North India Spiritual Yoga Journey

Name: North India Spiritual Yoga Journey - The Yoga Department
Price: 3995 AUD
Availability: InStock

Duration

17 Nights

Location

North India

Departure

January 5, 2025

Price

Original price was: $4,995.Current price is: $3,995.

Tour Details

The purpose of this North India Spiritual journey is to provide travellers with an introduction to the ancient Spiritual traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism throughout North India. Our yoga Teacher on the tour Celia, will be run workshops and classes for some students towards their Yoga teaching training. However all are welcome to join and enjoy her classes. The journey begins in the capital of India, New Delhi. After a few days exploring this ancient capital, we head south to Agra to visit the majestic Taj Mahal, an essential stop on any North Indian itinerary. Next, we head up to the foothills of the mighty Himalayas to Rishikesh – the home of Yoga, based on the Ganges River. Here you will immerse into your yoga retreat training at the wonderful Dewa Retreat. After feeling rejuvenated from your yoga training, we head to the Holy Hindu city of Varanasi, also situated on the Ganges River. Here we explore all there is to offer in this incredible ancient city, including visiting temples and ashrams. We will explore the town of Sarnath, where Lord Buddha held his first sermon and dharma teaching. Then continue to Bodhgaya, where Buddha reached enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. Lastly, we head to the former British capital of Kolkata in West Bengal, known as the “City of Joy” a melting pot of cultures and home to some incredible ancient temples.

Yoga Teacher – Celia Roberts – Biyome

Celia Roberts BSc.

The Founder and Director of BIYOME – The BioMedical Institute of Yoga & Meditation. Deeply inspired to bring the research behind Yoga, Ayurveda and Meditation into experiential practice, Celia has taught and trained thousands of teachers in the last decade to the highest educational standards. Her practice is innovative and explanatory, exploring alongside her students the intricate study of yoga, including how to use the ancient Vedic sciences to explore the deeper aspects of consciousness in an evidenced-informed way. Join Celia on this holy pilgrimage tour – A complete living, breathing intensive meditation in itself – visiting ashrams and sacred sites along the way.

This is truly a unique opportunity to practice yoga with Celia in a country such as India.

Tour Itinerary

5 & 6 January

ARRIVE DEHLI

Delhi, India’s capital city a hub of history and culture. In Old Delhi, a neighborhood dating to the 1600s, stands the imposing Mughal-era Red Fort, and the sprawling Jama Masjid mosque. Nearby is Chandni Chowk, a vibrant bazaar filled with food carts, sweets shops and spice stalls. Steeped in history yet overflowing with modern life, colorful, Delhi pulsates with the relentless rhythms of humanity like few other cities on earth.

Group meet & greet at Delhi Indra Ghandi International airport
Transfer to hotel in bus, check into our hotel , relax and early night
Next morning 6am to 8:30am – Sadhana yoga class
9am breakfast and orientation meeting with your Group Tour leader
Approx 11am sightseeing tour in around Delhi including Mahatma Gandhi memorial, Hama Masjid mosque and if time permits Sri Aurobindo Ashram
4:30pm to 6:30 pm yoga practice
Dinner in our hotel

Sculpture_of_hasta_mudras_at_Indira_Gandhi_International_Airport

7 January

DELHI | AGRA - THE TAJ MAHAL

The Taj Mahal - A magnificent mausoleum complex commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

6am – 8am Yoga before breakfast in Delhi
After breakfast, departure in our group bus to Agra (approx 3hrs)
Arrive check into hotel for lunch and rest
4.30 to 6.30pm Yoga practice
If time permits guided walk to the Yummna River to see the Taj Mahal
Back to hotel for dinner

8 January

AGRA

At sunrise group entry into the Taj Mahal with local guide
Back to hotel for breakfast
Sightseeing tour of Agra. Including the majestic Agra Fort for magnificent views of the Taj Mahal
4.30 to 6.30pm Yoga practice
Evening dinner & visit to cultural emporium

9 January

AGRA | RISHIKESH - Day of Travel

Rishikesh, based on the Ganges River at the foothills of the mighty Himalayas. This town is renowned as a centre for studying yoga, meditation, and spiritual pursuits. We shall immerse in our yoga teachings, as well explore all the spiritual sites on offer at this beautiful location

6am – 8:30am Sadhana
Breakfast 9am , Check out of hotel and transfer from Agra to Rishikesh in group bus
Arrive & check into the beautiful Dewa Retreat
If time permits evening yoga class
Relax & dinner in hotel

10 - 15 January

RISHIKESH

Daily Schedule in Rishikesh

6am to 8:30am – daily sadhana
Breakfast – 9:00 – 10:30am
Sightseeing Time – apron 11:00 onwards
Lunch – approx. 1pm or 2pm TBA on the day
4:30 to 6.30pm – yoga practice
After Yoga Evening Arti on the Ganges & other events
Dinner provided in hotel

