One week residential workshop to provide introductory hands-on training in some of the foundational skills of earthen building in the neo-traditional Kangra style of esteemed eco-architect, Didi Contractor as practiced at Dharmalaya Institute. Learn to work with earth in an adobe bricks, including the process of making and laying adobe bricks, plastering as well as other interior work.
Overview
Program Type : Training workshop (residential)
Topic : Construction of Kangra-style earthen buildings
Dates : 18th-23rd August 2025
Language : English (with Hindi translation if requested)
Facilitator : Dharmalaya faculty Ar.Parul Sharma and local village artisans
Description
Description: Residential service-learning programme at the Dharmalaya Institute providing hands-on training in earthen construction. Learn about eco-friendly structures in the neo-traditional Kangra style of esteemed eco-architect Didi Contractor, while contemplating our relationship with nature and the values of sustainable and compassionate living.
This will be an intensive training programme featuring a balance between hands-on workshops and theory/discussions sessions.
The work will include natural building construction, adobe (mud brick) and may also include stone, bamboo and slate and stone masonry. We will also have theory classes and other presentations, discussions, and explorations.
Programme structure
Orientation
During the first day, participants will enjoy an orientation process designed to help you settle in, understand key concepts and skills of the program, and integrate into the Dharmalaya life, including a campus tour and introductory talks.
Hands-on work
Guided by your facilitator, Parul, you will be given preparatory training on safety, teamwork, and how to prepare the tools, materials, worksites, etc. before beginning to work with natural materials such as mud, adobe, lipai and natural plasters
Conceptual explorations
Throughout the workshop, we will enjoy activities to support theoretical understanding and personal reflection.
Presentations and movie screenings and discussions on the primary topics – including craft, natural materials, Didi Contractor’s philosophy and work
Reading, reflection, journaling questions and observation activities, based on the various interrelated topics of the programme
Held spaces for contemplative practice in the early mornings: meditation (walking or sitting practice)
Note: The exact work to be done during the programme is subject to change according to a number of factors, including the weather, time-sensitive tasks, staff holidays, and so on.
Activities
What to Expect
Activities might include the following (depending on weather and circumstances):
Hands-on training in Kangra-style neo-traditional earthen architecture, which may include (depending on circumstances):
Making proper earthen mixes using local best practices
Making adobe bricks
Soil testing
Wall Masonry
Earthen bricklaying
Earthen renders (mud plasters)
Lipai (cow dung layer for wall protection)
Water management (possibly drainage and gutter work, rainwater harvesting, etc.)
Learning and understanding vernacular and natural construction techniques.
Exploring nearby village and understanding the local culture and construction methods.
Note this workshop is taking place during the monsoon season and so the schedule will be in harmony with the weather.
Rustic forested setting with a clean and simple ashram lifestyle in which everyone contributes to taking care of the place by cleaning, washing dishes etc.
The days will be completely full: You’ll wake up early and hands-on work will be combined with presentations and learning sessions. Evenings will be occupied with sharing circles and other activities.
You’ll spend the whole six days at the dharmalaya Institute without leaving, in order to make the most of our short time together, and you might not have much personal time. So, prepare yourself mentally for being focused and squeezing the maximum learning out of every moment.
You will be working with your hands and body (including plenty of honest hard work!) for approximately six or seven hours per day on most days of the programme, so it is strongly recommended to be in reasonably good physical fitness when you arrive, and you should bring work clothes.
Architecture and design students please note: The focus is not on design, but rather on doing real-world work to gain understanding of the materials, methods, and underlying principles of vernacular eco-architecture.
Please note: This is a very short introductory workshop, and only a few elements of earthen building practice can be covered in such a short span of time. For those who are serious about learning and practicing the techniques of earthen building, we strongly recommend staying after the end of the programme to volunteer during the extended practicum period (until as late as 1st June) so that you can deepen your understanding and improve your skills by doing real-world, hands-on work alongside our local village artisans here on the Dharmalaya campus. An even more comprehensive option for those with serious interest is to take multiple workshops and consider applying for our Internship in Vernacular Eco-Architecture and/or our Earthen Masonry Training Course.
Who is this programme for?
This programme is open to anyone wishing to:
Make an in-depth, interdisciplinary exploration of compassionate living and caring community
Be a part of a small, intimate group of kindred spirits collaborating in service
Reflect honestly on your outer and inner life, with the intention to learn and grow
Experience well-being through simple, healthy living and daily contemplative practice in an ashram-style environment
Remain safely within our Himalayan eco-campus for the entire duration of them programme (without visiting town, etc.)
Qualities that the ideal candidates should have:
Physical fitness and readiness to do hard work every day
Sensitive and respectful to the experience and needs of others
Generous spirit: sincerely wanting to give even more than you receive
Team player, agreeable and cooperative, happy to do whatever is needed
Self-motivated to work and excel (not needing too much urging by others)
Honest with both self and others, putting integrity first
Motivated to improve oneself and takes constructive feedback well, with gratitude
What to expect
Two of the keys to happiness are: (1) to have realistic expectations to begin with; and (2) not to be too attached to those expectations, but rather to stay flexible as life unfolds. With that in mind, here are some of the things participants should expect (while remembering to keep a flexible attitude):
Full-time programme focus: This programme is called ‘immersive’ because the point is to be completely focused on the programme. While there will be some time for rest, reading/journaling, and personal reflection, there won’t be time for activities unrelated to the programme. While you’re here, the expectation is that your full attention will be focused on the programme experience from start to finish.
