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Andretta & Kangra

A Creative Retreat in Artists' village !

As the summers in plains begin to soar, we bring you the perfect 4-day getaway to Himanchal!
A "creative retreat" in the lower Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh, to the small, mofussil Artists' town of Andretta!
Don't expect garish loud music or lights, instead enjoy the quiet heritage trails of Kangra Fort, enjoy traditional food in vast greens of enchanting tea estate, escape into a world of mindfulness as you hone your pottery skills, savour perfect sunsets and soak in the sun!

Himachal


Starts: From Amb Andaura

Ends: At Amb Andaura

Group size: 12-14

Group Type: All age and gender

Dates


Starts: TBA

Ends: TBA


Charges


TBD
Loyalty discount
as applicable

About The Tour


Back in 1920s, an Irish theatre artist and environmentalist, Norah Richards, made Andretta her home, and started the makeover of the village into an artists’ hub! Located near Palampur in Kangra district, in the backdrop of Dhauladhar Himalayan range, this tiny miny settlement has since then attracted many noted artists, theatre practitioners, painters and more recently potters.

In its early days, travel to the village was not easy. It took a 12-hour train journey, followed by a bus ride, and the last nine miles were covered on foot. Even so, it started attracting artists from all over, especially Lahore. The artists who have made the village their home since its beginning includes - noted painter and sculptor B.C. Sanyal, the theatre meastro Prithvi Raj Kapoor, Sardar Sobha Singh - who defined Sikh religious paintings and many more.

Later on, Sardar Gurucharan Singh, a noted potter who started the Delhi Blue Pottery in 1952, established base here and stayed here as long as he lived. Following his father's foorsteps, his son established the Andretta Pottery and Craft Society, which till date is active with a beautiful production studio! It is to this less explored village that we the TheBrownTicketExperiences take you for a-connect-with-yourself experience!

Trip highlights



Course One

Masroor rock cut temples

Masroor rock cut temples is a remarkable example of monolithic rock-cut architecture. It features a group of 15 sandstone temples carved out of a single rock. These temples date back to the 8th century and are dedicated to various Hindu deities. Carved meticulously out of a single sandstone rock, this monolithic wonder is often called the “Ellora of Himachal”.

Course One

Kangra Fort

The perfect blend of rich history and scenic beauty, the Kangra Fort is said to be the largest hill fort in the Himalayas. With majestic gateways and bastions defending the fort, it boasts of ancient temples, vast courtyards and tales of valour etched in every stone. Add the majestic Dhauladhar ranges in the backdrop of this majestic hill fort and the views are breathtaking.

Course One

Wah Tea Estate

At 526 acres, Wah Tea Estate is the largest and the oldest tea estate in Kangra region. Apart from the lush greenery of the estate, the place houses some quirky tea-environment, and a lovely restaurant overlooking green cover of tea plants. Established in 1857 by the British, right now it is very lovingly run by 4th generation of Prakash family.

Course One

Meet the Artist

While in an artists’ village, meet one too!Pradeep, the artist who started ClayrVoy studio, is a physicist by education, and after spending many years in Silicon valley, started learning pottery and made Andretta his home since 2021! Get to meet him, talk to him and know about his journey into this totally different tangent!

Course One

Sobha Singh Art Gallery

Sardar Sobha Singh is a renowned painter and artist who is best known for defining Sikh Gurus in paintings. His masterpiece of Guru Nanak (with his one hand raised as if to bestow blessings) is till date the defining image of Guru Nanak. He also made Andretta his home, and today his house “Grow More Good” is a small gallery run by his family.

Course One

Norah Richards House

Chameli niwas - the house of Norah Richards, the Irish theatre artist who made Andretta her home, and nurtured it to become an artists’ hub. Choosing to live amidst the villagers in Andretta, Norah Richards adopted the same lifestyle. And the thatched roof house she made for herself reflects this. It is a Kangra-style mud house built using local style and materials, using mud, slate, and bamboo.

Course One

Andretta Pottery

Sardar Gurucharan Singh, a noted potter who started the Delhi Blue Pottery in the 1952, established base here and stayed here as long as he lived. Later on his son established the Andretta Pottery and Craft Society, which till date is active with a beautiful production studio ! They offer varied grade of pottery classes, starting from 45 minutes to 3 months.

Course One

Sherabling Monastery

The main prayer hall of the monastery has a stunning two-storey golden Maitreya statue. Built across a sprawling 3 acres of land, the Sherabling monastery is situated within the Bhatu forest in the foothills of the Himalayan ranges. The path leading to the monastery is full of pine trees on either side and the colorful prayer flags welcome everyone all through the way.

Course One

Baijnath temple

Baijnath Temple is a Nagara style Hindu temple situated in Kangra District. Built in early 13th century by two local merchants named Ahuka and Manyuka, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Vaidyanath ‘the Lord of physicians’. The temple sees equal number of religious devotees and architecture buffs.


Trip itinerary




Day 1: Arrive in Amb Andaura, travel to Kangra

Arrive by morning in Kangra.
After check-in, we head out to the Masroor rock cut temples (35 km/1 hr drive).
Masroor rock cut temples are a remarkable example of monolithic rock-cut architecture. It features a group of 15 sandstone temples carved out of a single rock.
Lunch @ Hotel/Kangra.
Post lunch, head out to Kangra Fort, one of the oldest forts in India, to get a virtual experience of time travel. Retire early.
Dinner @ Kangra / hotel.

