Retreats
Our 5-day Pottery Retreats and Painting Retreats are a harmonious blend of creativity, relaxation, and connection with nature.
Designed for beginners and seasoned artists alike, these retreats offer hands-on art sessions. Nestled in serene, inspiring surroundings, each day balances structured learning with free time to reflect, explore, or unwind.
Beyond the art, you’ll find a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, delicious meals, and the opportunity to recharge both mind and spirit. It’s not just a retreat—it’s a transformative journey of self-expression and rejuvenation.
Pottery Retreat
The idea behind this pottery/creative retreat is simple: It‘s a natural setting where you may discover inspiration and embrace your creative side while getting away from the daily grind. The creative process of pottery–making slows down the pace of life, giving you time to recharge and replenish your creative spirit.
There could be no other medium better than the clay for such a retreat wherein clay itself and the whole process of making pottery teaches you patience, empathy, accepting changes, exploring and experimenting.
Painting Retreat
This art / painting retreat is perfect to explore creativity, relax, and find inspiration in a peaceful, scenic setting. Curated by a group of retreat experts and facilitators, this 5 days programme provides a break from daily routines, offering guided workshops to learn or enhance artistic skills while connecting with like-minded individuals. Blending art, nature, and community to rejuvenate both the mind and spirit.
This retreat is also an opportunity for personal growth, mindfulness, and self-expression.
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Testimonials
I recently attended their 5-day pottery retreat and had an unforgettable experience. The retreat offered a perfect balance of instruction, practice, and relaxation. The pottery sessions were both enjoyable and challenging, with exceptional instructors who provided personalized guidance. The staff were warm, attentive, and created a supportive atmosphere.The retreat also featured additional activities like yoga, meditation, sound healing, nature walks, and a city tour, creating a holistic experience that fostered creativity and mindfulness.The location was serene and beautiful, with spacious rooms and stunning views. Overall, it was a rejuvenating experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking creativity, relaxation, and inner peace.
I attended their 5day pottery retreat recently and thoroughly enjoyed every bit of my time spent here.The location is beautiful..the rooms very spacious with incredible views..its relaxing the moment you step into their property. The instructors as well as the staff is like one big community who are always ready to help you with your queries. The schedule is busy but not very packed.... with morning walks, yoga, meditation session also part of everyday activities. It was my first time trying pottery and really have fallen in love with this art..thanks to Dharamkot Studio! 🙂
I didn’t expect to learn that much in only 2 hrs. I absolutely loved it - playful and mindful at the same time. Very knowledgeable and kind and patient instructors. Can highly recommend it!
Took an amazing 5 day wheel throwing workshop. My instructor Kapil was awesome and very patient with me. I actually managed to make vessel and will be able to continue creating pieces in the future.
Took an amazing 5 day wheel throwing workshop. My instructor Kapil was awesome and very patient with me. I actually managed to make vessel and will be able to continue creating pieces in the future.
Very warm welcome, good staff. I took part in a 2-hour course: very enriching for a first! I recommend.
Very warm welcome, good staff. I took part in a 2-hour course: very enriching for a first! I recommend.
I only took a 2 hour class in this pottery workshop, without a 5 day retreat, and even though it was short, it was a great experience:The place is magnificent and the teachers are always available to help and explain, a great time, thank you very much!
I only took a 2 hour class in this pottery workshop, without a 5 day retreat, and even though it was short, it was a great experience:The place is magnificent and the teachers are always available to help and explain, a great time, thank you very much!
This place is amazing for adults as well as for kids to open their creativity. Different workshops can be done depending on the time you have in front of you, from 2hours to 5 weeks course. I really recommend this place and the cafe’s food is the cherry on the cake 😉
This place is amazing for adults as well as for kids to open their creativity. Different workshops can be done depending on the time you have in front of you, from 2hours to 5 weeks course. I really recommend this place and the cafe’s food is the cherry on the cake 😉
Excellent teachers ambience food and quietude. The course was designed so well we were taught all that was promised looking forward to the residency programme. The meditation and nature trail sessions were great. Thanks to team Dharamkot studio. Sajan, Pragya, Manish, Neeraj, Sahil For looking after us so well.
