"The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.”
– Rabindranath Tagore
Humans have built with mud for centuries, yet this wisdom has been largely forgotten. This playful, hands-on workshop introduces you to natural building techniques through the vernacular traditions of the tribal communities around Dularia. You’ll gain practical experience with cob and mud plasters, while reconnecting with your body, mind, and the joy of building with earth. Guided by an experienced architect and natural builder, and the Santhal & Kora village team of Dularia—the true mud magicians who carry timeless knowledge—this experience is both grounding and deeply enjoyable.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
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INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING Understand what a shelter really is, why natural materials, and the advantages and limitations of different natural construction techniques
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HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE Understand soil, soil testing and cob-making
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DESIGN THINKING Introduction to basics of design thinking and recognising patterns in nature
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TRADITIONAL WISDOM & CONTEXT Experience indigenous building techniques through village walks, interactions with Santhali & Kora tribe, and a museum visit focused on natural crafts
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NATURAL LIVING AS A PRACTICE Explore mindfulness and reflective conversations to experience a more grounded, natural way of life​​​​
WHO IT'S FOR
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Beginners curious about natural building — no prior experience required
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Architects, designers, builders, and students interested in sustainable, low-impact construction methods
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People exploring alternative or slower ways of living, closer to nature
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Hands-on learners who prefer experiential, playful, and immersive workshops over classroom-only learning
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Anyone questioning conventional construction and modern lifestyles and wanting to reconnect with traditional knowledge, materials, and self-built spaces
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In short, this workshop is for anyone who wants to experience mud — not just as a material, but as a way to rethink how we build, live, and relate to our environment.
MEET YOUR GUIDES
Megha Jalan
(founder Studio Kathanika)
Megha is an architect and artist whose practice bridges natural building, design, and mindful living. Trained in architecture at R.V. College of Architecture, Bangalore, with early roots in art and later exposure to industrial design and pottery, she enjoys exploring new materials. Her professional journey spans across Gangtok, Mumbai, Kolkata and Nainital, alongside hands-on artistic explorations.
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A growing disillusionment with conventional construction led her to re-examine how we build and live. In 2022, she formally transitioned into natural building, followed by Permaculture Design training in 2023 and 2025, deepening her understanding of working in harmony with nature.
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Based in Kolkata, she now runs her own studio where art, architecture, and natural materials come together as both practice and lifestyle. Through immersive workshops and shared experiences, she invites people to reconnect with the earth, rediscover the joy of building with their hands, and explore a simpler, more rooted way of living.
Dularia's village team
Dularia's indigenous community, which includes Iti Malo from a Bengali fishing community, Fulkoli Mardi and Ratan Kisku from the Santhal tribe, and Dayal Kora from the Kora tribe, are experts at the craft of mud building, which they have been practicing for centuries. In this workshop, you'll get to learn directly from the village women and men, who build their own homes, plaster and maintain them on a regular basis. This will not be a theoretical space, but rather, a practical deep-dive into the craft.
Sharmishtha Dattagupta & Chris Sprague
Sharmishtha & Chris are a couple who love creating spaces for natural living that are beautiful and conducive to learning, growth, and harmony. In 2018 Sharmishtha founded Dularia, her work of love in the world, and Chris joined in 2024. Together they live a life of permaculture, natural building, woodworking, pottery, reading and writing, mindfulness, contemplative arts, and music. In this program, Sharmishtha will guide the morning mindfulness practices, and Chris will guide a session on design based on sacred geometric proportions.
FOOD & ACCOMMODATION
We have 3 options for accommodation:
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Our gorgeous Earthhome (can be shared among four people, available on a first-come, first serve basis)
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In a tent with bedding provided, pitched in the middle of our food forest. Shared showers and toilets are available on the premises.
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Any of the surrounding guest-houses. Two options are Panchabati Resort ( 850 m away from Dularia) or Khoai Village Resort (2.7 km away from Dularia). We can also arrange stay in a beautiful home in a nearby village if you're interested.
Meals consist of wholesome vegetarian food containing fresh vegetables and greens harvested from our farm, and cooked on our wood-fired stove in the Santhal tribal or local Bengali tradition. We serve two big meals plus fruit, tea and snacks to keep you well-fed and energized for the tasks of the day.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
DATES
​March 12 - 16, 2026
Arrival is suggested on March 12 by 4 pm latest, & departure is at 10am on March 16.
Last date for registration: March 01, 2026
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PARTICIPANTS
Min 4 - Max 8
Book your spot soon as limited places are available! This is an intimate program where you'll meet like-minded people on an intentional, nature-loving journey and get plenty of personal attention from your facilitators.​​​
COST
Tuition fees: INR 15,000/-
Includes taxes, excludes food & accommodation. To book your spot, a non-refundable deposit of INR 5,000/- will be required.
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Food: INR 4,500/-
Includes all meals from 12th tea/dinner to 16th breakfast. Vegetarian meals using local tribal and Bengali recipes will be prepared using organic ingredients from the farm.
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​​​Accommodation (includes stay from 12th March 4pm till 16th March 10am):
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In a tent with bedding provided (one two-person tent and one three-person tent is available): 1750/- per person
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Shared stay in our Earthhome (only 4 spots available, first-come, first serve basis): 5,000/- per person
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For homestays outside Dularia please enquire with them directly​​
All inclusive prices, including food and accommodation:
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In a tent: 21,250/-
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In our Earthhome: 24,500/-
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In the homestay of your choice: 19,500/- plus accommodation expenses.
DAILY SCHEDULE
This is a rough schedule that can change based on the activities planned for the day.
7:00 - 8:00: Morning mindfulness sessions
8:00 - 8:30: Breakfast (optionally tea/coffee)​
9:00 - 12:30: Morning session. These sessions will cover the core content of the course. All content will be hands-on.
12:30 - 14:30: Lunch and personal time​​.
14:30 - 17:00: Afternoon session. These sessions will cover the core content of the course. All content will be hands-on. Afternoon tea & snacks will be served.
18:00 - 18: 30: Dinner
18:30 - 21:00: Bon-fire, songs, sharing, relaxation. Participation is optional.
21:00: Suggested bedtime!
WHERE WE'RE LOCATED
Dularia is located in a rural setting, just ten kilometers away from Shantiniketan, which has been recently recognised as a UNESCO world heritage site for its historical and cultural value. This makes it all the more attractive to visit Dularia and to take a few days extra to visit the surroundings.
HOW TO REACH US
The closest train stations to Dularia are Prantik and Bolpur stations, and the closest airport is Durgapur.
If you want to come by flight, you could fly into Kolkata airport, followed by either a train journey from Howrah/ Sealdah stations to Bolpur/Prantik stations, or take a 4-hour taxi ride directly to Dularia. Alternately, you could fly into Durgapur airport, followed by a 2-hour taxi ride to Dularia. Kolkata has several more flight options than Durgapur does, so both airports have their advantages/disadvantages.
If you want to arrive by train, you can come to Bolpur/Prantik stations, and then take an electric rickshaw (Toto) to Dularia. There are better and faster train connections to Durgapur train
Have questions? Contact us!
Contact Sharmishtha Dattagupta
(Founder Dularia)
WhatsApp: +91-9831404006
Email: dulariatrust@gmail.com
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Contact Megha Jalan
(Workshop Facilitator)
WhatsApp: +91-97489 76464