Each year since 2012, musicians, seekers, and lovers of sound have gathered in the Himalayan foothills for an immersive retreat in the ancient tradition of Dhrupad. In February 2026 we return once more to the forested riverbank of Gular, to spend a week immersed in practice, reflection, and community under the guidance of Pandit Nirmalya Dey.
This retreat is not a festival, nor a workshop in the usual sense. It is a living environment for Dhrupad, where sound, silence, and nature become companions in study.
The 9th Annual Himalayan Dhrupad Retreat 2026 will be held from Saturday 21st to Saturday 28th February 2026, at the Himalayan Forest Camp in Gular, Uttarakhand, India.
Dhrupad is the oldest surviving form of North Indian classical music. It is a medieval musical art form regarded as one of the major traditions of Indian culture and the core of Indian classical music, practiced mainly in northern India. The origin of dhrupad can be traced back to the tradition of prabandha, the chanting of Sanskrit verses. This musical genre took a definite shape in the 16th century under the tutelage of Swami Haridas, a highly respected saint-musician, poet, composer and teacher. Among his disciples were the renowned Tansen and Baiju, who contributed to establish the culture of dhrupad as the most refined and subtle form of classical musical rendition.
Passed down through centuries of oral tradition, the knowledge of dhrupad encompasses the mastery of right intonation, tonic shades with appropriate melodic movements, improvisation, the rendering of poetic contents, as well as the discipline of time keeping, rhythmic cycles and variations. The sonic experience of dhrupad helps to transcend the self into a highly meditative state of mind.
The retreat focuses on:
Voice and resonance training (kharaj practice, tone, and breath)Alap: the slow unfolding of rāga as meditation
Improvisation and rhythmic development
Poetic and compositional aspects of Dhrupad
In past years, participants have discovered that practicing Dhrupad in the open forest brings a rare alignment of voice, breath, and landscape — the call of birds, the rustle of trees, the current of the Ganga echo deepen the practice.
Daily Rhythm
A typical day at the retreat balances structure and spaciousness:
Early morning kharaj practice as the sun rises over the GangaMorning group sessions of raga exploration and voice work
Afternoon contemplative practice and one-on-one guidance
Evening gatherings — collective singing, listening, sometimes by firelight or under the stars
Ample time is given for silent walks, rest, and reflection, letting the body and voice absorb the intensity of practice.
The Setting: Gular
The retreat is held in a forest camp near Gular, a riverside village between Rishikesh and Devprayag.
The setting offers:
- Walking distance to the Ganga and hidden forest streams
- Proximity to waterfalls, birds, and wildlife
- Silence and clean air of the Himalayan foothills
- Nights alive with stars and fire circles
- This environment has been chosen carefully for its ability to support deep listening and practice.
Who Can Join
- Vocalists, instrumentalists, students of music, and seekers of meditation through sound
- No prior experience in Dhrupad is necessary, though a willingness to engage with intensive practice and attentive listening is essential
- Participants come from diverse backgrounds: musicians, yoga practitioners, educators, and those seeking inner stillness
What Makes This Retreat Unique
- Continuity: A retreat tradition running for more than a decade in the Himalayas
- Guidance: Direct learning with Pandit Nirmalya Dey, among the foremost living masters of Dhrupad
- Ecology: Music integrated with Himalayan forest life, where environment becomes teacher
- Community: Shared meals, practice, and silence that foster lasting connections
Closing
The Himalayan Dhrupad Retreat 2026 at Gular is an invitation to pause, to listen deeply, and to dwell in the ancient river of sound. Over seven days, you will experience not just a form of music, but a way of being where sound, silence, and nature merge.
REPORT ABOUT DHRUPAD RETREAT IN HIMALAYA 2025
This retreat took place at the Forest Camp, in a Himalayan valley near Gular village, from 8th to 15th March 2025, under the guidance of Pandit Nirmalya Dey. Participants from all around the world have joined the workshop to learn and imbibe the art of dhrupad singing.
Please enjoy a short documentary video about this retreat.
DHRUPAD RETREAT IN VARANASI 2016
This video brings you the atmosphere of ten days dhrupad retreat that took place in Varanasi / India (27.02.16 - 08.03.16) under guidance of renowned master of this genre - Nirmalya Dey. This is the first international retreat organized by Pt.Nirmalya Dey and Nadachakra Trust. People from seven countries where united under the roof of Surya Hotel with intensive everyday practice from 5am till 10pm.
Please enjoy a short documentary video about this retreat.