Majestic beyond compare, this region of Himalayas is considered by many world travelers to be the most physically beautiful area in the world. The very birthplace of meditation and yoga, it is also as rich with spiritual history as with natural beauty. Here, for countless millennia, saints and sages have taken refuge to perform intense spiritual practices. The Gods and Goddesses are said to dwell here, and for centuries, Hindu devotees have journeyed to Gangotri to visit the source of that holiest of holy rivers: the Ganga. We invite you to journey to this spiritual heart of our planet, to enjoy a sublime and sacred meditation/nature retreat.
Yoga class in Gangotri, India, the source of the holy Ganga
Those joining us for this sacred journey will experience much more than an ordinary tourist sight-see. Our intent is a relaxed but focused 14-day pilgrimage to the Source of the Ganga high in India’s Himalayas—designed specifically for those interested in meditation and in accelerating their own personal/spiritual growth through a retreat in one of the great remote spiritual centers of the world.
The retreat will include an abundance of sacred sights, intimate encounters with sadhus, swamis, and saints, delicious local North Indian cuisine, comfortable and clean accommodations (single and double available—see below), and optional river rafting on the Ganga. You will also receive instruction in the profound meditation and yogic practices indigenous to this region of the Himalayas. (Note that the Meditation Teacher Training Course includes the Retreat at the Source of the Ganga.)
“The journey with the group to the Source of the Ganges was so enlightening for me…. a great experience, the best experience for personal growth I’ve ever had.”
—Caroline Sophonow
Aesthetician and Yoga Teacher, British Columbia, Canada
“Ajayan, I cannot believe how much my meditation practice is now influencing my life (you were talking to us about some after-retreat effects)—it is truly sensational! I am happy and content and my days go by in sheer admiration of all the wonderful things I have in life.”
—Dr. A. Cornelius, Tasmania
See a slide show of previous tours.
Itinerary
Day 1—October 6, 2012
Arrive in Delhi and transfer to hotel. Rest.
Day 2—October 7
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—October 8
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—October 9
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—October 10
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—October 11
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, 8—October 12, 13
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—October 14
After individual yoga/meditation practice and breakfast, we’ll drive 4 hours back to Uttarkashi. Individual meditation, dinner, and rest.
Day 10—October 15
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—October 16, 17, 18
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—October 19
Ride to Delhi, lunch, dinner, and relaxing in hotel. To Delhi international airport to fly back home (late night of 10/19 or early AM of 10/20).
Cost
Retreat/Tour Cost (in US dollars): Doubles $1900/person; Singles $2200/person. Includes accommodations, breakfast, ground transportation, and meditation and yoga instruction; does not include meals other than breakfast, bottled water, airfare, or travel insurance.
Early Registration Discounts: If your $500 deposit is received on or before April 1, 2012, you will receive a $300 discount (thus, $1600.00 for a double room, or $1900.00 for a single room). If your $500 deposit is received by June 1, 2012 you will receive a $150 discount (thus, $1750.00 for a double room, or $2150.00 for a single room).
Meditation Teacher Training Extension
Extend an additional week for the Meditation Teacher Training Course. For more information, see TTC Cost and Registration or contact us.
