The Yoga of Pilgrimage, North India

Varanasi ~ Rishikesh ~ Agra ~ Khajuraho

November 3-19, 2017

Traveling as a intimate group with experienced local guides, we will immerse ourselves in the spiritually rich and vibrant cultures and traditions of INDIA. Traveling by planes, trains, tuk tuks, foot, and boat rides along the Ganges, we will be making pilgrimages to the holy temples and sites of Varanasi along the Ganges; visiting the ornate tantric temples in the rural village of Khajuraho, exploring the stunning Taj Mahal and Fatepur Sikri in Agra, and retreating in the lush mountains and peaceful valley of Rishikesh. Supported by yoga sessions and council, this journey is designed to awaken the waters of your heart and deepen your yoga practice in all ways.

 Sample Itinerary

 Itinerary (subject to reality!)

Day 0-Fri Nov 3: In Transit

Depart LAX (or your origin) on the journey to India. You are in the time warp.

Sun Nov 5th-Day 1: Delhi to Varanasi

Arrive Delhi after midnight. Meet by our guides, Uschi & Rakesh, we will travel as a group by taxi to hotel and rest after the long journey. Breakfast at hotel and mid-morning check out. 1:30pm group flight to Varanasi. Arrive in Varanasi. Taxi to hotel and rest. Dinner. Walk along the Ganga. Goodnight.

Mon Nov 6th-Day 2: Varanasi

Morning Yoga/Council. Uschi & Rakesh meet us at the hotel. Walk to breakfast and tour the Old City. Full day of temples, Manikarnika (Burning Ghat) and sightseeing. Dinner. Ganga Arati. Goodnight.

Tues Nov 7th-Day 3: Varanasi

Morning Yoga/Council. Uschi & Rakesh meet us for breakfast. Walking pilgrimage to the Durga temple. Meet local women from the village that Uschi’s works with. Indian cooking session. Walk back along the Ghats. Dinner. Goodnight.

Wed Nov 8th-Day 4: Varanasi to Khajuraho

Morning Yoga/Council. Breakfast. Hotel check-out at 12 noon. Wrapping up last minute Varanasi wishes and shopping. 5:45pm train to Khajuraho.

Thurs Nov 9th-Day 5: Khajuraho

Arrive in Khajuraho about 5:30am. Tuk Tuks from the hotel pick us up and we arrive and rest in our rooms for a few hours. Meet in the lovely hotel restaurant for breakfast buffet. Touring all of the magnificent temples in Khajuraho. Dinner on the rooftop in the evening, watching the sunset over the beautiful rural landscape.

Fri Nov 10th-Day 6: Khajuraho

Morning practice. 2 activities today: Optional bicycle tour to village to meet our friend Surendra’s family, see a rural Durga temple and how people worship and live in this area, beautiful hand made homes of cow dung and wood. Chai with the family, bicycle back to hotel. Tuk tuk to the Panna National park to see the amazing volcanic canyon, waterfall, wildlife, and the ground is covered in quartz! Lovely dinner. Goodnight.

Sat Nov 11th-Day 7: Khajuraho to Agra

7am breakfast buffet, hotel check out by 8am, train to Agra at 9am form Khajuraho train station (super small and sweet!) Arrive in Agra in the afternoon, cars from hotel pick us up, drive to hotel and check in. Room check in & relaxing on the rooftop with the view of the Taj Mahal. Dinner, goodnight.

 Sun  Nov 12th-Day 8: Agra ~ Taj Mahal

Breakfast buffet. Taj Mahal guide picks us up and we take a delux golf cart or bus to the Taj. Taj tour, lots of photos and fun inside. Some fancy shopping. Lunch at the fabulous Indian restaurant. Back to the hotel, resting on the rooftop with Taj View, optional swim in the pool. Dinner. Goodnight.

Mon Nov 13th-Day 9: Agra ~ Fatepur Sikri

Breakfast Buffet. Car ride to Fatepur Sikri, seeing Moghul Emporer Akbar’s palace and the incredible Sufi shrine there. Enter the Dargah and make offerings there, take in the sights on the plaza. Drive back to Agra, maybe a visit to SHEROES (the coffee shop run by acid attack survivors, if we have the energy). Relaxing on the roof or taking a swim in the pool. Dinner. Goodnight!

Tues Nov 14th-Day 10: Agra to Rishikesh

Early breakfast buffet. Depart hotel by ..? 10am (can’t remember the time) train from Agra to Haridwar (8hrs). Cars from the Green Hotel meet us in Haridwar and drive up the mountain to our spot in Rishikesh. Hotel check in, dinner, goodnight. 

Wed Nov 15th-Day 11: Rishikesh

Morning session. Breakfast. Walk through the Yogi forest to a special spot for bathing in the Ganga, reflecting time on Ganga beach. Walk back to hotel, snacks & chai. Ayurvedic treatments, henna, mala shopping. Rishikesh Ganga Arati. Dinner. Goodnight. **Ayurveda appointments will be booked for & after today. Wonderful Dr and treatments center next door to the hotel. All Ayurvedic treatments are available and super reasonable.

Thurs Nov 16th-Day 12: Rishikesh

Morning yoga practice. Breakfast. Council session. Walk to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram for photos, and beautiful scenery. Afternoon restorative yoga/council. Dinner. Goodnight. **Optional Ayurveda appt. in the afternoon & evening.

Fri Nov 17th-Day 13: Rishikesh

Morning yoga practice. Breakfast. Neelkanth Pilgrimage up the mountain via jeeps. See Ganga in all her glory and the gorgeous terraced hillsides. Darshan at the temple. Drop off in Laxman Jhoula for lunch at the Pumpernickel Bakery. Walk back to the hotel. Afternoon restorative yoga/council. Dinner. Goodnight. **Some peeps will have Ayurveda appt. In the afternoon & evening.

 Sat Nov 18th: Day 14: Depart Rishikesh to Delhi

Morning yoga practice. Breakfast. Some last moments, maybe a trip to Ganga, or up the mountain for the view and a blessing song. Hotel check out at 12 noon.

* Guest can opt to take a flight from Dehradun to Rishikesh (at an extra cost) if they want to avoid the drive, but this will cost around $100. Otherwise a shared taxi is included in the trip price. Taxi departures around noon, if peeps fly, a bit later.

Sun Nov 19th: Day 15- Depart Delhi

Depart Delhi after Midnight for the USA! Welcome Home