Question 1

What is the best time to visit Adara Farmstay?

Accepted Answer

Personally, we feel all seasons have their charm and are worth a visit, depending on your wishes. Pauri is on 1700m altitude with generally moderate temperature, many sun hours and cooler evenings. We will describe the seasons briefly to you:

September, October: comfortable temperatures 20-25°C. Just after the rainy season - the landscape is lush green and there's great chances of impressive Himalayan mountain views.
November, December: getting cooler, around 18-20°C, but very pleasant and the bright sun makes days fun. Here, too, Himalayas can great you happily.
January, February, March: winter season, 15-18°C during days and 8-15°C at nights. Cosy charm inside the house, a fire every now and then, slow days, cooking warm dishes and drinks, views can be awesome, less sun hours, good for experiencing a unique basic life.
April, May, June: getting pleasantly warmer, 20-30°C, with cooler nights. Springtime, veggies are growing on the farm. Even on hotter days Pauri still offers a great escape from the heat in the rest of India. Bright longer days. Far-reaching views possible in March, but later rare due to haze. A good time of summer-feel picnics and cooler forest visits.
July, August: rainfall, clouds dancing in the valley creating a special atmosphere, crickets tjirping, around 25°C. Outdoor activities are still possible between rains.

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Question 2

How do I pay for my stay?

Accepted Answer

Internationals: Wise, cash.
Indians: Google Pay, UPI, cash.
You can also book through booking.com or Airbnb. Be mindful of the extra charges.

When to pay?
Payments can be done during your stay. In some cases, we may ask a payment in advance to confirm your booking. In the case of cancelling your booking within 1 day (24 hours) before arrival, we charge the first night.

Question 3

What to do at Adara Farmstay? What to do in Pauri?

Accepted Answer

Apart from slowing down, coming to rest and joining simple community life you can:

• Take a walk on the quiet upper forest road
 • Visit different temples (in the forest) or an old church (in the valley)
 • Enjoy picnics amongst the pine trees. we can organise these for you.
 • Join an organised silent walking
 • Read a book from our mini-library in the living room
 • Visit the market of Pauri with its typical shops, cows and culture
 • Receive a Henna treatment for your hands
 • Treat yourself on tasty food in the Woodfire cafe
 • Draw, paint, write, do yoga, play music, badminton
 • Workshops: yoga, healing art, natural painting, Indian cooking

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Question 4

What food do you serve? What if I have special diet wishes?

Accepted Answer

We offer home-cooked, nutritious vegetarian dishes. Our beloved local chef Krishna is a Nepalese woman who knows her ways. Lentils, rice, fresh salad, yoghurt dips, vegetables and roti's.. Much of it is vegan. Many have been pleasantly surprised by her soul food. We can make spicy food on request. We serve percolator coffee, chai and herbal teas. Let us know in advance if there are any special wishes.

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Question 5

How are the surroundings?

Accepted Answer

Adara Farmstay is placed at the edge of the town Pauri, community houses surrounding us. Hikes to the upper forest and temples start from our house, shops on the street below, and Pauri center is a 20 minute-walk away. The cosy Woodfire cafe is a 10 minute walk.

For foreigners not yet exposed to the Indian culture, it is good to know that not everything is 'perfect'. This means that you can find - apart from what we usually consider beauty - things like electricity posts, louder sounds, waste... Whether you can embrace all of this particular life, is up to you :).

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Question 6

Is Pauri (and India) safe to travel? What if I am a woman alone?

Accepted Answer

We have experienced Pauri very safe and friendly, also for women. People are rather shy and polite.

If you stay in Rishikesh (on your way here), The Tapovan area is a tourist zone and considered friendly, open, accessible and safe. Many single travelling women (and men) can be found here.

Are you staying in Delhi? Make sure to arrange your pick-up and the hotel with care (many hotels have a pick-up service).

Below a photo of Rishikesh
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Question 7

How do I reach Adara Farmstay?

Accepted Answer

By aeroplane
 • Take an international flight to Delhi airport (arrival at Terminal 3)
 • At Terminal 3, go through Immigration and collect your luggage
 • Take a flight from Delhi to Dehradun Jollygrant Airport (you can reach Terminal 2 with a pedestrian walkway)
 • Taxi pick-up from Dehradun airport to Rishikesh (1 hour / around 20 euro) or straight to Pauri (5-6 hours / around 80 euro)
 • Rishikesh is on the way to Pauri - a yoga backpacker town along the river Ganga and we personally recommend you to take a rest here for a night. Enjoy the bustling with cafes and culture. 
 • Next day, take a taxi from Rishikesh (around 60 euro) to Adara Farmstay - a scenic drive of 4 hours.. 
Taxi's can be arranged by us (reliable and the correct price). If you have any questions on your travel organisation, please contact us.
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By bus
From Rishikesh, direct busses depart (at New Tehri busstand) to Pauri in the mornings between 8AM-12PM. Costs around 250Rs = 3 euro). It's a scenic 4-5 hours drive along the Ganga and into the mountains. From Pauri busstand, it's a 20 minute walk. We may be able to organise a pick-up if necessary.
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Taxi
Private taxi's are easily available in Rishikesh (4-5 hour drive, around 60 euro) and can bring you to our place in Upper Chopra, Pauri. From Dehradun airport it's a 5-6 hour drive (120km, around 80 euro).
Taxi's can be arranged by us (reliable and the correct price).

Question 8

Does Adara Farmstay host volunteers?

