| Duration: | 14 Day(s) - 13 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Yoga Tours |
Day 1: Arrival Delhi
Arrive in Delhi and transfer to hotel. Rest.
Day 2: Delhi / Haridwar (train)/ Rishikesh
Ride to Rishikesh situated on the banks of the Ganga in the Himalayan foothills. Dinner and rest. We’ll stay in a modern and comfortable ashram/hotel on the banks of the holy Ganga. Rishikesh is well-known for its many ashrams and yoga centers, yet bustles as a quaint commercial center.
Day 3 Rishikesh
Enjoy a morning of rest and relaxation, bathing in the Ganga, and in the late morning preliminary instruction in yogic practices especially conducive to meditation (pranayama and bandhas). In the afternoon, we’ll have our first meditation instruction, and in the evening, we’ll enjoy an early dinner and observe a traditional puja performed on the Ganga’s banks.
Days 4 Rishikesh
Morning hatha yoga instruction, plus meditation instruction in the morning and again in the late afternoon. Over the course of this retreat/tour, you will have the opportunity to learn several exceptionally effective forms of meditation readily accessible to beginners. These styles of meditation, indigenous to this area of the Himalaya, complement each other and are collectively referred to as effortless mind™ meditation.During our time in Rishikesh, you’ll also have free time to sight-see and shop for gifts and souvenirs. An extensive bazaar offers a wide variety of fine hand-made clothing, arts, crafts, jewelry, and other goods—at amazing prices. There are also many temples and spiritual sites in the area to see, as time allows.Nomadic tribe in the Himalaya.
Day 5 Rishikesh
After individual practice of yoga, meditation, and breakfast, we’ll drive to Uttarkashi (6 hours of travel). You’ll get a first taste of the gorgeous foothills of the Himalayas and the life of India’s mountain farmers, which has remained much the same for hundreds of years—unforgettable scenery and equally unforgettable glimpses of a charming and ancient culture. If time allows, we’ll also stop at the mountaintop Kunjapuri temple, said to be the place where a part of Devi’s body fell to earth. Arriving in Uttarkashi (at 3,500 feet), a quaint Himalayan village on the banks of the Ganga, we’ll be staying in a newer comfortable hotel: meditation, dinner, and rest. Either before or after Gangotri, we’ll visit the famous Vishvanath temple (one of India’s 12 major temples for the worship of Shiva) and observe a powerful Arati (worship with the waving of oil or camphor lamps).
Day 6 Rishikesh
After meditation and a morning yoga class, we’ll drive to Gangotri (4 to 5 hours) at just over 9,000 feet—a breathtaking trip as we continue to follow the Ganga upstream, whose waters here explode with power, cutting through the vast maze of mountains. Colossal peaks lushly forested with jungle and pine, towering cliffs, and cascading waterfalls all make for otherworldly dramatic beauty. In Gangotri: meditation, dinner, and rest.
Day 7 Rishikesh
Falls at the source of the Ganga. The remote Himalayan hamlet of Gangotri is considered to be among India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites. Natural beauty provides spiritual haven for resident and visiting yogis and holy men. The Gangotri temple serves as focus for devout Hindu pilgrims. Dramatic canyons, surrounding mountains and forest, a cascading waterfall, the virginal holy waters of India’s most sacred river, an atmosphere soaked in centuries of devotion and meditation, and typically sunny weather, make an ideal setting for enjoying the bliss of meditation and yoga. Our days here will include:
•Final instruction in meditation, pranayama, and other yogic practices.
•Group meditations and discussions.
•Leisurely nature hikes along and within picturesque canyons; visits to the Gangotri temple, and to the caves and huts of local holy men.
•Free time to relax and enjoy the exquisite sights of the area.
•Optional bathing in the Ganga flowing in its pristine purity.
Day 9 Rishikesh
After individual yoga/meditation practice and breakfast, we’ll drive 4 hours back to Uttarkashi. Individual meditation, dinner, and rest.
Day 10 Rishikesh
After yoga instruction and individual meditation, we’ll drive 6 hours from Uttarkashi to Rishikesh. Individual meditation, dinner, and free time.
Day 11, 12, 13 Rishikesh
At our ashram/hotel in Rishikesh, yoga classes will be offered in the morning, as well as group meditations both morning and early evening. One afternoon we’ll go to Vasishtha Guha, said to be the cave of the great ancient rishi, Vasishtha, who was a mind-born son of Brahma the Creator—a most powerful spiritual spot. You will have the option of taking an 8-km river rafting trip on the Ganga from Brahmpuri to Rishikesh. If time allows, we will drive through a reserve (home to wild elephants and tigers) and see a local hilltop temple in a beautiful, sylvan setting. Other than these activities, you’ll have free time to relax, take scenic walks, and shop for gifts and souvenirs. (Those taking the Meditation Teacher Training Course will use some of the time each day to study and practice teaching.)
Day 14 Rishikesh / Delhi
Early morning you will be provided drop to the Haridwar railway station to board train for Delhi. Upon arrival at Delhi railway station you will be providd drop to the Delhi internatonal airport to connect flight for onwards journey.
