Our Favorite Places
We invite you to visit the special places on campus whose beauty and harmony offer respite from day-to-day preoccupations and the space to find your own center of stillness. Here are a few of our favorite places, loved by guests and residents alike. We hope you have the opportunity to experience these places during your stay.
Enjoy this serene expanse by traversing its lush shoreline, and catch some of the best sunsets on campus from its bank on the entrance to the Green Trail.
Take in a magnificent panoramic view of rolling hills and open sky from the top of Sound of Music Hill, situated on the north edge of our property.
Located just behind the Havan Kund, this sheltered outdoor space is perfect for sitting and contemplating, enjoying your asana practice, or sharing time with a friend.
Moka Origins Factory
Enjoy coffee or chocolate drinks brewed fresh in our new factory cafe, or shop Moka’s handcrafted chocolate and coffee. Now open daily from 9—4 with free tastings and tours taking place on Saturdays at 10:00am and 2:00pm.
Moka handcrafts their chocolate from ethically sourced cacao beans, all the way to the finished chocolate bar, and carefully roasts their coffee to bring out delicious flavors from around the world.
Check out their products, story, and travel opportunities here.
Groomed Hiking Trails
Hiking any of our four groomed trails is an ideal way to enjoy the year round the beauty of our majestic vistas and the natural charm of water, woods, and fields. Nature lovers will appreciate the many species of wildlife and native trees that thrive in these areas.
Safety Notes:
Hiking is at your own risk. Please notify Reception if you are taking an extended hike or if you have any questions about the trails. We recommend that you hike with a partner. Closed-toed shoes, water, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent, and brightly colored clothing are also recommended.
Click here to download a map of our campus, featuring campus buildings, key points of interest, and our groomed hiking trails.
Difficulty: easy
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Difficulty: moderate
Duration: 30–45 minutes
Difficulty: challenging, steep
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Difficulty: difficult, slippery
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Take a moment to reflect during your hike by stopping at our Contemplation Stations, intentionally placed along the Red and Green Trails
Contemplation Stations
As You Arrive
As you turn into the Himalayan Institute driveway at the top of the scenic Front Hill, our campus welcomes you with an exhilarating view of the surrounding area and the Retreat Center below. Continue down the hill to the Main Building, where our friendly reception staff will greet you.
The forest and fields that cover the Front Hill are home to an abundance of wildlife, and the Hill’s long driveway is the best place on campus to enjoy a scenic, uphill aerobic workout.
Overlooking the Retreat Center, this garden enclosure perched near the top of the Front Hill is ideal for quietly taking in the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
A popular spot for lunch and dinner during the summer months, the front entrance and patio area is a delightful place to meet new friends and socialize.