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YOGA DARSHAN
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Yoga Yatra in India


Join Yoga Darshan for a special retreat in India, journeying deep into the Himalayan region and pilgrimage centres.

The Sankalpa for this journey: May all beings be well, may all beings be happy, may all beings be loved, may all beings prosper
Rishikesh yoga retreat
Our Yoga Yatra is now full with a beautiful group of inspired sadhaks. We look forward to visiting the sacred places of Badrinath and the highest Shiva temple in the world, Tungnath. You will all be in our minds as we carry the  sankalpa in our hearts:

May all beings be well, may all beings be happy, may all beings be loved, may all beings prosper.

EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST FOR 2020 YATRA
Dates: TBA September, 2020
Fees: TBA

A Yoga Yatra is a spiritual journey or pilgrimage. If you get the opportunity once in your lifetime to do a Yatra it will bring profound benefits to your life on many levels – ​from graceful spiritual awakening to releasing negative karmas from your life.

Yoga Darshan will take you on a spiritual pilgrimage to one of the many sources of the Ganges River: in the mountainous Himalayan region at Badrinath; and also to Tungnath, the highest Shiva temple in the world. Your group will be comprised of several like-minded aspirants who are keen to explore the roots of traditional yoga, including the work and life of Adi Shankaracharaya. This Yatra will also give you a rare opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Himalayan mountains and villages.


This Yatra is for everyone

Yoga Darshan welcomes all walks of life and abilities on this journey.  Whether or not you're familiar with the references given here, it doesn’t matter – what matters is your inspiration and sincerity to connect with the deeper essence of yoga, in an environment that has supported many yogis and siddhas for thousands of years.

Please note that if you are interested to book with us, you will receive resource references and support (if needed) to help familiarise yourself with some of the more traditional practices of yoga and meditation.

The places you'll visit will transform your life

The Ganges River (also known as Ganga or Ganga Maa) is adored and honoured for her purifying force and life-giving qualities. Ganga is represented in the form of the Mother Goddess, who has descended from the heavens down to the earth to awaken the qualities of the heart and purify the soul.

It is no wonder that the source of the Ganga is a key place of pilgrimage, and a hub for spiritual dedication and sadhana (spiritual effort). For many thousands of years, yogis, saints and rishis have meditated on the banks of the Ganga with the intention of gaining a deeper inner vision and realisation.

Underneath the 'externalised' activity of modern India, this field of spiritual consciousness and intention is palpable, and makes the holy banks of Ganga a powerful and conducive environment for yogic practice and upliftment.

An outline of your journey

The Yoga Darshan journey begins in Delhi, where we meet and spend the first night.
This will give you some space and time to relax into your new environment. 

Then we travel as a group to the foothills of the Himalaya. The first stop is Rishikesh and then on to Rudraprayag, with a pilgrimage to Holy Badrinath and Tungnath in the Himalayan mountains (scroll down to read more about each place).

Throughout the Yatra, there will be an emphasis on yogic sadhana and offerings to the benevolent forces through havan, satsang, seva, bhajan and chanting. You will visit divine temples, beautiful ashrams, natural scenery and villages; and also experience energy vortexes and meet illuminated yogis and sadhus.

Your teachers and guides on this retreat are experienced yogic practitioners devoted to the upliftment of all, and serving as solid anchors in times of spiritual exploration.
(Read more about your teachers here.)
WHAT TO EXPECT
  • Guesthouse & traditional village accommodation (simple, clean, pure quality)
  • Sattvic diet (pure vegetarian)
  • Sadhana: yoga, meditation, havan, satsang, seva, mantra, bhajan chanting
  • Adventures & uplifting experiences
  • Connection with sadhus, yogis and local communities
  • Holy sites, temples & ashrams
  • Periods of mouna (silence)
  • A few bumps and challenges (such is the nature of sadhana and India)
  • A very supportive and uplifting environment
  • An invigorating focus and sankalpa
  • An adept team of experienced facilitators of traditional yoga and meditation
  • A contribution to local areas

DO NOT EXPECT
  • Shopping trips (however, some free time will be available to meander through streets and villages)​
  • Sun baking and pool beds
  • Intense hiking or altitude
  • Regular internet access 
  • ​Commercial yoga
shikhar
To give you the best travel experience possible, Yoga Darshan will be working with Shikhar Travel Company, an award winning travel agency, who will be supporting our itinerary and all our travel arrangements along the way.
"Gangadhara is truly an inspiration - she has an amazing way of bringing people together. With her deep experiential knowledge of yoga, her personal guidance is based on the highest quality and integrity. She presents retreats full heartedly, and does it with so much care, attention - and above all with pure, loving kindliness. I highly recommend her retreats and seminars to all spiritual seekers or any one who simply needs a space for healing”.
​(
Michael Malaga - Chaitanya

Gangadhara Himalayan Yatra
"To connect to spiritual teachers of this calibre is such a blessing. The havans, yatras and community associated with Yoga Darshan are just incredible and life-changing." (Rick Law)

The Places You Will Visit

Your Yoga Darshan journey begins in Delhi (where you'll join the group), then we travel together to the foothills of the Himalaya. The first stop is Rishikesh and then on to Rudraprayag, with a pilgrimage to Holy Badrinath and Tungnath (in the Himalayan mountains) before returning to Rishikesh. Scroll down to view more.
bookings & enquiries
Rishikesh
Rishikesh yoga retreat
Rishikesh Shiva
Ganga Arati
The following information highlights just a few of the special places you will visit. For a full itinerary contact us here.

