Breakfast at The Andretta Cafe with masala chai and local parathas to fuel the day; brief orientation with the group and distribution of maps for walking routes.
Guided visit to Norbulingka Institute's gardens and workshops to see woodcarving and thangka painting demonstrations and meet resident artists.
Short walk to Sidhbari Monastery viewpoint for panoramic photos and a quiet reflection session led by a local student guide explaining the site's cultural importance.
Tea tasting and tour at a nearby Palampur/Andretta Tea Garden where students learn about plucking techniques and sample second-flush teas.
Hands-on pottery taster at Andretta Pottery Studio: students try wheel-throwing basics and glaze selection with instruction from the studio potter.
Lunch at The Andretta Cafe courtyard featuring local rajma-chawal and seasonal vegetable thali; short talk by a resident artist about Andretta's creative history.
Leisurely walk through the village to Norah Richards' Home for a guided mini-tour about her literary legacy and the cottage theatre tradition.
Interactive sketching session in the shade of the tea garden led by an art student - quick exercises to capture landscape and texture.
Visit the Sobha Singh Art Gallery for a curator-led overview of Sobha Singh's life and a close look at portrait techniques; students can flag works for discussion.
Tea break at Khajna Tea Stall near the gallery with local bread and butter; informal Q&A with a tea garden supervisor about sustainable plucking practices.
Hands-on clay trimming session back at Andretta Pottery Studio to refine morning pieces and learn about firing schedules from the studio potter.
Golden-hour walk to the Sidhbari Monastery viewpoint for group photos and a short reflective journaling exercise about the day's inspirations.
Sundowner snacks and live folk music at The Andretta Cafe terrace with local musicians; chance for students to share sketches or pottery on display.
Group dinner at Hotel Norbulingka Dining Hall featuring Himachali specialties like siddu and mittha, followed by an optional storytelling session about regional arts.
Evening film screening of local theatre pieces at Norah Richards' Cottage Theatre, followed by a brief discussion on village dramatic traditions led by a student facilitator.
Night walk to Andretta Lamp-lit Lane with a local storyteller sharing folklore; quiet pause at a viewpoint to listen to the sounds of the valley.
Hot herbal tea and samosas at The Andretta Cafe cozy corner while students exchange sketches and pottery notes from the day.
Group reflection circle in the Hotel Norbulingka Dining Hall lounge to recap highlights, collect feedback, and plan optional sunrise activities for tomorrow.
Lights-out wind-down with optional quiet journal time on the terrace of Hotel Norbulingka, listening for night birds and preparing cameras and sketchbooks for the morning.
Sunrise walk to the Sidhbari Monastery viewpoint with a short guided breathing and sketching exercise to capture morning light; hot cilantro tea from Hotel Norbulingka is provided on return.
Breakfast at The Andretta Cafe courtyard with local honey, fresh fruit, and Himachali pancakes while a resident artist gives a brief talk about local materials used in painting.
Curator-led deep dive at Sobha Singh Art Gallery focusing on technique comparison and portrait composition, followed by a quick group critique session in the gallery courtyard.
Short transfer to Andretta Pottery Studio for an extended hands-on workshop: students practice trimming and glazing under the studio potter's guidance and set pieces for kiln firing.
Visit Norah Richards' Home for a guided tour and a live reading/dramatic excerpt in the cottage theatre, then a group activity where students create a two-minute scene inspired by her legacy.
Light farewell lunch at Khajna Tea Stall with local snacks and chai; final exchange of contacts with resident artists and a quick packing checklist before departure preparations.
Gather at Khajna Tea Stall courtyard for a short debrief and to pack finished pottery pieces; staff will label works for kiln pickup and explain collection timelines.
Drive to Palampur Tea Estate viewpoint for a guided walk among the terraces, where students learn about estate history and seasonal tea processing while photographing patterns in the landscape.
Picnic-style tasting on the tea estate lawn with a selection of second-flush teas from Palampur Tea paired with local snacks; a tea agronomist will answer questions about terroir and tasting notes.
Return to Andretta Pottery Studio for a glazing demonstration and group glazing session where students apply final touches to their pieces under the potter's supervision.
Short visit to Norah Richards' Home garden for an outdoor theatre improv exercise inspired by the morning reading; students perform brief scenes and receive feedback from the facilitator.
Tea and snacks at The Andretta Cafe while students exchange contact details with artists; informal critique circle to highlight learning moments from the workshops and gallery visit.
Pack and checkout briefing at Hotel Norbulingka with a quick luggage tag distribution and final logistics for departures; optional quick stop for souvenir shopping at the hotel handicraft stall.
Group photo and farewell at the Sidhbari Monastery viewpoint to capture golden light and exchange final reflections before boarding transport for departures.
Early-evening ceramics critique at Andretta Pottery Studio courtyard where students display glazed pieces, receive feedback from the studio potter, and learn about pickup and shipping timelines.
Sunset sketch exchange at The Andretta Cafe terrace: students swap quick landscape sketches, discuss composition choices over masala chai, and vote on a favorite piece to feature in a digital group zine.
Community theatre workshop warm-up at Norah Richards' Cottage Theatre focusing on short performance techniques and staging, led by the visiting drama facilitator.
Shared dinner at Hotel Norbulingka Dining Hall with a wrap-up talk from the curator and potter about continuing practice and opportunities to collaborate with Andretta residents.
Evening storytelling and music circle by local artists at Andretta Lamp-lit Lane, inviting students to share readings, poems, or songs inspired by the day's visits.
Final group reflection and logistics check at Khajna Tea Stall courtyard: collect contact details, confirm transport times, and remind students about kiln collection procedures.
