiful sunsets to write about all of this.

One of the great pleasures of being in the mountains in the monsoons is cloud watching. The first mug of coffee lasts that extra hour just because you'd like to see those homes in the distance play hide and seek with the clouds. Or a sudden wisp of cotton clouds rising through the oak forest or settling just below the horizon. Step back, look out and let the notifications buzz in the background while we take you into the clouds. #Uttarakhand #kumaon #offbeatuttarakhand #uttarakhandtravel #luxurycampingindia #glampingindia #hikinesinuttarakhand #uttarakhandtrekking #noidagram #delhiweekends #holidayinuttarakhand #offbeatindia #campinginuttarakhand #boutiquestays #holidayinuttarakhand #naturestay #ecostay #familygetaway

The monsoon clouds will give way to the Autumn sun. The peaks will put on a spectacular show and we will all have Sana hua nimboo and sleep under that old oak tree. We will return at the end of the day with a song in our head and a smile that somehow appeared without us knowing.

It rained the whole day yesterday and the night before. The light rain that works as background music while you're cooking. The heavy rain that you just want to sleep through. The rain that promises to stop. The rain that declares that it won't. The rain that sometimes brings clouds into your room. The rain that sometimes clears the valleys beyond. It's that kind of rain. You know what we're talking of 🙂

The monsoons are slowly giving way to autumns and the village is gearing up for autumn and beyond. Join us on any or all of a host of activities that Shitlakhet and Nayalap organise. -- Learn Natural Farming Stay in a beautiful Kumaoni village and learn how to grow your own food and plan your garden/farm. Learn from a certified specialist @smell_of_the_earth 🗓️ 29 Sep- 2 Oct 🏷️ Rs. 15,000 per person 🌐 nayalap.com/permaculture -- Ramleela in Shitlakhet See the Ramleela at Shitlakhet. See what makes it an event and how a community Ramleela is much more intimate. 🗓️ Dussehra. Exact dates for key events to be notified later 🏷️ From Rs. 6,000 per room per night 🌐 nayalap.com -- Pottery and Outdoor Cooking Retreat Learn how to make your own pizza and create your own tile. Learn from the best @wildfernpotterystudio and @sahaniyacookeryschool 🗓️ 26-29 Ict 🏷️ Rs. 31,500 per person 🌐 nayalap.com/by-the-mountain -- Meet the shepherds Every winter, shepherds and sheep move down from the highlands of Joshimath to the grasslands of Ramnagar - a distance of over 300km. Meet the flock and the Bhutia dogs. 🗓️ 2nd week of December 🏷️ From Rs. 6,000 per room per night 🌐 nayalap.com -- A Likhai weekend Let an art historian guide you through the villages of the area and gain an insight into the carvings on the beautiful doors of the villages - the motifs, and what they mean. 🗓️ December 🏷️ TBC 🌐 nayalap.com So which one catches your fancy? Let us know in the comments.