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.