A quiet space to find yourself again.
The Aipan Retreat
Sharing the slow rhythm of the mountains with travelers who seek a deeper connection. Welcome to your peaceful mountain getaway in Chopta, Uttarakhand.
The Aipan Retreat is a small, couple-run home in Chopta — close to Tungnath, near the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary.
We named it after Aipan, one of the folk arts of Uttarakhand we grew up with. The walls here are painted by hand. The forest starts at our doors. "By staying with us, you contribute to the revival of Aipan art, a beautiful local tradition that is gradually losing its significance."
A small place
We have a handful of rooms. Guests are few. It is quiet most mornings.
A real place
We live here. The food is home-cooked. The Aipan on the walls is not a print.
A particular place
If you are looking for luxury amenities, this is probably not the right fit. If you are looking for the mountains — it might be exactly right.
The art
The art of Aipan
Aipan is the traditional folk art of the Kumaon hills—hand-painted geometric motifs crafted using geru (a deep brick-red clay) and white rice paste. More than just decoration, these sacred patterns are woven into the emotional fabric of local life, gracing thresholds, temples, and weddings. Today, as this beautiful practice slowly fades from daily routines, preserving it becomes a labor of love
— Kajal
A glimpse
Moments in the mist
01
Walk to Tungnath
The highest Shiva temple in the world is 16 km from the retreat.
02
Learn Aipan
Informal morning sessions, when an artist is on the property.
03
Walk in the forest
Oak, rhododendron, pine. The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary begins here.
04
Do very little
That is also a legitimate reason to come.
Read more → Experiences
From our home to yours
We left the city to come back to where we grew up. We built this place because we wanted to — not because it made obvious business sense.
If you come, we will try to make it worth the journey.
Adi & Kajal
Champawat · Chopta
Our story → About us