Look up to the sky, what do you see? Depending on where you are currently, the answer might be vividly different. Cities and urban environments have the night sky clouded by dust and pollution. But only a few miles away at the Dharana Wellness Retreat near Mumbai, the night sky is beautiful, limitless, and rejuvenating.
As a premier Luxury Wellness Retreat at Shillim, the experts emphasize the importance of Stargazing. The valley, about 127 km (78 miles) from the hustle and bustle of the city is one of the Best Stargazing Spots near Mumbai. The dense forest cover keeps the air free of any pollutants, while the terrain allows you to focus on the vast expanse, completely unobstructed. Stargazing here proves to be a holistic experience, engaging and tuning all 5 senses towards a singular goal: Observing the stars, the constellations they form, and the many heavenly bodies that surround them. In the right conditions, one might spot a piece of the Milky Way, nonchalantly making its way through the sky.
There’s more to stargazing than meets the eye. Here are some philosophies to keep in mind when looking up, as curated by the experts at the Dharana Retreat in India.
- Inspiration and a new sense of Purpose
The visuals generated by the night sky are unlike any other. Uncountable stars, all playing a part in the universe, are visible from the ground and to the naked eye. If you feel lost, unsure, or ridden with anxiety, such an experience proves to be genuinely inspiring.
The cause is perhaps summed up best by the Ph.D. Astronomer Dr. Richard Tresch Fienberg: “The stars remind us that we are part of a larger universe.”
One of the best Stargazing tips for beginners is – Slow Down. As an activity, Stargazing requires deliberateness, not just physically but mentally as well. The mind naturally calms down and relaxes to take in the true vastness of the sky. Breathing in the fresh Shillim air and being within nature further boosts your mood, freeing you from fatigue.
Researchers R. Bell, K.N. Irvine, Caroline Wilson, and S.L. Warber identified in their paper, ‘Dark Nature: Exploring potential benefits of nocturnal nature-based interaction for human and environmental health’ that those who participated in Stargazing reported a sense of personal growth as the activity helped develop skills to experience positive emotions.
As one of the best Wellness Centres in India, a positive impact on the community is an important tenet. Instrumental research by Social Psychologists Paul K. Piff, Pia Dietze, Matthew Feinberg, Daniel M. Stancato, and Dacher Keltner identified the impact of awe-inspiring natural beauty on human behaviour. Overall, individuals who witnessed nature’s greatness feel less worried. Their attention is diverted away from self-centered and short-term pleasures to being more charitable and prosocial.
Stargazing connects you to the universe as a whole. The simple act of looking up proves to be awe-inspiring on a whole new level. Dharana at Shillim is one of the best places to go stargazing near Mumbai! Click this link to learn more about this activity during your stay.