"I love Nature partly because she is not man, but a retreat from him. None of his institutions control or pervade her. There a different kind of right prevails. In her midst I can be glad with an entire gladness. If this world were all man, I could not stretch myself, I should lose all hope. He is constraint, she is freedom to me. He makes me wish for another world. She makes me content with this."
Apart from being an American essayist and naturalist, Henry David Thoreau was also an introvert. He believed that we were our best selves when we were in harmony with nature. To him, nature was not just a backdrop to human existence but a refuge that offered clarity, freedom, and a deeper understanding of life. In his seminal work Walden, Thoreau chronicled his time living in solitude by Walden Pond, embracing simplicity and self-sufficiency. His philosophy of slow, conscious living continues to inspire those seeking an escape from the relentless pace of modern life.
It is this very spirit that Walden Living, an experiential farm stay named after his book embodies. Located by the Shivalik hills in the village of Naurangpur, Punjab, and just an hour from Chandigarh, Walden Living is a sanctuary of sustainable living, designed with minimal impact on the environment. Its architecture blends into its surroundings, encouraging visitors to pause, reflect, and reset. Here, the hustle of urban life is exchanged for the rhythm of nature — sunsets, afternoon naps, evening teas, jungle walks, and stargazing.
Walden Living is built on the belief that nature isn’t something to be owned; it is something we belong to. The space is designed with deep ecological ethics in mind, from its use of sustainable materials to the organic farm-to-table dining experience. Here, guests can immerse themselves in the beauty of permaculture, witnessing firsthand how this approach to farming works in harmony with natural ecosystems.
Permaculture, at its core, is about creating self-sustaining, regenerative landscapes that mimic nature. The farm at Walden showcases a variety of crops, plants, and fruits that thrive throughout the year. Birdsong fills the air, with peacocks, kingfishers, Himalayan griffins, and even the occasional Sambar deer making appearances. It’s a space that thrives without disrupting the natural order.
Food at Walden is a celebration of the land as well. Everything on the menu is organically grown, pesticide-free, and prepared from scratch. The farm-to-table experience ensures that guests enjoy fresh, nourishing meals, whether it’s a hearty bowl of traditional Indian fare or a dish with global flavours made using locally sourced ingredients. The seasonal menu shifts with nature’s cycles, ensuring that every meal is as fresh as possible. The farm even has its own organic store where they offer cereals, pulses, honey, jams, turmeric & oils.
But at Walden, slowing down doesn’t mean doing nothing — it means engaging meaningfully with the world around you. Whether it’s lending a lot but hand on the farm, hiking through forest trails, or simply sinking into a hammock with a book, every activity fosters a deep connection with nature. Rewilding initiatives have invited a diverse range of wildlife, and guests can spend their days birdwatching or spotting wild animals such as porcupines, wild hares, barking deer, and even the occasional leopard. Walden alao offers workshops in woodworking, pottery, permaculture tours, fruit and vegetable picking, and even archery.
Walden fosters an intentional way of life that's stripped down to its essence where days are shaped by the land, meals are crafted from what the soil offers, and the wilderness is a companion. It’s a way of relearning what it means to live simply, sustainably, and in sync with the world around you through rhythms of nature.
Follow Walden here.
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