Visiting Dharmalaya Institute

OPEN FOR VISITORS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Dharmalaya Institute is open to visitors, during visiting hours and by appointment only. Please read the information below to understand the options for visiting and how to schedule a visit.

Visiting hours: Our normal visiting hours are between 10:00am and 12:00pm (noon) and between 2:00pm and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. The campus is closed to the public on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and at other times when there are special events on campus, so it is necessary to contact the Institute in advance to inquire whether the campus will be open to visitors on the date you would like to visit. Note that Dharmalaya Institute does not have a guest house, so overnight visits are not possible, but there is ample accommodation in the nearby town of Bir.

Guided tours: Dharmalaya Institute receives a steady stream of visitors wanting to learn more about the Institute, and we are very pleased that there is so much interest in sustainable and compassionate living. To satisfy the interest of so many visitors without disrupting the work of the Institute, we offer guided tours (with question-and-answer sessions) by prior appointment only, except during times when the campus is closed to visitors due to special programmes. We offer two types of guided tours — public and private. Additionally, self-guided visits are also possible by appointment.

• Public guided tours: Once per week, we offer a public guided tour of Dharmalaya Institute’s eco-campus including the interior of our main building designed by award-winning eco-architect Didi Contractor. These weekly public tours are open to anyone. The exact day and time for our public tours changes from week to week depending on the Institute’s schedule. There is no fee for these once-weekly public guided tours, but donations to support the Institute are appreciated. To enquire about the timing of these weekly public guided tours, you are welcome to contact us. We recommend contacting us at least a week in advance.

• Private guided tours: For those who would like a private guided tour, including those who are unable to join our free weekly public guided tour, we do our best to accommodate such requests by special arrangement when our schedule allows. For private guided tours, there is a requested minimum donation of Rs 500 in recognition of the fact that private guided tours take one of our team members away from their other work at the Institute, and we receive so many requests for private tours that it would not be feasible to offer them without such donations. A donation receipt will be provided. (Anyone who prefers a free guided tour is welcome to join one of our weekly public guided tours instead.) For private tours, it is recommended to contact us at least a few days in advance to have the best chance of availability. Unfortunately, it is usually not possible to provide private guided tours without fixing the time at least one or two days ahead.

• Self-guided visits: For those who wish to see the campus on your own (including those who are unable to register for one of our public or private guided tours in advance), a self-guided visit can be arranged by appointment only during times when the campus is not closed for special programmes. Please note that for self-guided tours it is not possible to enter any of the buildings, but you are welcome to take a walk around and appreciate them from outside while keeping a respectful distance from the buildings to avoid disturbance to our residents. Also, please note that it would not be possible to have any question-and-answer sessions during a self-guided visit, since all of our team members would be busy with their responsibilities. If you’d like to have time to talk with one of our team members, you’re welcome to join one of our public or private guided tours described above. There is no fee for self-guided visits.

How to schedule a visit: Please contact us before planning your visit to be sure the campus is open to visitors at the time you would like to come, and to fix an appointment time for your visit. Only after receiving confirmation from us should you make your plans to visit. More information will be provided by email when you schedule your visit. You will find the visit request form here.

HELP US SUPPORT OUR WORK AND OUR HIMALAYAN VILLAGERS

You can support Dharmalaya Institute and our Himalayan village community by making a charitable donation. Your contribution is gratefully appreciated.