Yoga Yatra in India

Join Yoga Darshan for a unique retreat in India, travelling deep into the magnificent Himalayan region and special places of pilgrimage. The concept of a Yatra is to journey together in silence, to experience and observe the profound, life-changing insights that arise. During this Yatra we will be visiting ancient places and beautiful environments that serve to awaken the inner effulgence of the soul. This unique focus creates an experience quite unlike any ordinary trip, retreat or holiday.

Our Sankalpa for this Yatra: May all beings be well, may all beings be happy, may all beings be loved, may all beings prosper.

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Dates: 26th September - 8th October 2020 (12 nights, 13 days)
Cost: $3340 pp (all inclusive*)
Accommodation: 5-star city hotel, beautiful nature resort, comfortable camping
Enquiries here

Start: Delhi
Finish: Rishikesh
Level of fitness: Moderate
Ages: 18 +
Group size: 8-12 maximum

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BOOKINGs & enquiries

Highlights of this Yatra

• Magnificent Himalayan scenery: mountain peaks, glaciers and the immense Bhagirathi River.
  
• Pilgrimage to the very source of the divine Ganga river (widely revered as the most purifying force on planet Earth).
• Divine glimpses of Shivaling Mountain, Mt Meru, Mt Bhagirathi, Gomukh and Tapovan.
• Inspiring history and stories of this ancient and holy mountain region.
• Potent Himalayan herbs and healing energy.
• Group sadhana and the vibration of Om mantra accompanying us each step of the way.
• Trekking and sharing with a like-minded group.

Itinerary outline

Delhi - Rishikesh - Uttarkashi - trek from Gangotri to Gomukh then return to Rishikesh.
From Delhi our Yatra takes us firstly to the beautiful holy town of Rishikesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas (see below for more about Rishikesh). In the following days we drive deeper and higher into the mountains to Uttarkashi for acclimatisation and sadhana, then on to the source of the purifying and heavenly Ganga River (Bhagirathi). From Gangotri we begin our trek.
Note: There will be regular havans and pilgrimage centres to visit enroute to Rishikesh, Uttarkashi and Gangotri.

For a full itinerary please contact Gangadhara.

trekking notes

Trekking starts from Gangotri and a moderate level of fitness is required. There will be a strong and capable team to support this trekking part of the yatra, including setting up our camp, organising food, water and meals, providing first aid and helping with altitude acclimatisation.

Track notes:

• Gangotri to Chirbasa (9 kms): at an altitude 3580 m with time for acclimatisation along the way. 
• The following day: Chirbasa to Bhojbasa (5 km). 
  
• The following day: option to trek to to the Gomukh glacier at an altitude of 4023 m (4 km trek) or relax at camp.
• Return trek: Bhojbasa to Gangotri (14 km one way).
  

*inclusions

This Yatra is all inclusive, as follows:

• All meals (x 3 per day) plus two chai breaks.
• All accommodation (hotels, nature resort, camp on trek with bedding provided and backpack carried).
• All group puja/havan/sadhana needs.
• All transport including one domestic flight & air conditioned quality bus (note: price does not include international flights).
• All national park entry fees and temple donations.

additional travel options

• International flight booking option & transfer available for Delhi hotel to commence the Yatra.
  
• Additional travel option (post Yatra to Delhi from Rishikesh) is available for 8th October (includes hotel transfer, domestic flight, overnight in Delhi Hotel, breakfast, airport transfer).
• Extended hotel booking in Rishikesh post Yatra is also available.
  

Enquire here for more information and guidance.

Places you will visit

Rishikesh is one of the most popular pilgrimage centres in India, and is also known as the yoga capital of the world. We will be conducting a sunrise havan (to empower our yatra sankalpa) at the Kamakshi Mandir; holding our own special aarti and pooja, and chanting vedic and tantric mantras to invoke the blessings of Devi Ma.

Chirbasa: The trek from Gangotri to Chirbasa campsite is fairly easy (9 kms) and quite exhilarating. As we journey closer to the magnificent Himalayan landscape the forest starts to change. Long-leaf Indian pine trees surround our beautiful campsite. It is here in Chirbasa that we acclimatise overnight before heading further to Bhojbasa and Gomukh glacier in the following days.

Uttarkashi is a holy town near Rishikesh, at an altitude of 1158 m. It is situated on the banks of the river Bhagirathi and is home to numerous ashrams and temples, including the sacred Vishwanath temple.
We will be spending 2 nights at the peaceful Shikhar Nature Resort by the river for our sadhana retreat and time for acclimatisation.

Gangotri is a pilgrim town on the banks of the river Bhagirathi and contains the source of river Ganges (Ganga). It is part of the Greater Himalayan Range, at a height of 3,100 m. According to Hindu legend, it was here in Gangotri the Goddess Ganga descended when Lord Shiva released the mighty Ganges river from the locks of his hair.

Gomukh glacier: we have the option to trek to the famous Gomukh glacier at an altitude of 4023 m (4 km trek) or relax for the day at Bhojbasa camp.
Gomukh is a special place of pilgrimage and is mentioned in the Puranas. Numerous saints, sages, sadhus and pilgrims regularly journey here to worship.

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.

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Yatra Support

Gangadhara will be leading this Yatra with the support of award-winning Shikhar travels and the Himalayan mountain guides.

After visiting many mountain regions of the Himalayas, Gangadhara feels that returning to this Gangotri-Gomukh Yatra is a great blessing as well as an important endeavour, as this particular region has an environment unlike any other and simply cannot be topped in terms of purity and healing. Unlike many pilgrimage sites in India, the route to Gomukh has not been commercialised and therefore maintains a deep sense of reverence, respect and vibration.

Gangadhara has previously spent an extended time in India (as a long-term resident) and has continued to make regular annual visits (helping to keep her Hindi fluent!) and to maintain and deepen relations with local friends, priests, swamis and sadhus. She is also a well-known ‘Yoga Meditation’ teacher and conveys strength, heart and clarity through her teachings. 

Although a Yatra is quite different to a yoga program, it is still very special to have a teacher of this calibre guiding the way. 

Travel health and safety
Yoga Darshan will be monitoring and aligning with recommendations from 'WHO' for all of our international travel.

"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)

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