Quiet wind-down on the Hotel Norbulingka terrace with herbal tea and optional camera review session where students select favourite photos to caption for the trip slideshow.
Lights-out briefing in the hotel lounge: staff announce departure times for tomorrow, hand out printed itineraries, and offer a last-minute souvenir stall visit for handmade postcards and small ceramics.
Sunrise stretch and quick photo-walk to the Sidhbari Monastery viewpoint to capture morning light and review shots over a thermos of hot cilantro tea from Hotel Norbulingka.
Hearty breakfast at The Andretta Cafe courtyard featuring Himachali siddu and local honey; brief group check-in to confirm departure times and luggage arrangements.
Short guided stroll through the Palampur/Andretta Tea Garden focusing on seasonal plant ID and sustainable plucking practices, with a tasting of a freshly brewed second-flush sample.
Drop-in visit to Andretta Pottery Studio for a kiln peek and quick demo on post-firing finishing techniques; students collect labeled pottery or note pickup/shipping instructions.
Visit Norah Richards' Home garden for a relaxed outdoor reading circle where students share short excerpts inspired by their sketches and pottery work.
Light snack and chai at Khajna Tea Stall with time for souvenir browsing at the hotel's handicraft stall and final photo captions for the group slideshow.
Optional short transfer to Sobha Singh Art Gallery for one last look at portraits and a quick group critique of travel sketches; departure briefing follows for onward journeys.
Relaxed picnic lunch on the lawn at Palampur Tea Estate viewpoint with a selection of second-flush brews from Palampur Tea and local snacks; informal Q&A with the estate manager about seasonal harvesting.
Guided micro-walk along the estate terraces to practice landscape photography composition led by a local photographer from Andretta Artists' Circle, focusing on light and pattern studies.
Stop at Khajna Tea Stall for a refreshing ginger-lemon chai and chance to browse handmade postcards and small ceramics at the stall adjacent to Hotel Norbulingka.
Short transfer to Sobha Singh Art Gallery for a relaxed salon-style discussion: students share favourite sketches and photos while the gallery assistant highlights a lesser-known print or study.
Visit the nearby Norah Richards' Home courtyard for a hands-on micro-workshop in small-group scene-writing led by the drama facilitator, producing two-minute pieces inspired by the surroundings.
Afternoon tea and biscuits at The Andretta Cafe with a pop-up display of students' sketches and pottery; staff photograph pieces for the group's digital zine and note kiln pickup details.
Leisurely golden-hour stroll back through Andretta village lanes, stopping at a riverside viewpoint for a reflective journaling prompt about collaborations and next steps.
Optional quick studio visit to Andretta Pottery Studio to collect any remaining labeled pieces, speak with the potter about finishing touches, and schedule shipping if needed.
Early-evening tea and conversation at Khajna Tea Stall courtyard with masala chai and roasted corn; a local guide leads a brief oral-history sharing about Andretta's artist community.
Casual potluck-style dinner at The Andretta Cafe terrace featuring leftovers from local kitchens and an opportunity for students to trade contact info with resident artists.
Short, relaxed performance slot at Norah Richards' Cottage Theatre where small student groups present two-minute scenes developed earlier in the day, followed by gentle feedback from the drama facilitator.
Fireside music and storytelling on Andretta Lamp-lit Lane with local folk musicians; students are invited to share poems, sketches, or quick reflections inspired by the weekend.
Final group slideshow and captioning session at Hotel Norbulingka lounge: selected photos and sketches are projected while students add short captions and vote on favourites for the digital zine.
Pottery pick-up briefing at Andretta Pottery Studio (courtyard) where the potter explains kiln readiness, collection windows, and shipping options for any remaining works.
Wind-down with herbal tea on the Hotel Norbulingka terrace and a brief reflective circle to share key takeaways and confirm morning departure logistics.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| The Andretta Cafe (breakfast, snacks, tea) | ₹200 |
| Norbulingka Institute (guided visit, workshops) | ₹150 |
| Sidhbari Monastery viewpoint (visit / reflection) | Free |
| Palampur/Andretta Tea Garden (tea tasting & tour) | ₹250 |
| Andretta Pottery Studio (pottery taster session) | ₹400 |
| Lunch at The Andretta Cafe (rajma-chawal / thali) | ₹250 |
| Norah Richards' Home (guided mini-tour / cottage theatre) | ₹100 |
| Interactive sketching session (art student-led) | ₹50 |
| Sobha Singh Art Gallery (curator-led visit) | ₹100 |
| Khajna Tea Stall (tea & snacks) | ₹50 |
| Pottery clay trimming session (Andretta Pottery Studio) | ₹200 |
| Sundowner snacks & live folk music (Andretta Cafe) | ₹200 |
| Hotel Norbulingka Dining Hall (group dinner) | ₹350 |
| Norah Richards' Cottage Theatre (evening film / screening) | ₹50 |
| Andretta Lamp-lit Lane (night walk & storytelling) | Free |
| Sunrise walk & tea (Hotel Norbulingka) | ₹50 |
| Extended pottery workshop (Andretta Pottery Studio) | ₹600 |
| Palampur Tea Estate viewpoint (guided walk) | ₹150 |
| Picnic tasting on tea estate (second-flush tasting) | ₹200 |
| Glazing demonstration & group glazing session | ₹300 |
| Community theatre workshop (Norah Richards' Cottage Theatre) | ₹100 |
| Farewell / final meals (Khajna Tea Stall / The Andretta Cafe) | ₹200 |
| Pottery pickup / kiln handling fees (per person share) | ₹100 |
| Souvenir shopping budget (handmade postcards / small ceramics) | ₹300 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | ₹4,900 |