Images of the snow peaked upper Himalayas are magnificent, awe inspiring and incredibly romantic. But the reality of living thousands of feet above sea level is anything but romantic. Temperatures are way below freezing (upto minus thirty degrees), air is thin, with the barest levels of oxygen, water is frozen, food is scant, healthcare is rudimentary and sparse, and every breath is a blessing. The reality is icy and harsh. High altitude pharyngitis/bronchitis, snow blindness

Monk from Komik : A day in the life of a Buddhist Monk -- that was a documentary we made many years ago, to help raise funds for the restoration of the then-little-known Komik Monestary. Many lovely people came together for the film and its premiere at India Habitat. We brought the monks from Komik to Delhi, and they jammed with Nitin Malik (who also composed the soundtrack along with Raj K Gopalakrishnan), Subir Malik and all the members of Parikrama who came together in sup

Everyone seems to be scrambling to crack the Happiness Code. It is after all, the one thing every human being desires. Once you your basic food and shelter needs are met, all other pursuits are fuelled by your search for happiness. A good partner, professional success, competitiveness, good health, travel, friends, prayer, spirituality, even addictions and consumerism have their roots in the quest for happiness. No matter how fleeting. In the numerous workshops that I conduc

Healing Hideaway conducts customised spiritual, meditation and inner wellness retreats in Spiti Valley in the summer. These have been featured in many of the 'Top 10 Retreats in India' lists. Watch this video to see some of the most beautiful and soulful images of Spiti Valley. It captures the essence of Spiti, part of the Tibetan plateau and one of the last bastions of Buddhism in India. The video features ancient monasteries like Ke, Dhankar, Komik and Sakya Kaza, and some