Mystical India
Join us for a deep dive into the heart of spiritual India, the motherland of Yoga.
16-27 March 2024
Embark on a pilgrimage with us.
If you are curious about the mystical rituals and wonders of India, interested in the deep wisdom behind yoga, open to spiritual growth and willing to look at the world from a different perspective, this is absolutely your journey. You will be mesmerized by the depth and beauty of this 11-day pilgrimage.
A deep dive into mystery.
During this trip we will dive deep into the wonders of mystical india. India has the oldest living spiritual tradition on earth. In India people still chant the same mantras and perform the same rituals as they did over 2000 years ago. We will visit special places that will give us a good taste of spiritual life in India. we will also discuss some of the main philosophical aspects of the yoga tradition, so we’ll get a better understanding of the spiritual culture of India, and how relevant this can be in our own daily life.
We will visit four of the main pilgrimage places in North India: Rishikesh, Haridwar, Varanasi and Vrindavan. Each one of them has a specific value and we tune into a different paths of yoga in each area. We will investigate the relevance of Hatha Yoga (meditative asana practice), Jnana Yoga (study of sacred scriptures), Karma Yoga (selfless service) and Bhakti Yoga (devotion to Love/God)
We have daily yoga & philosophy sessions, practice meditation on the banks of the sacred Ganges, meet with sadhu’s, visit ancient temples, meditate in sacred Himalayan caves and dive deep into the wonders of Yogic India—most of them off the beaten tourist track.
Traveling with us will make you feel safe, comfortable and provided with anything you need. Transport, accomodation and meals arearranged so you can focus on the experience. The traveling schedule is intense but there will be enough time for peaceful reflection and to let our experiences sink in. We sleep in beautiful places with an authentic Indian atmosphere.
The program
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Travel from Delhi to Rishikesh.
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We wake up in Rishikesh, the Mecca of hatha-yoga. It is here where many yoga ashrams are located on the banks of the Ganges. We arrive at 1 PM in the Parmarth Niketan Ashram, our place of stay. After lunch there is time to rest. During our stay in Rishikesh we will practice yoga in various locations, attend beautiful Pujas (ritual offerings) and take sacred dips in the Ganges. We will meditate in a special cave where the sage Vasishta once meditated, and do a 4-hour raft trip on the spectacular Ganges river. In Rishikesh our focus will be on Hatha Yoga and Karma yoga, as well as the myths of the saints and sages of the yogic tradition.
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In the afternoon we will travel back to Haridwar, where we will attend a beautiful and ancient evening ritual at the Ganges. Haridwar lies at the foothills of the Himalayas, where the Ganges flows into the plain of India. It is a famous pilgrimage place that means “Doorway to God”, as the Himalayas are regarded as the abode of the gods. In the evening time we take the night train to Varanasi, which is an extraordinary sensory experience. *Overnight train trip*
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We arrive in Varanasi in the early afternoon. After checking in the hotel, we will wander around the River Ghats in this ancient and holy city. We will visit the burning grounds and meditate on the deeper significance of living and dying. In the evening we will attend a Ganges Puja and visit a classical Indian music concert. The next morning we visit the river Ghats and take a boat ride on the Ganges along the ghats (stone steps). We practice yoga and visit some of the main Shiva temples. Afternoon is free time to roam around this fascinating city. In the evening we take the night train to Agra. In Varanasi our focus will be on Jnana Yoga, the Yoga of Wisdom and the mythology of Shiva in his many various aspects. *Overnight train trip*
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We will arrive around 06:00 and visit one of the great architectural wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal, at sunrise. We will then travel on by car to Vrindavan, which is an hour drive. In Vrindavan we will check in at the MVT Ashram where we’ll sleep two nights. In the evening time we will visit some of the mystical temples of this amazing pilgrimage town, which is the birthplace of Krishna. We will visit Sadhus, walk some special pilgrimage routes, and do lots of chanting and kirtan. In Vrindavan our focus will be on Bhakti Yoga and the mythical life of Krishna.
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Morning time: closing ceremony.
Departure to Delhi. All participants will arrange their own flights home from Delhi airport (choose late afternoon (PM)on March 10th so don’t book a morning flight, or morning on the day after the 11th ).
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€ 1650.- ALL INCLUSIVE.
INCLUSIVE: daily yoga and meditation, excursions, three meals a day, all transport and accommodation and all entry fees.
EXCLUSIVE: flight (approx 550), Visa (approx 50) and insurances.
Meet your Guides
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Afke Reijenga
Afke is an enthusiastic vinyasa and yin yoga teacher based in Amsterdam. She is booked national and international at yoga festivals and organizes retreats from Ibiza to India. Her fire and life lust and positive look on life is contagiously. She loves to chant and to play the harmonium.
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Nienke Schipper-Pauw
Nienke has been practicing yoga for over 15 years. She has done several teacher trainings (Vinyasa and Yin) and followed intensives and workshops all over the world. She offers meditative relaxation- and embodiment sessions, and she loves to play the flute at the banks of the Ganga river and in Kirtan.
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Arjuna van der Kooij
Arjuna works as an editor for Mandala Publishing, a US based publisher on award winning yoga books. He authored “Myths of the Asana’s” and a few other books and edited many. He lived in India for 6 years, and is a long time practitioner of Bhakti yoga and mantra meditation.
