Where to even start?

It is an experience beyond words.

India is for those who seek and for those who believe that life might hold just a bit more.
For thousands of years pilgrims have traveled to these mystical lands in search of something greater, deeper and transformative, and this year's journey back is ready to feed our tired and hungry souls.

A lifetime must, being in aligned company and under experienced and conscious  guidance on how to approach and experience fully these Holy Cities, make the absolute difference in your experience, understanding, and appreciation for these holy lands and offerings.
For 2019 we immerse together for  two of the most sacred pilgrimages at their holy sites with Ardh Kumbh Mela and Shivaratri in Allahabad. 

Created with love and purposeful intention by life long travel experts and led by international teacher Erica Jung, a dedicated guide and student of sacred Vedic spaces and philosophies of the Bhakti tradition, this retreat is the ultimate in India is you are not looking to be a tourist but to really dive into the heart of things. 


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SACRED PILGRIMAGE EVENT INFO:

Kumbh Mela is the largest religious & holiest gathering in the world.

Visiting India during Kumbh Mela can be your most significant opportunity to witness Indian Culture and Centuries-old traditions at its best.

Kumbh Mela, listed on UNESCO's  Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is considered as the world’s largest gathering of pilgrims and is a very vital event for Hinduism. 

According to the expert committee of UNESCO, Kumbh Mela is the most abundant, peaceful religious gathering on earth, where people of different classes participate without any discrimination.

The festival has its origins in Hindu mythology which says Lord Vishnu wrested a golden pot containing the nectar of immortality from demons. Four drops fell on the four locations across India, in the cities of Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik in a 12-day fight for possession. 

The Kumbh Mela is held at one of these spots every six years, with the festival at Allahabad the holiest of them all.

A site where one of 4 drops of Amrit ( Nector of Eternal Life) were dropped by Lord Vishnu, is the reason that a big number of Hindus from every corner of the world arrive at the fair to bathe in the holy rivers, or a ritual meant to clean them of sin and bring pureness to their lives. 

The Kumbh Mela Allahabad attracts devotes in millions from all over the world.

This yoga of Makar Sankranti is called “Kumbh bath-yoga” and this day considered a particular delight because they believed that on this day the doors of heaven from the earth open and by taking a bath here, the soul gets liberation with ease.

This powerful and deeply spiritual event happens only on the 6th year of every 12 years.

ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ALLAHABAD:

Kumbh at Prayag (Allahabad) is more critical than other Kumbh because it leads to light. Prayag is a place where the symbol of intelligence is the rise of the sun.

Prayag considered as the origin of the universe and the center of the earth.

It is believed that before the creation of the world, Brahma Ji (also known as Svayambhu or self-born) did Ashwamegha Yagya here in Allahabad. 

Along with Brahmeshwara temple, Dashwamedh Ghat is now present here as a sign of the Yagya. ("sacrifice, devotion, worship, offering", and refers in Hinduism to any ritual done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras.)

SIGNIFICANCE OF MAHA SHIVARATRI:

Auspicious festival of Mahashivaratri falls on the 4th night of the new moon during Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Phalgun and is celebrated by the devotees of Lord Shiva, who is the God of meditation, austerity, and contemplation.. The Sanskrit term, Krishna Paksha means the period of waning moon or the dark fortnight.

Shivaratri Festival is celebrated on a moonless night.

Maha Shivaratri is considered the day when adiyogi or the first guru awakened his consciousness at the material level of existence.  

Different legends describe the significance of Maha Shivaratri. 

According to Hindu mythology, Shivaratri or ‘Shiva's Great Night’ symbolizes the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Many however, believe, Shivaratri is the night when Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Nritya - the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. 

Devotees strongly believe that praying to Lord Shiva on this auspicious day washes away their sins and takes them closer to the path of salvation. On this day, devotees observe strict fasting and worship Lord Shiva with Milk, honey, sandalwood paste, Bel Leaves, flowers, fruits ets. It is followed by Meditation, chanting mantras and singing bhajans praising the Lord, throughout the night .

Celebrations of Shivaratri Festival mainly take place at night. Devotees of Lord Shiva throng Shiva temples across the country and spend ‘the Night of Lord Shiva’ by chanting verses and hymns in praise of the Lord. The festival holds special meaning for the ladies. They pray to Goddess Parvati also called ′Gaura′, the giver of ′suhag′ for good husbands, marital bliss and a long and prosperous married life. 

