Storytelling Retreat at Himalayas with Kathalaya
June 12 to June 15
In the Himalayas, the sky is never the same. Even when the sky is cloudless the colours are different.
Listening and telling tales against the backdrop of the Himalayas is an experience in itself. Birds from different parts of the world gather here to listen and Learn the Art of Storytelling from the Master Storyteller and Mystic Geeta Ramanujam who has over 25 years held over 187 batches of the course all over the world.
What is the uniqueness of the course in the Himalayan writing retreat?
This is the only Certified 3-day residential Story retreat where participants immerse themselves completely day and night. They unwind into their tales along with over 50 tales that Geeta helps them to discover learn and create.
What will you learn?
- To connect and make deep, authentic contact with others.
- The capacity to be still and present, feel your emotions, listen to your body and voice your tales.
- An increase in your passion for life and sense of your true value
- Ways to listen, discover the pillars of Storytelling and the roots of the oral tradition.
- To be confident and free yourself with ease.
- Recognise and bond with the environment and with your colleagues.
- Appreciation of your essential “spiritual” nature of storytelling
- Learn Voices from nature and the rhythm of sounds
- Different narratives in different styles.
- Kathalaya’s Story retreat is a very liberating experience and will help you walk on a new story path.
Detailed Program
Click here to download the complete Course Details.
June 12-15 schedule
12th June: Participants arrival and Introduction session around 5pm
13th June: Types of Listening, Fishbowl Activity, the 5 R’s of Storytelling, and the 4 Pillars of Storytelling. Followed Story Planning, Story Structures, along with an outing – Sunset Point.
14th June: Session on Voice, Sounds, Movement, Expressions, Gestures, and Body Language. Focus on Key Elements of Storytelling, Creativity, and Presentation, followed by Feedback, Certificate Distribution, and a Question-and-Answer session.
15th June: Departure.
About The Instructor
Geeta Ramanujam
Geeta Ramanujam is an internationally acclaimed master storyteller, educator, author, and academician, and a pioneering force behind the storytelling movement in India. With over four decades of experience, she has redefined storytelling as a powerful medium for education, communication, and human connection.
As the Founder and Executive Director of Kathalaya Trust – The House of Stories, established in 1998, Geeta has created a vibrant platform that brings stories into classrooms, communities, and organizations. Her work spans schools, corporates, and non-governmental institutions, using storytelling to inspire learning, foster creativity, and build meaningful connections.
She is also the visionary behind Kathalaya’s International Academy of Storytelling, the only globally recognized academy offering multi-level certified storytelling programs affiliated with institutions in the USA, UK, and Sweden. Through the academy, she has trained over 99,000 educators, professionals, and aspiring storytellers, empowering them to use storytelling as both a profession and a life skill.
As part of Kathalaya’s twenty-five-year Silver Jubilee celebrations, Geeta conceptualized and launched Antardhwani, a three-day transformative workshop centred on the storyteller’s inner voice—the voice of consciousness. This immersive experience integrates silence, meditation, therapeutic practices, yoga, and deep inner reflection, culminating in a powerful performance titled Krishna: Echoes of Silence, embodying the essence of introspection and expressive storytelling.
Geeta’s work in education is deeply rooted in innovation. A seasoned curriculum designer and communication expert, she has developed impactful training models in teacher capacity building, arts-integrated learning, and experiential education. Her approach transforms classrooms into dynamic, learner-centered spaces where imagination, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence thrive.
Her influence extends across borders. Geeta has travelled to over 48 countries and across India, representing the country as a storytelling ambassador. She has collaborated with global institutions such as the University of Gothenburg and Skövde in Sweden, the Scottish Storytelling Centre in the UK, and leading educational bodies in India including NCERT and Azim Premji University.
Author & Thought Leader
An accomplished author, Geeta has published several books with leading publishers, including Penguin Random House India. Her work explores storytelling as a tool for learning, communication, and personal growth, helping educators and learners integrate stories into everyday life and practice.Her writing reflects her passion for preserving oral traditions while adapting them to contemporary educational needs-bridging culture, creativity, and pedagogy.
Impact & Recognition
Geeta’s contribution to education and storytelling has been far-reaching:
- Over 99,000 educators trained globally
- Programs delivered across 27 states in India
- Learning models created for tribal and first-generation learners
- Establishment of Story Labs and Story Spaces in schools
Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including international honours and acknowledgment by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji in “Mann Ki Baat ”. She is also an Ashoka Fellow, recognized for her contribution to social innovation in education.
A Life Dedicated to Stories
At the heart of Geeta Ramanujam’s work lies a simple yet powerful belief—that stories can transform the way we learn, think, and connect. Whether she is training teachers, speaking on global platforms, or writing, her mission remains the same: to make storytelling an integral part of education and everyday life.
