Alekhya is a venture of Shilla Treks, an experiential travel service based out of the Parvati Valley. We work from an apple orchard in the middle of nowhere. We have been hosting writing retreats since 2017.

The venue is near Kasol, about 50 km from the Kullu Airport and located 8000 ft above sea level. It has cottages and dorms that offer panoramic views of snow-clad Himalayas. It offers the perfect balance of seclusion from the real world, and enough human contact to make you feel at home. We function with the support of locals, tribals and nomads who live in and around that area, practising eco-tourism

The team includes:

Mahima Sood, a Data Scientist with deep interest in AI ethics. She currently works on Conversational AI for a leading MNC. She has previously worked as a programmer and content manager for various digital platforms, before curating a travel startup in the Himalayas.

Shalvi Shah, a writer, translator, and critic. Her work, translations, and criticism have appeared in Epiphany magazine, the Desi Books platform, Columbia Journal, the New York Times, and are forthcoming elsewhere. She received her MFA in fiction and literary translation from Columbia University, where she also received a Scholarship and a Teaching Fellowship. She has taught undergraduate fiction at Columbia University and currently mentors at the Alekhya.

We’d love to hear from you. For any queries or feedback, please write in and we’ll get back!