Satvik Vicky Chotai, August 2005.London UK
Due to a coincidence of names I first made contact with The Satvik Sadan a number of years ago. At the time I remember thinking that this sounded like something very different, a unique place that I would love to experience. However, living in London , I had no immediate plans to be back in India and so left the idea at the back of my mind.
However in August of 2005 I visited India again with my wife. In order to escape the heat, pollution and crowded nature of the cities, we planned some time to visit The Satvik Sadanin Bhimtal. A decision which proved to be one of the best we made during our trip!

After a relaxing overnight train from New Delhi , we arrived at Bhimtal on an overcast morning. Having been met by a friendly taxi driver (arranged by The Satvik) we avoided the usual chaos of finding someone who knew where we wanted to go. The drive up to the Retreat took around 40 minutes through some truly spectacular scenery. The recent rains meant that everything looked very fresh and green, and with the clouds and mist trailing through the Kumaon hills we truly felt like this was a completely different world to the city we had recently left.

Our first view of the Retreat left a strong impression. As you will see from the photos, the entire structure is built onto the side of a very steep hill. A total of seven terraces have been stepped up the side of this hill and provide the Retreat with a unique style, as well as excellent panoramic views of the surrounding hills.

After a warm ginger and lemon tea (which became our favourite morning and afternoon drink) we were warmly welcomed by the Shukla family (Pulak and Mr & Mrs Shukla), the owners of the Retreat. It was nice to finally meet after having exchanged several emails. We were given a tour of the Retreat, its history and story of the construction. At this point it is worth noting that what has been achieved here by Pulak and family is exceptional. The construction style and materials used are all environmentally friendly and blend in well with the surrounding hill, but do not compromise on the necessary architectural features required for comfort. Our room was very clean and comfortable, and decorated with some simple but attractive furniture that has all been constructed on site by local artists and workmen. The large terrace in front of the room (beautifully enclosed by Tulsi plants) opens out to the spectacular panoramic view of the Kumaon hills. It is no overstatement to say that this view never remained the same in our 3 days at the Retreat. The constant shifting of the clouds and transfer of sunlight across the hills ensures a captivating and ever-changing picture. An electrical storm one evening provided a further perspective on this view.

After a healthy breakfast, Mr Shukla explained the essence of the Satvik lifestyle and what they are trying to achieve at the Retreat. The principles of moderation, healthy eating (for “Swast” not just “Swaad”) and healthy lifestyle (undertaking yoga, adherence to ayurvedic guidelines) resonated very strongly with us. This was followed by a consultation based on ayurvedic principles which elicited our dosha style via a series of questions relating to our physical and mental characteristics. Based on our responses and primary dosha, we were given a set of very useful (and quite practical) tips on how to achieve a better balance in terms of our health. This included a list of foods to avoid as well as other foods and ayurvedic supplements to increase in our diets.

Meals at The Satvik were a very pleasant experience in the specially designed dining hall. The food was prepared according to the ayurvedic recommendations and presented in beautiful (and eco-friendly) style on leaf plates and bowls, with local spring water provided in copper cups. The meals prepared by the friendly staff were both healthy and tasty without being overpowered by spices and sauces as is common of many meals in India . Some of the dishes were specialities of the Retreat, and for one meal the staff treated us to a set of local dishes. I would not hesitate to say that these were some of the healthiest and most pleasant meals we had in India , helped by the fact that we were not encouraged to overeat. One useful suggestion was that it is best to fill the stomach with 50% food, 25% liquid and retain 25% for air, preventing any feelings of having overeaten.

During the next few days we undertook various activities arranged by the Retreat. The local lakes are extremely beautiful and we were lucky enough to have a clear afternoon to go boating on SatTal Lake , as well as take a stroll around BhimTal lake which is less than 1km away. The second morning we had an ayurvedic oil massage and steam bath (body only as ayurveda does not recommend immersing the head in steam). This was a very relaxing and cleansing experience, the massage was conducted by 2 people in synchronisation which really enhanced the effects. We also were given yoga tips and lessons by Mr Shukla and the staff (both the famous Surya Namaskar routine as well as a practical 15 minute low impact series of stretches developed by Mr Shukla). Before leaving we also visited an excellent local folk museum run by Dr. Yashodhar Mathpal, a painter of great fame and also an archaeologist and a rock art scholar. The museum is a true labour of love and well worth a visit, especially as the new gallery section should be ready towards the end of 2005.

In summary, our stay at The Satvik Sadanwhich arose through our fortunate coincidence of names was one of the main highlights of our trip to India . The owners and staff are extremely friendly and knowledgeable, the setting is inspiring, the food is excellent and most importantly, we left with a feeling of having learnt something about what it means to live a Satvik lifestyle. On our return we have acted on many of these things (inc. dietary changes and yoga) and found them to be practical, achievable and beneficial to physical and spiritual wellbeing. I would recommend anyone to go along and experience it for themselves should the opportunity present itself.