Travel & Stay
The Himalayan Writing Retreat is built for writing and learning. We are rated 5-star on Google and Facebook.
Once here, you will be sharing a room with a fellow participant (unless we’ve confirmed a single). All essentials like food, hot water, towels etc. are provided. No hidden costs.
It can snow in winter. Weather can vary and the weather chart of Mukteshwar (12 km from the retreat) is here. A pair of sturdy walking shoes, some rain protection and an extra layer or two are always a good idea.
Our rooms are built to let nature in and inspire you. To see pictures of the rooms click here . To see pictures of the writing spaces click here.
Depending upon where you travel in from, you can reach us by road, train or air. Even if flying or taking a train, the final stretch is a drive, and the last 150 metres is a walk.
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By Road
The retreat is a 370 km/9 hours drive from Delhi. If driving, we recommend you leave early. Note that parking at the retreat is on the road – we do not have any private parking. We have limited driver accommodation, so please check in advance.
Overnight Volvo buses ply between Haldwani and Delhi, the more reliable of which are government operated. You can book those here. Private Volvos and Sleeper buses also ply between Delhi and Haldwani, which you can book on Redbus. Make sure you pick a bus with a high (4+) rating.
By Train
There are three trains a day from Delhi to Kathgodam, the nearest train station. Some others also come in from Kolkata, Lucknow and Dehradun. From Delhi, Ranikhet Express is a convenient overnight train both ways, but finding tickets can be difficult.
Most people prefer to take the Kathgodam Shatabdi (Delhi dep: 6.20 AM, Kathgodam Arr: 11.40 AM). A cab from Kathgodam to Satkhol takes about 2.5 hrs / Rs. 2200 (more for a big car). Cabs are often shared by participants.
By Air
There are daily flights from Delhi to Pantnagar. A cab from Pantnagar to Satkhol takes about 3.5 hr / Approx INR 4K.
There are direct flights from Mumbai and Bangalore to Bareilly 3-4 days a week. Satkhol is a 5hr / INR 5.5k cab ride from Bareilly. (More for a big car). Cabs are often shared by participants.
Testimonials
“Loved the three days we all spent together. The energy of all of you and the creativity session on storytelling was amazing. Geeta maam- Your inner strength and tranquility get reflected in your actions. A wonderfully organized course in a beautiful retreat- managed by an equally sensitive team of people.”
“Geeta Ma’am, you will forever remain in my heart for your stories both ON AND OFF the Workshop. It’s difficult to forget such a beautiful soul.”
“With the quiet mind, I took rest and sleep took over me gently on these days.”
FAQs
1. Why should I choose HWR Workshops?
Personal Attention: We don’t take more than 15 students in a class. You get a lot of personal attention and feedback. No classrooms of 20-30 people or one-way pre-recorded videos here.
Class Quality: For most courses, we filter our participants. You can’t just pay and sign up. We need to see a writing sample (in our application form) to ensure the class is of a uniform standard.
Cost per hour: Our courses are long and intense. As an example, the Creative Writing course is 18000 for 24 contact hours (3 days, 8 hours each day). The cost per hour = 750 / hour. That is comparable to many of the “cheaper” courses.
Quality of faculty: No lightweights here. Many of our faculty are award-winners. All are experts and great teachers. We don’t settle for average.
Feedback scores: Across courses, we are rated 4.5/5, or higher. You can read our reviews HERE.
2. Do I get a certificate of participation?
Yes, certificates are available on request.
3. Any discounts for students / other categories?
At the Himalayan Writing Retreat, we follow a strict No-Discount policy.
4. Is the workshop fee refundable?
Our cancellation policy is as follows:
For Physical Workshops:
- 100% refund (less 5% of total programme fee) on cancellation 40 days or more before the event start date.
- 50% refund if cancellation is between 20-40 days before start date.
- 0% refund if cancellation is less than 20 days before the start date.
For Online Workshops:
- 100% refund (less 5% of total programme fee) on cancellation 15 days or more before the event start date.
- 50% refund if cancellation is between 15 to 7 days before start date.
- 0% refund if cancellation is less than 7 days before the start date.
5. Is the Himalayan Writing Retreat a business or an NGO?
The Himalayan Writing Retreat is a social enterprise. It works closely and actively with two local NGOs in its community work initiatives: Chirag and Alaap. In 2020, HWR raised INR 6.1 Lakhs to support the Chirag School.
Have more questions? Feel free to write to us at info@himalayanwritingretreat.com or connect with us at +91 73035 16665 (call or WhatsApp).
Event Summary
Early Bird Price*:
Regular Price:
Rs. 38000 + GST
* Early Bird ends 14-days prior to the Workshop
* Taxes Separate
*Strict Zero Discount Policy
The Himalayan Writing Retreat
Village Satkhol
District Nainital, Uttarakhand 263138
India
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+91 73035 16665