Accepted Answer

We enjoy to host volunteers and have had beautiful connections and co-creations so far. They are one of the reasons this place has become so wonderful. There is help required for gardening, carpentry, attending children with education, creative projects.. You can contact (https://www.adarafarmstay.org/contact)us to inform about current volunteering opportunities.

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Question 9

Retreat program

Accepted Answer

Friday
until 15:00 Arrival and acclimatisation
16:00 Introduction Circle
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Calming Meditation

Saturday
08:00 Yoga and Breathwork
09:30 Breakfast
10:30 Heart Meditation
13:00 Lunch
15:00 Painting Workshop: Loosing Up
16:00 Yoga or Meditation
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Group Circle

Sunday
08:00 Yoga and Breathwork
09:30 Breakfast
10:30 Guided Meditation
13:00 Lunch
15:00 Walk and Journaling Session in Nature
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Cacao Ceremony

Monday
08:00 Yoga and Meditation
09:30 Breakfast
10:00 Closing Circle

Question 10

Accommodation

Accepted Answer

You retreat in the Himalayan foothills in India. The colonial building has been renovated into a simple and unique abode with murals. It is surrounded by fruit trees and terraces with organic farming. The space invites people to become acquainted with a simple yet abundant lifestyle. Reside in a shared twin room or a quadruple room (4 single beds in 2 connected rooms), with balcony and mountain views. Shared bathroom house with hot shower and western toilet. Access to the living, dining and garden. Find more about our homestay here.(https://www.adarafarmstay.org/homestay)

Question 11

Food

Accepted Answer

We offer home-cooked, nutritious vegetarian dishes. According to Ayurvedic lifestyle. Our beloved local chef Krishna is a Nepalese woman who knows her ways. Lentils, rice, fresh salad, yoghurt dips, vegetables and roti's.. Many have been pleasantly surprised by her soul food. Harmonious blends of spices and herbs, not spicy. It is possible to sustain a vegan diet. For breakfast we offer oats, egg & toast or paratha. We serve quality coffee, chai and herbal teas. Enjoy with some of our fresh oven-baked cakes. Let us know in advance if you have special wishes.

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Question 12

Transport to Adara Farmstay

Accepted Answer

Reach us by bus, private car or taxi. We outline below your arrival by air.

We can arrange reliable taxi's from Delhi Airport or Jollygrant Airport. With or without overnight stay in Rishikesh.
* Delhi Airport - Pauri: 8 hours l €90
* Jollygrant Airport Dehradun - Pauri: 5 hours l €70

Taxi-pick up from Jolly Grant Airport:
Taxi pick-up Jolly Grant Airport - Rishikesh (1 hour l €20) and next day to Pauri (4 hours l €50). Or direct Dehradun Airport - Pauri (5 hours l €70)

Taxi pick-up from Delhi Airport:
Pick-up Delhi Airport - Rishikesh (4 hours l €40) and next day to Pauri (4 hours l €50). Or direct Delhi Airport - Pauri (8 hours l €90).

Getting to Jolly Grant Airport:
* Take an international flight to Delhi airport (arrival at Terminal 3)
* At Terminal 3, go through Immigration and collect luggage
* Take a flight from Delhi to Dehradun Jollygrant Airport (you can reach Terminal 2 with a pedestrian walkway)

Overnight stay at Rishikesh
Rishikesh is on the way to Pauri. We recommend an in-between stay in this well-known travellers place. This way you have a restful journey and add to your Indian travel experience. Rishikesh is a spiritual town along the Ganga with bustling culture, temples, cafes, Ganga and tourists. The Tapovan area is recommended. We can arrange the taxi to and from Rishikesh for you and recommend go-to places and accommodation in Rishikesh.
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Question 13

Price & payment retreat

Accepted Answer

Prices
Rs 49000 39200 / € 530 425 per person - bed in twin room 
Rs 41000 32800 / € 444 355 per person - bed in quadruple room

How to book
Book here.(https://adarafarmstay.org/retreats#book-retreat) We send you an advance payment request of Rs 15000 / €162 PER person.  After the payment you receive a booking confirmation. The remaining amount is to be paid on arrival.

Internationals: Wise, bank transfer. 
Indians: Google Pay, UPI.

Cancellation/Refund/Rescheduling
The booking amount (Rs. 15000/person) is non-refundable. The retreat can be rescheduled until 14 days before arrival. After that, it cannot be rescheduled and the booking amount will not be refunded.

Question 14

Location

Accepted Answer

Nestled amidst the Himalayan foothills you find our inspiration center. Adara Farmstay is placed at the edge of the town Pauri. On clear days, The Himalayas, the valley and many layers of mountains greet you from the garden. Our colonial home is surrounded by community homes. Hikes to the upper forest and temples start from our house, small shops are located on the street below, Pauri center is a 20 minute-walk away. The cosy Woodfire cafe with its good food is a 10 minute walk. A perfect location to get enchanted by authentic Indian life while retreating in a calming haven.

We have experienced Pauri very safe and friendly, also for women. For foreigners not yet exposed to the Indian culture, it is good to know that not everything is 'perfect'. This means that you can find - apart from what we usually consider beauty - things like electricity posts, louder sounds, etc... For us, it is part of the charm and allows us to come home to all of life.

Question 15

What's included?

Accepted Answer

• Accommodation for 4 nights, 5 days
 • All meals & drinks
 • Workshops, meditations and guidance
 • Hike and picnic
Not included: transport to and from the retreat.