Not a bad place to perfect your lotus pose. India's Basunti retreat is located in the middle of a wildlife reserve in the Kangra Valley in the Himalayan foothills.
Basunti, India —
Not a bad place to perfect your lotus pose. India's Basunti retreat is located in the middle of a wildlife reserve in the Kangra Valley in the Himalayan foothills.
Monica Sarkar/CNN
Basunti morning yoga sessions start at 7 a.m. at the retreat's thatched roof shala.
Streeeeeeetch! —
Basunti morning yoga sessions start at 7 a.m. at the retreat's thatched roof shala.
Monica Sarkar/CNN
Located in a garden full of orange, mango and papaya trees, each of Basunti's 10 residential rooms offer a view of the yoga shala (pictured).
Yoga shala —
Located in a garden full of orange, mango and papaya trees, each of Basunti's 10 residential rooms offer a view of the yoga shala (pictured).
Monica Sarkar/CNN
Basunti and the surrounding area are great places for birdwatching. More than 420 species are found in the area.
Birdwatching —
Basunti and the surrounding area are great places for birdwatching. More than 420 species are found in the area.
Basunti
Basunti's swimming pool sits among papaya trees and bougainvillea flowers, and offers views over the lake.
Pool-side views —
Basunti's swimming pool sits among papaya trees and bougainvillea flowers, and offers views over the lake.
Basunti
At dusk, spiritual talks and yoga sessions are held on the roof of the main Basunti house.
Evening spirituality sessions —
At dusk, spiritual talks and yoga sessions are held on the roof of the main Basunti house.
Monica Sarkar/CNN
Terrified to do a headstand? Shiva, the patron god of strength, has got your (spiritual) back.
Finding strength in Shiva —
Terrified to do a headstand? Shiva, the patron god of strength, has got your (spiritual) back.
Monica Sarkar/CNN
Guests of the retreat can hop on a boat and explore the nearby Maharana Pratap Sagar lake for the afternoon.
Maharana Pratap Sagar —
Guests of the retreat can hop on a boat and explore the nearby Maharana Pratap Sagar lake for the afternoon.
Monica Sarkar/CNN
It's a snake-eat-frog world at Basunti, which sits in the middle of a nature sanctuary. Other wildlife include a leopard, mongoose, scorpions, butterflies, birds and fish.
Croak! —
It's a snake-eat-frog world at Basunti, which sits in the middle of a nature sanctuary. Other wildlife include a leopard, mongoose, scorpions, butterflies, birds and fish.
Courtesy DAVID BUTTERWORTH
The Basunti retreat is about a 3.5 hour drive from Amritsar, which has the nearest airport. Amritsar is home to the Golden Temple, the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion.
Golden Temple —
The Basunti retreat is about a 3.5 hour drive from Amritsar, which has the nearest airport. Amritsar is home to the Golden Temple, the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion.
Monica Sarkar/CNN