Published 27 May 2023
Discovering Self-Love through Pottery Classes: My Dharamkot Studio Experience
I had the pleasure of experiencing the 5-day Creative Retreat at the quaint abode that is the Dharamkot Studio, Dharamkot, Himachal Pradesh.
The Retreat is designed for a limited number of participants ensuring an intimate and immersive experience. Your registration fees include pottery sessions, lodging, three meals a day, and sightseeing.
To reach the Studio location you can take a plane ride from Delhi to Dharamshala, a train up to Pathankot, or a bus up to Dharamshala and thereafter enjoy the most scenic and comfortable mountain ride.
On reaching the location, Sahil, the caretaker is going to be your go-to guy for everything from laundry to room cleaning, to hot water and more for the next five nights and six days.
All the rooms are minimal, spacious, clean, and overlook the valley. The cafe in the main building has a professional chef who serves delicious continental breakfasts with North Indian and Chinese meals for lunch and dinner.
Five Days of Pottery Classes
The 5 Days of Pottery classes were designed to experience Pottery as a means to unwind more mindfully.
Day 1 is all about introduction to pottery as art, clay as a medium, and the tools utilized. Day two is slightly challenging as some of you might work the potter’s wheel for the first time.
On Day three onwards you learn to carve and decorate your pieces. I ended up making a super functional set of mugs and bowls, everyone used to call it my kitchen set and I took pride in calling it my first ceramic collection - Hope.
Other than learning pottery, the retreat has multiple extra-curricular activities like yoga, meditation, hiking in the monk village, and Mcleodganj sightseeing.