Overnight @ Kangra / Hotel Clarks Inn or equivalent.

Day 2: Andretta, the artists' village

Breakfast @ hotel
Check-out from the hotel, as we start our journey to the artists’ village of Andretta, and our next stop is Wah tea estate (40km/1-1.5 hr drive).
Take a stroll around lush green tea estates, and enjoy the quirky tea-environment at the estate. Experience the vast range of tea the estate has to offer in their tea-tasting session.
Enjoy Kangri Dham (the traditional Kangra food platter) at Wah estate for lunch and move to our final destination - Andretta! (7km /15 mins)
Check in to the homestay, freshen up and head out to our “meet the artist” session at ClayrVoy pottery studio over a cup of tea.

Overnight @ Andretta / The Kut House or equivalent

Day 3: Tales of Andretta

Breakfast @ homestay Start exploring the small town of Andretta on foot.
Visit Sardar Sobha Singh's art gallery. His family lives in the town, and runs a small museum showcasing his works. Indulge in the artist’s finesse and his career as painter. Chameli niwas - the house of Norah Richards - the woman who gave this town the identity of an artists' hub
Post lunch, we get our hands dirty with clay! We attend a beginner’s pottery session at Andretta Pottery! Let your inner child out and have fun in a 45 minute session, which leaves you yearning for more..

Overnight @ Andretta / The Kut House or equivalent

Day 4: Goodbye

Breakfast @ homestay
Post breakfast we head out to Baijnath Temple (11km/30 mins away)
Visit Sherabling Monastery.
Lunch @ Homestay.
Post-lunch feel free to explore by yourself, or just chill around the beautiful small town.
Either sign up for a clay modelling session at ClayrVoy Studio OR just repeat the pottery session @ Andretta Pottery if you think you didn’t have enough!
Drop at the Amb Andaura Railway station or Dharamshala airport for your journey back home!

Location details


Some 30 odd kms from Dharamshala, Andretta is a small artists’ village in Kangra valley. Surrounded by the snow-capped Dhauladhar range and the bamboo groves of the Shivaliks, the village enjoys surreal beauty and pleasant weather throughout the year

Connections Game

Important Information

Cost

TBD

Inclusions

- Accommodation on twin-sharing basis at
* Hotel Clarks Inn Suites @ Kangra
* The Kut House @ Andretta (Home-stay)
- All monuments entrance tickets for one visit to the monuments.
- Service of AC vehichles for all travels OR cost of any other travel as part of the itinerary, including pick up from and drop to Amb Andaura railway station Or Dharamshala Airport.
- One beginners class for 45 minutes @ the Andretta Pottery
- One tea tasting session and tea-estate tour @ Wah tea estate
- All meals, special meals as part of the itinerary starting from Day 1 Lunch till Day 4 Lunch
- Services of Specialised English speaking trip facilitators

Exclusions

- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions.
- Any train/air travel costs to and from Amb Andaura/Kangra, or any travel insurance fees.
- Any expenditure of personal nature like specialized meals not mentioned above, tipping, alcoholic drinks, aerated soft drinks, laundry, telephone calls, travel for shopping expenses, room service @ hotel etc. ·
- Any sudden increase in price due to any reason beyond our control like ‘Act of God’, natural calamity, law and order situation, riots etc. and any forced change in itinerary for any unforeseen situations/reasons beyond our control..

General Info

If you plan to travel via train, the nearest railhead is Amb Andaura.
If you plan to travel via air, the nearest airport is Dharmashala.
If you plan to travel via bus, volvo bus to Palampur works the best
Pick up and drop from all of the above locations will be arranged/co-ordinated by us.

Recommendations for train travels are:
Delhi to Amb Andaura (AADR)
- HIMACHAL EXP (14053) | DELHI 22:50 / AMB ANDAURA 07:05
Amb Andaura to Delhi
- HIMACHAL EXP (14054) | AMB ANDAURA 2120 / DELHI 0500

Cancellation Policy

Each booking made and fully paid-up to us, is with the express and unambiguous understanding that you accept the below-mentioned cancellation policy. Cancellation over email to teamthebrownticket@gmail.com will be accepted as per following datelines.
- Less than 2 weeks before – NO REFUND
- 2 weeks before the trip date – 50% REFUND
In case of cancellation done by TBT, FULL REFUND will be processed.

Terms & Conditions

* If you opt for booking with twin sharing, the allocation done by the organizing team will be final.
* As this is a group trip, everyone is expected to be cooperative & friendly with the trip co-ordinator & co-travellers for smooth flow of the trip.
* Any sudden increase in price due to any reason beyond our control like ‘Act of God’, floods, natural calamity, law and order situation, riots etc. and any forced change in itinerary for any unforeseen situations/reasons beyond our control, will be borne on expense-sharing basis by the clients.
* Please note that the above itinerary could see some re-arrangement based on ground realities, comfort of group members and weather conditions. Although the design flow of four days allows us to swap around and adjust the itinerary to cover the above elements as is envisaged..

bookings/Query



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