Rishikesh is one of the most popular pilgrimage centres in India, and is also known as the Yoga capital of the world. From Rishikesh, the great Ganges River leaves behind her mountain home and enters the vast plains of Northern India as she continues her journey towards the sea.

In Hindu mythology, Rishikesh represents the site where Lord Vishnu vanquished the demon Madhu. The Nilkanth Mahadevo temple (dedicated to the benevolent yogi, Lord Shiva) rests in the hills of Rishikesh at a height of around 1,500 metres, and offers spectacular views of the entire divine region. Tapovan (on the opposite bank of the Ganges in Rishikesh) houses a temple dedicated to Lakshmana; it is believed that Lakshmana and his brother Bharata carried out penances here.

The home of the renowned yoga master, Swami Sivananda, is on the banks of Ganges, along with his atmospheric kutir (a personal favourite space for meditation and kirtan). A nearby ashram, Parmarth Niketan, has become the home of a well known Ganga Arati every evening, which is a truly stunning sight to behold – permeating the environment with subtle mantras and devotion (along with the famous Triveni Ghat, which offers another magical Ganga Arati).

Rishikesh is also home to many market style stores where unique puja items, malas, books and all things yogic can be found. The area has been divided into two locations, mainly by the positioning of two major bridges across the Ganges River: Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula.

Rishikesh has become a busy town in itself, however, there is a always a peaceful atmosphere of temple bells, meditation and offerings to the Holy Ganga further upstream at Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula. The resplendent beauty of the natural environment makes this ancient place of pilgrimage a perfect way to begin our journey deeper into the Himalaya.

During our stay in Rishikesh, we will be relaxing and rejuvenating, taking in the local scenery and special places, and preparing for our Yatra into the mountains. To start the Yatra auspiciously, we will conduct a Vedic havan and have darshan of Ganga Maa (with some other surprises in store).
Badrinath
Badrinath temple
Badrinath is one of the great holy sites for sadhus, yogis, Hindus and sincere seekers of spiritual truth. It was established by Sri Adi Shankaracharaya in the 7th century as one of the four great Mathas (monasteries) in India. Badrinath is an important centre, where Sri Adi disseminated many of his teachings, and also where he personally installed a shaligram (divine symbol) from the nearby Alaknanda River; darshan of this divine shrine and the shaligram has a powerful and potent affect on one's consciousness.

The Badrinath ​temple grounds themselves are unlike any other in India. Full of bhava (spiritual feeling) there is also a strong element of earnestness to this hub of spiritual energy. A vibrant atmosphere permeates the entire Badrinath village and surrounding mountains. Badrinath has many illuminating mountains peaks and natural beauties in its scape, including the hot springs and divine Alaknanda River: a main source of the Ganges.

There are also many historical stories and yogic inspirations to share during our time in Badrinath. It has been mentioned in the Puranas that Lord Vishnu (in the form of Nara and Narayana) has been serving penance in Badrinath for the welfare of all beings, since time immemorial.

Badrinath requires no trekking and we will be acclimatising prior to arrival.

​Elevation: Badrinath sits at 3,300 metres.

​Tungnath
Tungnath Himalayan view
Tungnath Himalaya
Many of us are familiar with the iconic imagery of Lord Shiva with the symbols of a crescent moon and the Ganga River resting in his jata (dreadlocks). Tungnath (Lord of the Peaks) is home to the highest Shiva temple in the world. There is also a famous moon rock at nearby Chandrashila Peak, where it is said that Ravana (from the epic Ramayana) performed penance to Lord Shiva.

The journey up to Tungnath is quite accessible and absolutely breathtaking. At the summit one feels that they are resting in the hair of Lord Shiva, in the seat of luminous consciousness itself. And the beautiful forest on the ascent is like the heart of Shiva, full of vibrant wildlife and stunning scenery. For all nature lovers and Shiva devotees, this is a once-in-a-lifetime must visit. You will experience peace upon peace upon peace . . .

Elevation: Tungnath sits at 3,680 metres.


Do not neglect the calling of the heart. This journey will bring you just what you need to connect and experience the joy of your being.

Villages & Temples enroute
Himalayan sadhu
India yoga retreat
During our Yatra, we will be visiting and staying in several traditional Himalayan villages along the way. Each place provides an opportunity to learn about the mountain village way of life, the significance behind their traditions, and the rare chance to share in spiritual sadhana with local sadhus and the village community.


​Time is but a blink of the eye, so if you feel a magnetic pull towards this journey, inquire now before it’s too late!
Himalaya yatra trek
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