This year Maha Shivaratri has particular significance in Allahabad being a main and final bathing day of Ardh Kumbh Mela.

SAPTA PURI MEANING:

The Sapta Puri are places of birth of religious and spiritual masters, places where Gods have descended as avatars(incarnations) such as Ayodhya where Rama was born, and places considered as Nitya tirthas, naturally endowed, with spiritual powers since ages such as Varanasi and Haridwar.

We will travel to 4 out of the 7 Sapta Puri along with other historical and important spiritual sites.

Be prepared to leave behind who you thought you were and step into the heart of who you are.

Janeshwar Das

Janeshwar grew up singing and playing kirtan. He is a master at leading kirtan and a gifted teacher who has been practicing bhakti from a very young age. His music training took place at the Bhaktivedanta Gurukul (traditional vedic education system) under the well known mridanga (drum) teacher Radha Govinda Pal. Later on, Janeshwar traveled to the holy village of Vrindavan where he took the vows of a monk and did selfless service at the famous 24-hour Kirtan Mandali for several years. Today he travels around India playing for Kirtan Festivals. Under his tutelage, students will learn the best and traditional way of drumming (on the mrdanga clay drum) and will leave with the skills needed to accompany kirtans.

You will arrive today at Delhi International Airport. Following customs, immigration formalities and baggage
collection, our tour guide will meet you after which you would be transferred to your hotel.

Unpack and unwind enjoying the night in Delhi or even sneak in a few sites in this world and ancient hub!

After our delicious breakfast we pack up and take a scenic 8 hour bus right to the Himalayas and holy city of Rishikesh.

One of the holiest cities in India, Rishikesh is not just known for its religious connection but also for its beautiful landscape. Surrounded by hills (the Lesser Himalayas) on three sides and holy Ganga River flowing through it, Rishikesh is an ethereal experience.

Rishikesh is the gateway to famous Chardham which are Kedarnath, Badrinath,
Gangotri and Yamunotri. In fact Rishikesh is a favourite of those coming to meditate and seek salvation. It is believed that meditation on the land of this holy place leads to salvation. Every year many people come here in the ashrams to meditate and gain peace of mind.

The place is also very famous with foreigners who come to India in search of
spiritual quest. Rishikesh is famous for its ashrams on the banks of Ganga, at many such ashrams yoga is practiced and taught regularly. Such is the feeling of Rishikesh that even Beatles could not escape from the magical experience. They had visited India in 1960 to pay visit to their Guru in Rishikesh.

What else works in Rishikesh’s favour is its
altitude (1360 metres). It is higher than other holy cities of Haridwar and Varanasi, the water in Ganga here is cooler and cleaner. The flow of the river is stronger here and the city is less populated than others. It is calmer and peaceful here. It is such a beauty, the water gushing from the Himalayas, the banks dotted with ashrams and temples (both ancient and recent) and a hilly landscape in the background of all this, Rishikesh is truly amazing

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, leave for the sightseeing.

Drive to Vashishtaguha or cave which was about 25 km away from Rishikesh. This is a place huddled in the middle of high range hills all around with mother Ganga flowing to the right of the cave.

 Mythology says the great sage Vashishta did penance here 3,000 years ago. The compound has a temple, small accommodation for the ashram occupants and the cave. The entrance of the cave does not give any hint of what is there inside.

 Apparently, sages from the remote and higher parts of the Himalaya come
down in their astral bodies to that part of the cave for meditation.

Later visit to Waterfall this is 2 kms trek(one side) and enjoy at water fall and back to the hotel.

Head back after a full day of exploring to have a wonderful group dinner at the hotel.

We start the day with some refreshing morning yoga overlooking the rushing waters of Mother Ganga, followed by breakfast and some free time to get those last little bits in.

Around midday we make the short trek over to the colorful city of Hardiwar and arrive at our favourite Havilla on the Ganga.

We will have time to settle in before heading out for evening aarti on the water and experience one of my personal favourite spots to offer praye and gratitude.

Dinner will be enjoyed back at the hotel and most likely a deep and restful sleep after a full day of exploring.

Morning yoga and optional bathing in the Ganga with our own private Ghat is how we start the day.

After breakfast, you have the option to get out and explore Hardiwar and its crazily filled alleys of treasure.

This city has stellar bronze deity statues if that is what you crave with so many to choose from.

