As the birth place of the practices we know as Yoga and Meditation, India is considered a Retreat Mecca for many seekers, looking to fulfil a desire to embrace this type of experience, in the “source” environment. As I mention in my book Practical Spirituality – A Guide the techniques and practices of Yoga and Meditation originate from the Vedas, a set of “how to” guides on all that is and how to live a best life, produced in India approximately 5000 years ago. The Hindu, Buddhist and many other practices have their origin in the Vedas. In the late 19th Century teachers from India started travelling to the West, in particular the USA, to start teaching these practices. Possibly the most well known was Paramahansa Yoganada , author of “Autobiography of a Yogi” and founder of the Self Realisation Fellowship, which established its Head Quarters in California, where Paramahansa Yogananda taught, and has since become an international organisation. You can check out my review of this amazing book here.
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
So whilst I have visited India, Nepal and other parts of South Asia before, it was during a time when I wasn’t exploring retreats. However, I certainly appreciated the environment and the sheer awesomeness of the Himalayas. Now that I am drawn back to discover opportunities to attend retreats in the region, especially the Himalayas, I have discovered that Rishikesh, (about 1 hr flight north of New Delhi) is a serious Yoga/Meditation centre, with numerous Ashrams situated on the banks of the Ganges, receiving visitors from all over the world and providing an opportunity to experience the amazing environment so close to the Himalayas. You can take the 1 hr flight from Delhi to Jolly Grant Airport, ( also known as Dehradun Airport), located about 30 mins drive from Rishikesh. The train from Delhi takes about 10hrs. There is a myriad of Yoga/Meditation offerings available at Rishikesh, to suit your desire and budget. Check out this site for a list of YOGA/MEDITATION RETREATS and courses in Rishikesh , but also across India.
I am very drawn to the Yogada Yoga Ashram Shivpuri, Rishikesh. My journey focus at this stage is to explore Kundalini and Kriya Yoga, and this place and its location has a positive feeling for me. They say “Since time immemorial, Kundalini was a hidden power with yogis in the parts of the Himalayas for transforming their lives to the highest level of existence as human beings and for giving their life a purpose as well as addressing the deeper dimensions of life. Today everyone is in a world that was never like this before, demanding more physical, emotional and psychological immunity to not only survive but to grow healthier, successful, and stronger like never before.”
“ Yogada in the Himalayas, is an ashram retreat & School of Sattya Yoga for Himalayan Yoga & wellness with wisdom, as traditionally practiced by Yogis in these part of the Himalayas, where the yoga was conceived thousands of years ago. Yogada is located in Shivpuri village which is 9 kms up river (The Ganges) from Tapovan, Rishikesh. Location on the right high Bank of the Ganges, surrounded by thick reserve forests of Himalayan Foothills, where nature in abundance with Sound of roaring Ganga & rare species of Himalayan birds, & Himalayan herbs in the forests around makes it an ideal destination for peace seeker through yoga and meditation.“
Trekking & Yoga in the Himalayas – Base Rishikesh
For the ultimate Himalayan Retreat experience, this is very appealing to me. Check out their website. This experience offers “An Epic Journey – Living with the Himalayan Masters, Trekking & Yoga in the Himalayas The Birth Place of Yoga. It offers an 8 Nights & 9 Days trekking trip in the Himalayas, where for time immemorial thousands of Rishi’s (Saints ) and Yogis have practiced Yoga & meditated for elevating themselves and society to the highest level of existence with a purposeful human life. Every day starts with special Sattya Yoga Sessions , followed later by a trek in the Himalayas in pure wilderness with great views of the snow covered Himalayan peaks encountering rare Himalayan flora and Fauna