Sightseeing Rishikesh

Beatles Ashram – In Feb 1968, the Beatles travelled to Rishikesh to take part in a Transcendental Meditation (TM) training course at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The visit followed the group’s denunciation of drugs in favour of TM and received widespread media attention, today it is beautiful artistic museum.
Visit of local Ashrams, Spiritual sights, and Hindu temples & markets
Arti Ceremony on the Ganges River on most evenings
Local easy trekking with local guide
Ayruvedic massages and treatments (separate cost)

7 nights Rishikesh – Dewa Retreat

16 January

VARANASI - Day of Travel

Varanasi, also known as Benares or Kashi, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the spiritual capital of North India. Located on the Ganges River, Hindu pilgrims from around the country believe to die in Varanasi ensures an end to the circle of re-birth or reincarnation. A truly spectacular town not to be missed on any journey to North India. They say just to witness Kashi or to be near the Sacred Rivers, is enough to remove all our worldly sins.

6am to 8:30am – daily sadhana
Breakfast at 9am & depart Rishikesh in group bus to catch train back to Delhi followed by domestic flight to Varanasi
Arrive Varanasi transfer to hotel check-in
If time permits 4:30 to 6.30pm – yoga practice
Dinner provided at hotel

17 January

VARANASI – THE HOLY CITY

Varanasi draws Hindu pilgrims and foreigners from around the world to experience this incredible city. Pilgrims bath in the Ganges sacred waters and perform funeral cremations. Also along the cities winding old city streets, are some 2000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the Golden Temple, dedicated to Hindu God Lord Shiva.

Approx 6am to 8:30am – daily sadhana
Group breakfast at 9am
11am sightseeing tour of the Old city laneways and local temples including a visit to the Kriya Yoga Ashram
The group will return to the hotel either by boat or cycle rickshaws, a great experience for all
Approx 4.30 to 6.00pm – yoga practice
If time permits visit Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha for Puja
Evening witness the Arti ceremony on the ghats – Arti is a fire puja ceremony ritual devotion conducted by Hindu priest in worship to Mother Ganga
Dinner at hotel

18 January

VARANASI | SARNATH – BUDDHISM

Sarnath is a place located 10 kms northeast of Varanasi, near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna Rivers. Sarnath is where, circa 528 BCE, at 35 years of age, Gautama Buddha taught his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at BodhGaya

Approx 6am Sunrise boat trip along the Ganges River
Group breakfast back hotel apron 8am
Approx 10am we head for a special sightseeing excursion to Sarnath, where Buddha first preached the 4 Noble Truths to his disciples in the 5^th Century B.C. after reaching enlightenment in Bodhgaya
Afternoon 4:30 to 6.30pm – yoga practice
Dinner at hotel

Stay 3 nights in Varanasi

19 January

BODHGAYA - BUDDHISM

The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient, Buddhist Stupa (temple) in Bodh Gaya, marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment, under the Bodhi tree 2500 years ago

6am to 8:30am – Daily sadhana
9am breakfast, then departure in group bus from Varanasi to Bodhgaya, the spiritual heartland of Buddhism and a major pilgrimage site for Buddhist pilgrims and Monks from around the world

(approx. 5 hr. drive) Stopping for Chai and samosas along the way

Arrive check into hotel
Afternoon 4:30 to 6.30pm – yoga practice
Dinner at hotel

20 January

BODHGAYA – TEMPLE EXPLROING

6am to 8:30am – Daily sadhana followed by breakfast at 9am
By 11am head out on a guided sightseeing tour of the vast array of including Buddhist temples spread around Bodhgaya
Return to hotel for 4:30 to 6.30pm – yoga practice
Sunset visit & evening meditation at the Mahabodhi temple
Back to hotel for dinner

Stay 2 nights in Bodhgaya

21 January

BODHGAYA TO KOLKATA - THE CITY OF JOY

One of India’s most historic and cosmopolitan cities, Kolkata, once the capital of the British Raj, has been at the centre of activity of various civilisations. The city’s stunning architecture pays testament to its social, political, and cultural richness.

6am to 8:30am – Daily sadhana followed by breakfast at 9am
Today depart Bodhgaya to Kolkata, via domestic flight
Arrive Kolkata airport transfer to hotel
30 to 6.30pm – yoga practice
Dinner at hotel

22 January

KOLKATA | BACK TO AUSTRALIA

6am to 8:30am – Daily sadhana followed by breakfast at 9am
Check out and depart from Gaya airport for a flight to Kolkata.
Arrive check into hotel and evening Visit Yogooda Satsanga Society of India and if time permits Paramahansa Yogaananda centre
Lunch rest and 4:30 to 6.30pm – yoga practice
Dinner at hotel check out and depart to airport evening flight back to Australia

Stay 1 night Kolkata, 1 late hotel check out (shared change rooms)

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