We will join up again for another magical evening aarti followed by a rooftop dinner, weather permitting.

Today is an exciting travel day so its an early rise with breakfast and then we head for the train station for a classic voyage through India’s countryside.

This scenic nice hour journey will give you much to see and memories and bragging rights to last a lifetime as we head to our next destination of Lucknow.

Sprinkled with exceptional British Raj–era buildings, boasting two superb mausoleums and famed throughout India for its food, the capital of Uttar Pradesh is plenty worth seeing, but often overlooked by travellers. 

The city rose to prominence as the home of the Nawabs of Avadh (Oudh) who were great patrons of the culinary and other arts, particularly dance and music.

 Lucknow’s reputation as a city of culture, gracious living and rich cuisine has continued to this day – the phrase for which conveniently rhymes in Hindi: Nawab, aadaab ('respect'), kebab and shabab ('beauty').

After yoga and  breakfast at the hotel we visit Bada Immam Badha. It was built by Asaf-ud- Daula, Nawab of Awadh, in 1784.

It is also called the Asafi Imambara. Bara means big, and an imambara is a shrine built by Shia Muslims for the purpose of Azadari. The Bara Imambara is among the grandest buildings of Lucknow.

Lucknow is a historically important city and for many centuries was at the heart of North Indian culture. In particular, the city was famous for its Adab and Tehzeeb (manners and hospitality), intricate embroidery, beautiful gardens and dance forms such as Kathak. It was also one of the sites of the 1857 Indian Mutiny (or First War of Indian Independence). 

In the afternoon we make like the locals and get our hands dirty with spices! Being in the culinary hub of India it would be sinful to leave without learning a few tasty vegetarian tricks to take home with us. Learn how to cook some speciality dishes and keep the taste of India alive once home.

Top of the evening with dinner at the hotel before a restful night of sleep.

Ram Ram! 

Today we are off to the mystical land of the great Lord Ram, believed to be the 7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Largely untouched by westernisation, this major pilgrimage city holds deep ancient charm and looks like a snapshot in time to what life used to be like. 

We head over to Hanuman garhi temple and hear great stories of this ideal devotee and his many adventures in service to the great Lord Ram. 

Walk the same river banks as Lord Ram, his consort Sita, and devotional servant Hanuman, and for evening aarti, a serene boat ride has you genuinely feeling like you've stepped back in time. 

Morning yoga and nourishing breakfast sets us up for our next destination of Allahabad.

This is another fun travel day and a great way to take in the sites of India.

Set up along the banks of the Triveni Sangam, our luxury tents will keep us comfortably close to the sacred bodies and devotion that make the Kumbh Mela so impactful. 

In Hindu tradition Triveni Sangam is the  confluence of three rivers. Sangama is the Sanskrit word for confluence. The point of confluence is a sacred place for Hindus. One of the most, if not the most sacred convergences is here with the Ganges, Saraswati, and Yumuna all flowing together.

A bath here is said to flush away all of one’s sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth.

A boat ride out into the waters, guided by the sweet sounds of Vedic chanting and pilgrims bathing during this auspicious time truly will be transcendental.

Situated on the banks, we'll enjoy dinner and having the space to seep in the deep devotional spirituality all around us.

A new day, a new city! After a refreshing morning practice, dip in the Triveni Sangam  and fulfilling breakfast, we jump on our bus and head towards Varanasi.

On our way we stop and visit Sarnath, a major Buddhist center.

Sarnath lies 10 kilometers north east of Varanasi. It was here that Buddha

preached his message of the ’middle way’ to nirvana after achieving enlightenment at Bodhgaya.

In around 234 BC, Emperor Ashoka, a great follower of Buddhism, erected a stupa here. Between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, several Buddhist structures were built here in Sarnath.

Most of the Sarnath’s monuments are set in large gardens making it quite pleasant for a visitor to spend some time here. The Buddha Purnima festival is held here in May to celebrate the birth of Lord Buddha.

Walk barefoot on the holy land of Sarnath to get the real essence of spiritual life.

Later board your vehicle to reach Ghats, the vehicle can go till a point and from there you will walk/ rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes of the city to see the hustle bustle of daily lives to reach till Ghat (Dasashwamedh Ghat) and from there embark your boat to witness the famous Aarti of Ghats.

After Aarti disembark your boat and proceed for hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Om Nama Shivaya! 

