After 6 weeks of bustling cities and chaotic Northern India, Tim (my husband) and I ventured down to the south, desperate for some peace. And that’s exactly what we found! Nestled into the hills of Vagamon, is a hidden gem that should be on every tourist’s itinerary: Pilgrims Retreat.

Pilgrims Retreat is a family run retreat ideal for families, couples, and individuals who need a break from the hustle of life, to reconnect with each other, and rejuvenate. Located in the Vagamon Hills, the retreat is off the beaten track (the roads are rough, so come in a sturdy vehicle!) but has everything you’d need. Gosh I love a retreat with simple features, no WiFi in the rooms (I’m writing this blog post from the main house porch!) and wildlife around every corner.

If you’re fortunate enough to visit (you absolutely should), you’ll dine on delicious local cuisine three times a day made by Santosh, the man in the yellow striped top below, and enjoy a chai (that’s ‘tea’) every morning over breakfast and every afternoon at 4pm. If you have dietary requirements, just tell them prior to arriving. Everything is possible.

It’s a retreat, so you can do whatever you need to! But making friends with the family dogs, drinking more chai, walking through tea fields, visiting the waterfall, waltzing along the stream, reading a book in the shade, and catching the sunset are all options too.

There are multiple accommodation options on site (making this a great spot for groups with several family units). We were honoured to stay in the tree house inspired room, slightly away from the main area but well worth the walk to breakfast! The sound of the stream running was lush and we felt even more secluded. Before you arrive here and go 'huh?’, I want to emphasise: this is not a fancy retreat with bells and whistles. The bells and the whistles are the streams and the GORGEOUS scenery. Your room has everything you need, but instead of a fancy retreat with loud parties in the room next door, you get a simple set up and absolute peace.

When you’re travelling, it’s so easy to get hooked into staying at the most popular places and accidentally find yourself battling for space beside average famous landmarks or stuck in crowds 24/7. I highly recommend branching out and getting rid of your unnecessary need to ‘see everything’ without actually being mindful and present. Pilgrims Retreat is exactly my cuppa tea (pun intended) when it comes to holidaying slowly and seeing a different side of India.

When you need to book your stay here, send a Whatsapp message to Arpan (+91) 93680 13404 - and make sure you say ‘hello’ from me!

Thank you so much Stanly, Fanny, Sharon, Arpan & Tabitha for having us.