Cultural Immersion: Amaya and Darwa

If there’s one word that best encapsulates Amaya’s overarching mission, it’s ‘symbiosis’. Most will be familiar with the biological definition of the word – two organisms interacting for the mutual benefit of the other. On the surface, this sounds terribly cold and clinical. Look instead to the word’s Ancient Greek roots to reveal the warmth and the beauty within. Symbioun: to live together in good fellowship, as partners, companions, friends; to live in harmony, as in wedded life. This philosophy applies to everything we do: not only to our stewardship of the mountains and the forests and the terraces we inhabit, but to our relationships we forge with the people who live alongside us.

Our journey in symbiosis began in the neighbouring village of Darwa. Our team of craftspeople set to work building the villagers a new temple, and donated culturally significant statues in honour of their heritage. These were not simply one-off gestures of goodwill – we built the foundations for lasting connections and friendships that continue to uplift all our lives. The temple has become something of a spiritual and cultural anchor for Darwa, a place where people gather for prayers and traditional music and annual celebrations.

We wanted to demonstrate our deep respect for Darwa’s history and heritage and, in turn, were welcomed with the utmost warmth and kindness. Now, years later, we are bonded together by our shared companionship: Darwa villagers bring their knowledge and expertise to work at Amaya, while many Amaya staff are proud to call the village home. Our lives are shaped by a shared daily rhythm.

There is no better way to understand the tapestry of connections we’ve woven together than by seeing it first-hand on a guided heritage walk to Darwa. A leisurely stroll through the village soon reveals the friendly, kind outlook of its inhabitants. Share a pot of local tea and discover their story: how their families fled the bloodshed of the northern plains and settled here in the peace and tranquillity of these forests and hills. Consider the architecture of their homes, a living testament to traditional construction practices which endure through generations of families; see the astonishing skill in the hands of the village’s artisans, and enjoy the rich cultural landscape of mountain village life, kept alive through years upon years of tradition. This is cultural immersion at its finest and, more importantly, its most authentic.

The calm pace of life at Amaya reflects the humble simplicity of life in Darwa, of a people living as one with the stillness of the forest. We invite you to immerse yourself in our shared lifestyle here, and see the mountains through their eyes. As life begins to stir in the village, greet the glory of the coming day from a breathtaking vantage point within our retreat. Wend your way through the early twilight mist to find waiting for you a steaming pot of tea or coffee, freshly baked artisanal bread, and an eastern Himalayan sky blessed with the first glimmers of the morning sun. Amaya and Darwa, together illuminated by the sun’s first rays. Sit back, relax, and find yourself contemplating the majesty of the mountains from a whole new perspective, with a renewed sense of how our lives uplift each other.