Group Tours
Private Tours
Wildlife

Kashmir
Indian Himalayas
Nepal
Tibet - China
Bhutan
Burma
Thailand
Cambodia/Laos
Vietnam
Mongolia
Bali
Sri Lanka

Outside Asia Tours

Spiritual Journeys

Special Deals

Healing Arts

Travel News

Gen. Info/Policies
Our Credentials
What Travelers Say

Travel Insurance
Travel Resources
   links, books, health kit
FAQs

What's Your Style?
Spirit of India Story
Destinations:
   a photo overview
Maps - Icons

Home

Looking for a Travel Partner?
Click Here to View & Place Postings

Inter-Cultural
Arts Exchange

"Pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place or person. It is a time of austerity and purification, when concerns of the world are set aside and God becomes one's singular focus. It is a time to touch the Self of yourself, to go deeper than you ever could before, to realize you are a divine soul, deathless and eternal." -- Gurudeva

India's ancient customs and traditions, art and architecture, history and politics
are tightly interwoven as a spiritual fabric that permeates everyday life amidst the hustle and bustle of survival..  Glimpses into the heart of this ancient land are both humbling and expansive.

North India: Sep 28-October 17, 2008
Highlights - Detailed Itinerary (click the blue text to review)

Spiritual India: A Yoga Journey travels through a diverse cross section of India both geographically and spiritually, from the Himalayas through Rajasthan, visiting the holy pilgrimage sites of the various religions of India.

In the west, we tend to think of yoga as the physical practice. Although there are opportunities to practice physical yoga almost daily, the emphasis of the journey is on spiritual practice as an inherent aspect of daily life in India. Hence, there are also opportunities to engage in meditation, chanting, dharma talks and other traditional rituals throughout the journey as we learn about the histories and philosophies of Sikhs, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Jains. Physical yoga will be led by local teachers or with Arun nearly every day, either at the start or the end of the day at the hotel or various ashrams. In Rishikesh, The Glass House (our hotel) is right on the river, and we will have yoga classes overlooking the Ganges. On the journey we will celebrate Dussehra, an important spiritual festival symbolizing the victory of Rama (good) over Ravana (evil). It will be an elaborate celebration with floats, fireworks and ceremonies.

The hotels are five star in Delhi/Agra, heritage and best available elsewhere. The meals, a family-style buffet, are primarily vegetarian with choice of chicken.

South India: DATES TBA 2009

Journey with us to some of the greatest and most spiritually charged of south India's temples, the Mysore Palaces, idyllic beaches, and visits to ashrams and yoga centers.

Highlights include a privileged visit to Pattabi Jois' center in Mysore, a visit to Amachi's ashram on the Kerala backwaters and a stay at the Sivananda Ashram in the peaceful tropical beauty of Kerala. There will be physical yoga practice offered as well as participation in whatever special activities may be occurring while visiting the ashrams and yoga centers in our itinerary, such as meditation, rituals and talks.

We will have the opportunity to experience traditional dancers of the Bharata Natyam form in Mahabalipuram and the Kathikali form of Kerala. Both forms are distinctly different, spectacularly colorful and dramatically entertaining.

There is also an opportunity to visit Sai Baba's ashram in Puttaparthy as an extension after the tour. You choose the number of days you wish to stay (2 people minimum).

This pilgrimage is designed to give a full experience of what South India has to offer. Accommodation is in comfortable mid range hotels.