A beginner’s journey into the night sky
Guided by an Astronomer
What Awaits You
sky sessions
Planets • Constellations
mapping
sound pollution
setting
sky views
sunset chats
forest walks
mountain meals
unhurried pace
Astronomy Retreat Dates 2026
📅 March Window
Mar 20–22 (Fri–Sun)
Introduction to Astronomy
Mar 22–24 (Sun–Tue)
Astrophotography Master Class
📅 April Window
Apr 17–19 (Fri–Sun)
Introduction to Astronomy
Apr 19–21 (Sun–Tue)
Astrophotography Master Class
Amrinderjit Singh
NASA
Sky at Night
EarthSky
AAPOD2
Beginner Astronomy Workshop – 2 Nights
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1:00 PM
Check-in. Exhale. You’ve officially broken up with city chaos.2:00 PM
Lunch from soil to soul. No preservatives. No passive aggression.5:00 PM
Sustainability Walk. Earth is tired, and you’ve been ghosting her.6:00 PM
Sunset & Chai with Astronomy vs Astrology. Someone finally explains why your ex being a Pisces doesn’t count as trauma.7:00 PM
Telescope intro8:30 PM
Dinner. The only Michelin star here is in the sky.9:30 PM
Constellation Hunt 🌟Find stars. Name stars. Pretend you’re an expert. -
9:30 AM
Breakfast. Local, fresh, and emotionally available.11:00 AM
Become a human sundial. Be useful for once—to the sun.12:00–2:00 PM
Forest trail. Walk slowly. Think deeply. Or just vibe.2:00 PM
Himachali lunch. The sun is judging your spice tolerance.3:00 PM
Free time. Nap, journal, spiral—completely acceptable.4:00 PM
Sunspot watching, Astronomy deep dive. Galaxies, black holes, and the universe’s group chat.5:00 PM
Sunset & Chai (again). If it works, do it twice.6:00 PM
Build a mini telescope. Impress no one but yourself.8:00 PM
Dinner. Real food. No space rations.9:00 PM
Shoot star trails. Feel like a cosmic content creator.10:00 PM
Milky Way & Deep Sky Observing. Feel small—in a good way. -
9:30 AM — Final breakfast. The kind you remember.
11:00 AM — Farewell circle. We say goodbye—but the sky stays with you.
Optional Waterbody Hike
Mystic water body, 45-min drive + 20-min walk.
Available after checkout.
Self-drive: free. Shared transport: extra.
ASTRO PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS
2 Nights: For those who wish to go deeper into the art of the night sky.
Option Add on Astro photogrpahy workshop 02 Nights
(Optional add on)
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After Lunch
A beginner-friendly session to make everyone comfortable with camera settings. You will learn essential techniques for shooting landscapes and the night sky, which will be applied practically during the night shoot.After Dinner (Around 9:30 PM)
We move to the field and finalize targets based on sky conditions.
-Start with constellations and star trails
-Winter constellations will be our primary targets
-The Milky Way rises after 2:00 AM
-Shooting continues till around 3:00–3:30 AMParticipants can rest between shoots or enjoy interacting with others. Those who wish may also capture the sunrise.
We will capture sufficient data for daytime processing.
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After Lunch
Post-processing session covering basic to advanced techniques. Using simple software, we will convert raw images into final astrophotography results.After Dinner
Depending on weather conditions, we will either repeat the night shoot or continue with post-processing. -
Astrophotography – Mandatory Personal Equipment to Carry
-DSLR or mirrorless camera
-Lens (24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 135mm, or similar wide/standard lenses)
-Heavy-duty tripod with ball head(mandatory)
-Extra batteries (minimum 2 fully charged)
-Rock bag (for added tripod stability in windy conditions)
-Intervalometer (check if in-built; otherwise buy separately)
-L-bracket (for securely mounting the camera)Optional / Recommended
-Star tracker (for precise imaging; not mandatory)
-Editing software: Sequator, StarStaX, PhotoshopImportant: Telephoto/telescopic lenses require a heavy-duty Go-To tracker. Please avoid lenses above 70–200mm focal length.
Rooms & Tarrifs
It’s traditional mountain architecture, simple, sustainable, and full of heart.
Vaatalya Astronomy Retreat
All Inclusive Per Person Price
Inclusive of GST & Taxes • No Hidden Charges
2-Night Beginner Astro
Introduction to astronomy & stargazing
| Room Type | Double | Triple |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Cottage | ₹17,000 | ₹16,000 |
| Mud Cottage | ₹19,900 | ₹17,900 |
What's Included
- Two-night stay in selected room category
- Expert-led guided night sky sessions
- Telescope views of planets & constellations
- Night sky mapping & constellation hunting
- Zero light & sound pollution mountaintop location
- All home-style vegetarian meals
- Barbecues & forest trails
- All taxes and GST included
2-Night Astro-Photography
Masterclass in capturing the night sky
| Room Type | Single | Double | Triple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Cottage | ₹33,700 | ₹28,900 | ₹27,900 |
| Mud Cottage | ₹36,700 | ₹31,700 | ₹29,900 |
What's Included
- Two-night stay in selected room category
- 1:1 personalized session with AJ for astrophotography
- Camera setup and exposure basics
- Composing stunning Milky Way shots
- Post-processing introduction
- Expert-led guided night sky sessions
- All home-style vegetarian meals
- All taxes and GST included
4-Night Complete Experience
Beginner Astro + Astrophotography
| Room Type | Single* | Double | Triple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Cottage | ₹50,700* | ₹45,900 | ₹43,900 |
| Mud Cottage | ₹56,600* | ₹51,600 | ₹47,800 |
Complete Package Includes
- Four-night stay in selected room category
- Expert-led guided night sky sessions
- Telescope views of planets & constellations
- Night sky mapping & constellation hunting
- Zero light & sound pollution mountaintop location
- All home-style vegetarian meals
- Barbecues & forest trails
- 1:1 personalized session with AJ for astrophotography
- Camera setup and exposure basics
- Composing stunning Milky Way shots
- Post-processing introduction
- All taxes and GST included
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This event is open to those 12 years and above.
Anyone 12+ is considered an adult. If you have someone slightly younger and is realllyyy interested, mention in invite form below.
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50% advance secures your spot (non-refundable)
Remaining 50% due 10 days before arrival
Please note: This is an exclusive, small-group event—seats are limited and pre-booked
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If skies are clouded and outdoor stargazing is cancelled due to weather, a ₹2,000 refund per person will be issued. Your stay will still include accommodation, meals, and indoor astronomy activities like telescope handling, sundial building, and celestial navigation.
Only the outdoor skywatching may be impacted—and weather, as you’d imagine, is beyond our control.
That said, this has never happened in the month of June in the history of our astronomy events at Vaatalya.