Hello team dharamkot studio..This was my first ever pottery retreat ,I am so glad to have experienced such a lovely pottery class ..the most surreal,loving ,meditative,happy,beautiful experience.A big shout out to team dharamkot studio ,never seen so many happy loving people under one roof..u all are amazing bunch of creative people ..thank u for sharing ur knowledge n being patient in imparting the same. U all made me feel at home ,so comfortable n warm ..I will always cherish these beautiful 5 days that I spent with such amazing people n surroundings...u all are doing an amazing job..I wish u best of luck n hope to see u sometime again ❤️ loads of love from Kritika kripalani19/10/2024...
It's an amazing experience and well guided workshop. Instructor will guide you step by step. Worth doing it.
An excellent studio for those who want to experience working with clay. Lovely and kind people.You can also just go to the painter and they will give you paints and papers.The cafe is excellent, everything we tasted was excellent.
I recently attended a 5-day pottery retreat, and the experience exceeded all of my expectations. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with such warmth and kindness, creating a nurturing and creative atmosphere.The pottery sessions were both relaxing and challenging, giving us the freedom to explore our creativity while still learning new techniques. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, the instructors were incredibly patient and knowledgeable, guiding us through every step of the process.What made this retreat truly special, though, were the additional activities – the city tour, yoga sessions, sound healing, and nature walks – that provided a holistic experience. Each of these moments helped us unwind, reconnect with ourselves, and bond with the other participants. It was the perfect balance between creativity, relaxation, and mindfulness.The location was beautiful and peaceful, and every detail was well thought out. I left feeling recharged, inspired, and full of gratitude for the time spent there. I would highly recommend this retreat to anyone looking for a creative escape combined with inner peace.
What a beautiful, beautiful experience. I went to Dharamkot Studio for the week-long painting retreat, not knowing what to expect. I came out of it—5 days later—having experienced something magical.Dharamkot gives you the perfect taste of art, culture, nature, and community in all the right proportions. I learned a variety of local painting styles and techniques from stellar artists, each a master of their own craft. My accommodation was clean and comfortable, and had a spacious shared sit-out that offered spectacular views. Imagine waking up to the smell of pine and fresh air!! There are also ABUNDANT nature trails, markets, and cafes/restaurants to check out (sooo many quirky ones!), which made staying at Dharamkot even more delightful. I met some truly wonderful folks that week and had many, many inspiring conversations with them. Huge kudos to the Dharamkot Studio crew for putting together these retreats so thoughtfully.The time I spent there has genuinely awakened part of my soul. 🙂 I will be holding on to memories I made there for life.
Dharamkot Studio is a dream and the pottery retreat is one of the best things I signed up for this year. While learning a little about pottery, we went on long walks, attended morning meditations, did a walking tour and ate the best food ever. The location is perfect with not too much noise around and the views are spectacular. The teachers and everyone else at the studio are warm and friendly and ready to help in anyway that they can. I would love to go back again!
I did the week long course/ retreat! I met some wonderful people at the studio! The food was a highlight for me! It was so healthy and very authentic. The teachers were all very knowledgeable & they made the process of learning new techniques efficient and fun 🤩 I felt very inspired & would be interested in coming again! I would recommend to everyone who is interested in making some artistic time for themselves! You will try new techniques, improve your craft, and you’ll want to continue practicing pottery much more!Also the studio retreat land is stunning! The views are incredible & peaceful.
It is the perfect place for a creative retreat. The location, the people, the art, the locals, the calm and the amazing food at the studio! I did the 5 day pottery retreat, and i did not just learn about pottery, but so many other things through this medium of creativity. The sightseeing and other activities included along with the retreat was a break which helped us get familiar with the natural beauty that Dharamkot and Dharamshala has to offer us.Left the place with a content heart, mind and soul. Thank you so much to the entire team at Dharamkot studio, for the enriching experience! 🙂
Dharamkot Studio is an amazing studio in a beautiful location. The energy of the studio, including the instructors, the staff, the students is extremely positive and vibrant!Highly recommend for a unique holiday experience
I was here with my wife who for long time wanted to visit and join the classes. This time we made it and she got the experience of hands on. The atmosphere here is awesome to learn and she was really well trained as per her expectations. Would be visiting soon again with kids and will get to learn more next time.
