Stay

Long-Term Stay

A month or more at Karuna. For people who want to slow down properly — not a weekend retreat, but a real stretch of time to let the place work on you.

Why stay longer

A two-night visit to Karuna is one thing. A month is another. The first week you arrive. The second week you settle. The third week the place starts to settle into you. That is when the real work begins.

Long-term guests often tell us the same thing — that the rhythm of life here (sunrise yoga, cooking with the garden, the forest paths, the silence after 10 pm) becomes a new baseline. And when they leave, it stays with them.

What's included

🏡 A cottage of your choice

Subject to availability. Any of our 17 rooms are available for long stays, from the dormitory at the simple end to the Shashi suite at the other.

💸 Discounted rates

Our long-stay rates are significantly reduced from the nightly rate. The longer you stay, the better the rate. Please contact us for specifics.

🧘 Full access to the community

Daily yoga, the yoga hall for self-practice, Govinda's Café, the library, and the gardens. The whole rhythm of life here is yours.

🌱 Optional karma yoga

If you'd like to give time to the gardens, the kitchen, or a specific project — composting, planting, building — we are always grateful for hands and good company.

📚 Training & workshops

Long stayers often take part in whatever is running — meditation workshop, permaculture training, earthship building, yoga retreats. No extra charge for being around what's happening.

🍳 Self-cater or eat at Govinda's

Most rooms have a small kitchen. You can shop on a weekly run to town and cook your own, or eat with the community at Govinda's. Or both.

Who it's for

  • Writers, artists, and researchers needing a quiet stretch to work.
  • People between chapters — careers, relationships, cities.
  • Practitioners wanting to deepen a spiritual practice without the pressure of a scheduled retreat.
  • Digital workers who want to live somewhere beautiful for a while (but see the note on connectivity).
  • Anyone recovering from burnout who needs the quiet more than they need a programme.

A few honest notes

Connectivity: There is patchy mobile signal and limited Wi-Fi at Govinda's. Good enough for email and light work. Not good enough for video calls or streaming. If your work requires a fast reliable connection, this may not be the right place.
Power: All solar and micro-hydro, no national grid. Charge your laptop during the day. On cloudy days, plan around it. Most long-term guests come to appreciate this, but it is worth knowing.
Provisioning: For a month-long stay, you'll want to plan a shopping trip to town — oil, spices, flour, soap, anything specific you need. Kodaikanal has decent provisions. We can help arrange transport.
Seasonality: Karuna is beautiful year-round, but each season is different. Monsoon (June–September) is dramatic and very wet — not for everyone. December–February is cooler and clear. March–May is warm and green. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll tell you what to expect.

Cottages suited to a longer stay

Any of our 17 rooms can be taken long-term, but a few in particular are set up for extended stays — with real kitchens, full living spaces, and room to spread out.

Eva Villa interior — living room and dining

Eva Villa

A self-contained villa with a full kitchen, dining table for six, and a proper living area. Comfortable for a month or more.

Sunrise Chalet — cozy bedroom

Sunrise Chalet

A warm, wood-floored chalet facing the sunrise. Perfect for a solo traveller or a couple on a writing or practice retreat.

Shiuli House exterior with stone walls

Shiuli House

A self-contained stone cottage with two fireplaces, a double bed, and a large kitchen. Quiet and set apart.

House rules still apply

Long-term stay doesn't change the rules — strictly vegetarian, no alcohol, quiet after 10 pm, no pets. Please see our full guest info.

Pricing

Rates for long stays are negotiated individually, based on room choice, length of stay, and whether you'll be self-catering or eating with the community. Please contact us with a rough idea of dates and what you're looking for, and we'll come back with a clear quote.

Enquire about a long stay