Today marks the great celebration of Lord Shiva and the last day of Ardh Kumbh Mela.

As a main bathing day, expect the grounds to be filled with pilgrims honouring these two major devotional celebrations.

As a portal, expect to experience all walks of life coming here to have a chance to bathe and worship Lord Shiva.

Shivaratri is celebrated during the evening under the moonless sky, the perfect place for our magic. 

Today is the perfect day and evening to take boats out onto Ma Ganga (Ganges) and take in the breathtaking experience.

For those wanting to really fully embrace the sacred day and pay donor, temple visiting and proper offerings are a way to fully immerse.

Bhang Lassis will be flowing so double check before you accidentally send yourself off into another dimension!

Today early morning you will embark your boats again to visit to the ghats witnessing the Hindu pilgrims perform the rituals and following the centuries old tradition and belief that by dying in Varanasi or by immersing the mortal remains in the holy Ganges, it clears one from the birth circle and you are incarnated to human life in the next birth.

You would be taking a boat cruise on the river Ganges around all the ghats and stopping at the important ones. The riverfront, as seen from a boat, early in the morning, is a spiritually uplifting sight and incredibly peaceful yet powerful.

Later come back to hotel, enjoy leisurely breakfast before having the whole day to explore the wild alley of this famed city, making sure to sip lassi of exotic flavours at Blue Lassi.

Saffron Cardamon is an all time favourite!

For those who desire, we attempt to visit and pay respect at the oldest Shiva Lingam in India at the Golden Temple. We say attempt as this temple is heavily guarded and westerners are typically not allowed full entry to protect this place of worship from tourists and gawkers. We've been blessed the last couple of years not only with full entry, but to touch this potent and sacred lingam. Jai!

Later in the evening, enjoy Aarti at ghats one last time making sure to light a prayer boat for well wishes for those we love.

Top it off with group dinner and story swapping of a day surely filled with wonder.

Travel day! And we are off, saying goodbye to Varanasi and making the journey to the holy land of Vrindavan.

Its a full day with a flight and travel giving us loads more to seeing of the vast lands of India.

Jai Sri Krishna! Jai Sri Radha!

Welcome to the land of Krishna and its sweet Bhakti Lilas. If you listen closely, you might hear the sound of Krishna’s flute in the wind.

It is said that the mercy of Radha, Krishna's consort is needed before being allowed in these mystical lands.

A sweet and humbling way to enter is by rolling fully in the magical dirt before it'S gates and chanting 'Radhe Radhe'.

Hold onto your sunglasses! The epic monkeys here will be waiting to snatch them or a sweet treat and we aren’t exaggerating.

The sanctuary of our residence will be our home for the next few days, central to the temples, and located in the heart of the the festivities.

With 24 hour kirtans near by, the Yamuna to visit, and several holy sites within the city, you won’t be at a lack to take in all of the places you’ve heard about in your yoga class.

We top off the night with group dinner and optional visit to the temple for kirtan bliss.

Another sweet and wonderful day here in Vrindavan with plenty of options awaiting you. 

Take the space to meditate, or if in the mood to explore the temples of Vrindavan, land's of Radha in Barsana, or holy hills of Goverdhan await you. 

This day would also be the fantastic day to take the optional tour out to the Taj Mahal and see one of the most famous symbols of love.

It will be a free day to enjoy as you see fit.

We fully suggest making it back in time for evening kirtan and darshan as it is a bliss like no other.

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Early Morning Taj Mahal Optional Visit:

Drive to Agra (80 Kms / 01 – 02 Hrs)

Visit Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). The Taj Mahal is everything that has been said about it and more. Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, in mid 17th century, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world. Though the Taj appears to be amazingly perfect from almost any angle, it is the close-up marble inlay work, which is really astounding. You will have ample time to view and be mesmerized by this outstanding piece of architecture.

*Extra Costs For This Optional Excursion

We are sad to say goodbye, but its been one incredible ride.

Today we wish each other well on our journeys back home, and plan to meet again soon.

We thank Mother India for her love and support and know that her red earth stained not only our feet, but our hearts forever.

Try keeping your eyes dry on the ride back to Delhi to board your International flight back home. 

** For those that are not ready to leave and want to experience more around Vrindavan and Muthura; option to stay on in Vrindavan for an extra night or two. Please let us know at booking so we can secure the limited rooms. Additional costs might apply.