Plenty of physical work: Most of the work to be done is physical, and some of it requires physical endurance, so it’s best to be prepared both physically and psychologically for a lot of hard work. One key to happiness here is to keep a very positive and enthusiastic attitude about the work, knowing that you’re making the world a better place in a small way, which makes it a joy.
Supportive routine: A daily rhythm of contemplative practice, outdoor activities, discussions, and silent meditation time.
Natural simplicity: Rustic accommodations in natural earthen buildings or comfortable tents in a beautiful forest setting.
Yogic lifestyle: Clean and simple ashram-style lifestyle in which everyone contributes to the running of the place, including cleaning, washing dishes, etc. No smoking or intoxicants.
Life on campus: To support all participants to get the most out of the programme, it is designed so that all the time will be spent on Dharmalaya’s beautiful six-acre campus. Accordingly, participants should plan to remain on campus for the duration of the programme and be fully present for the community experience.
Healthy food: Natural and mostly organic, purely vegetarian meals (100% plant-based, vegan). No junk food or packaged snacks, etc.
Digital detox: There will be no use of mobile phones or internet from 9-5 or during evening sessions so that everyone stays focused on the group tasks, and present with one another — and with our own experience. For those who are normally glued to your phones, it may take some adjustment at first but soon you’ll be amazed how much better you feel engaging with nature and good work with good people rather than the screen.
Campus life and the experience of living in community
Most of our past long-term participants tell us that experience of being a part of the Dharmalaya community, living and working together, is one of the best parts of the experience for them.
We emphasize a culture of kindness and cooperation rather than selfishness and competition, and it’s great to live with kindred spirits in that kind of atmosphere.
Dharmalaya maintains an environment in which everyone is supported to learn and grow in this way, and this kind of learning truly changes lives for the better, because few lessons are more valuable than those that help us understand ourselves and others better and learn to relate with others more sensitively and skilfully.
So one thing to understand is that learning to be a healthy part of a healthy community is one of the most important aspects of all of our residential programmes — and of compassionate living more generally — so that kind of inner work and social evolution should be something that appeals to you strongly if you’re thinking of applying for this programme.
We’ll be spending a good bit of time talking about it and asking you to self-reflect, journal, and share with others about your experiences, which benefits everyone.
Schedules & dates
Start and end dates
The programme will begin at 10:00am on Day 1. All newly arriving participants will be required to arrive sometime between 9:30am and 9:45am on Day 1 itself (we will provide detailed timing, instructions, and travel tips after confirming your registration).
The programme will conclude on Saturday evening.and participants should plan to depart by 10.30am on Sunday morning, after breakfast. As we have another retreat beginning the following day, we kindly request your co-operation with this.
Daily schedule: What will the days be like?
Although the day-to-day schedule will vary a bit, the schedule for a typical day during this programme would more or less as follows:
6:00 Wake
6:30 Morning practice (this may be guided or self led)
8:00 BREAKFAST
9:00 Morning session (or learning activity)
12:30 LUNCH
1:30 Afternoon session (or learning activity)
5:00 Personal time
6:00 DINNER
7:00 Evening activity or personal time (various depending on situation)
10.00 Lights out, silent time until breakfast
Cost
Dharmalaya Institute is a not-for-profit charitable and educational organisation, and as such seeks to make its programmes accessible everyone. Recognizing that our participants come from diverse backgrounds, we are providing a sliding scale with three tiers, to make it possible for each participant to give according to their means.
Subsidized rate
(For low-income participants who can’t afford the standard rate)
Rs 9,650 total
For transparency: This subsidized rate is approximately 33% below our break-even rate, which means it is not enough to cover the Institute’s costs in providing the programme, though that shortfall might be covered by participants who choose to pay the ‘Supporter rate’ to the right.
Standard rate
(For most participants)
Rs 14,400 total
For transparency: This standard rate is essentially a break-even rate, just enough to cover the Institute’s total average monthly costs in providing this service-learning opportunity.
Supporter rate
(For those who can afford to help subsidize lower-income participants)
Rs 19,200 total
For transparency: This supporter rate is approximately 33% above the break-even rate, and 100% of that surplus will be used to support lower-income applicants to participate at the subsidized rate. We thank you sincerely for your generosity in choosing this rate if you can.
Important Information
Before you pack for your trip to Dharmalaya Institute, please read the very important information on our Visitor Info page and our FAQ.
NOTE FOR STUDENTS SEEKING CERTIFICATES: This is not a certificate course. No certificate or letter will be provided (no exceptions).
About the instructors and facilitators
The workshop will be instructed and facilitated by Parul Sharma with additional contributions from Dharmalaya Institute’s long-term community (including volunteers and staff).
Application process
The application process is designed to help identify applicants who are best matched with the programme.
STEP 1 — APPLY: Submit the application form below and wait for our reply. We may email you to ask follow-up questions if necessary.
STEP 2 — INTERVIEW: If your application is selected for the shortlist, the next step will be for us to schedule a time for an interview on a video call. During this interview, you’ll have the chance to ask whatever questions you might have, and we’ll have a chance to get to know you a bit better. If necessary, there might be a second video interview for final candidates.
STEP 3 — ACCEPTANCE & DEPOSIT: If you are selected for the programme after your video interview, then at that time we will send you more detailed information about the programme and how to prepare for your time at Dharmalaya Institute. You will then have one week from the date of acceptance to make your nonrefundable deposit to hold your place in the programme. The minimum deposit is 50%, but it is also possible to prepay in full.
If you have any questions after reading all the material here on our website, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to address your questions.
We look forward to connecting with you!