This is a wonderful place run by people who are genuinely passionate about pottery. I learned a lot there, the instructors are very generous with their time and really make sure that people get the most out of their session in a friendly atmosphere. 100% recommended!
This place has my heart. I have been here twice in the last two years and whenever I think of taking a break from my life in the city and away from my home studio - Dharamkot studio is always what comes to my mind. I went there first for a three week creative retreat where I was accommodated into their busy daily schedule very warmly. I was already a few courses into pottery by that time, but what I learnt at Dharamkot studio was to let go of my fears of clay and the egotistical and harmful pursuit of perfection. Clay is play and must be approached with surrender and love is what they taught me. The space is shaped by Manoj and Sadaiv and Vivek who themselves are self taught potters and have come a long way to build a space so warm and creative - they have nurtured other amazing talents in that same spirit like the super warm Pragya who is the heart of the place, the crazy and wickedly talented Kapil and the other permanent members, tutors and volunteers in that space.. I owe a big time to them for my journey into pottery and I recommend this space more than any others in the country when you want to just dabble with clay for the first time or to do an artist residency. They are never stern, never stuck up on any particular style, allow you to explore your relationship with clay even if it’s your first encounter with it and show you pathways of how you can truly express with it. They will take care of your pieces and kindly ship them to you in any part of the country once fired. Pottery is generally an expensive practice to learn but what Dharamkot Studios offers in their packages is unmatched and priceless. And mind you they are still less expensive than a lot of other spaces in the country without any pretence. I wish them all my heartiest blessings to be the space they have nurtured and created so well with their heart and that they build one of the foremost artist communities in the country. I consider them a family and it was heartening to see they welcomed me and my friends back to their fold after two years just like one of their own.
I recently had the pleasure of participating in a 5-day pottery course at Dharamkot studio, and it truly exceeded all my expectations. The staff welcomed me with genuine warmth and friendliness. Their deep knowledge of pottery was readily apparent, and they were always eager to share their expertise, making the learning experience both enjoyable and informative.The course itself was exceptionally well-structured, with each day building upon the skills we had acquired in the previous sessions. The instructors struck the perfect balance between providing guidance and allowing us the creative freedom to explore. This approach not only helped me develop my skills but also made the learning process incredibly rewarding. What truly set this experience apart was the supportive and friendly atmosphere. The instructors' dedication to our success was evident throughout, making it an enjoyable journey of discovery.I can't recommend Dharamkot studio and their courses enough. My 5-day pottery adventure was both educational and fun, and I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to give it a try.
I highly recommend experiencing Dharamkot Studio’s classes if you’re planning to visit the Dharamkot/McLeod area!I attended two very beautiful pottery making sessions! This was at their smaller studio and it’s a lovely place with lots of natural light and air.First was the hand building class with Pragya and Anjali. They’re both very attentive and gentle teachers, with their own unique styles. So much talent! They’d take turns giving personal attention to each participant so all of us benefited from both of their knowledge.Second session involved working on the pottery wheel. The introductory demonstration was done very nicely by Ananya. Then we all got to sit at our own wheels and begin working.Our teachers were Kapil and Abhinav. They were both kind and patient with all of us. Again with their own styles of teaching, taking turns to personally guide each student.Though the studio has fixed timings and everything, they’re also flexible when necessary. I have to thank Vivek for being so helpful with the process or booking, changing dates, collection of my pieces, etc. I only needed to reach out to him and he coordinated smoothly with everyone involved to make it seamless for us.Special thanks to Abhinav for coming in on their weekly holiday so I could collect my baked+glazed pieces. I truly appreciate it!I’m delighted with all the pottery pieces I made. 🙂
