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General Information |
Thank you for your interest in the 2009 India Yatra – a journey visiting the holy shrines of three religious practices in India: Hinduism, Sikhism, and Tibetan Buddhism. Both of us, Siddhi and Stefan took our first Yatra two years ago with famous yoga teacher Gurmukh of Golden Bridge Yoga* in Hollywood. It was a wonderful, life-changing experience! India it is always a growth opportunity. In 2008 we took our first group independently and with the support of two travel agents – everything worked out like clockwork; we decided to make this trip an annual event. We thank you so much and we pray this is the year for your journey to India! |
| What is a Yatra? |
| A yatra is a spiritual journey which we take to help expand our heart and mind. The yatra takes you out of the daily routine of your life so you have the opportunity to reflect and move forward in your spiritual journey. It is a fun and amazing learning adventure where new friendships and new insight into your life and life itself are inevitable. |
| The Itinerary 2009 |
Walking downstream on the banks of the Holy Ganges or by taking a short Riksha ride we will get to the Yoga Festival for our daily class with Gurmukh and other internationally renowned teachers of many disciplines throughout the rest of the day. In 2008 about 500 people from all over the world were registered at the Yoga Festival. There will also be time to sit and meditate and drink in the morning sites and rituals of the Indian culture; the Yoga Festival ashram is just steps away from the holy river. In the evenings, we will attend a beautiful fire ceremony called Aarti. Rishikesh, also called “the yoga capital of the world” is a backpackers paradise in the foothills of the Himalayas with an over-abundance of spiritual book shops, music, and an inspiring vitality; we will arrange for a daily lecture on Hinduism, for those interested. In the late 60’s the Beatles stayed here for their spiritual adventures with the Maharishi and wrote many of their famed songs here. There will be plenty of time for shopping everyday as well as time to spend with your new yoga friends. Our resort is located in close proximity to the “Ramona’s Gardens” orphanage, where we can indulge into delicious organic foods grown, cooked, and served by the orphans for lunch and dinner (not included). It’s divine! With an open heart and an open mind, each day will bring on an exciting new adventure! We have booked for each participant an ayurvedic astrology session with Anand (optional and not included). The schedule for Anand will be arranged on site. From Rishikesh we will be returning on March 7 by train to Amritsar; after about 11 days your time might have come to return home at this point.
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What is the cost of this trip?
Other options and details can be tailored and priced per your request – shorter or longer. Our travel agent Ricky in Amritsar is most reliable and attentive. The above arrangements include the registration fee at the Yoga Festival, all accommodation in Amritsar, Rishikesh, and Darmasala as well as, ground transportation by train and bus, most meals, and porters for your luggage. You will be responsible for booking your own flight to Amritsar, India for a Feb. 25, 2009 arrival; you will be picked up at the airport by us personally or one of our guides holding a sign “Siddhi’s Yoga”. All prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in airfare, train, bus and hotel pricing as well as exchange rates; detailed prices and flight itinerary will be set closer to the trip. You are responsible for tipping. All prices are double occupancy; singles are available at all locations as well as a hotel up-grade in Rishikesh to stay at one of most prestigious spas in the world, The Ananda Spa. |
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Arrangement (A.) We meet in Amritsar (ATQ), in Punjab, north/west India, the home of the Golden Temple and Sikhism. After arriving on Feb. 25 you will have a chance to visit the Golden Temple the next morning very early to enjoy the sacred traditions and hear the 24/7 chanting. One additional night at our hotel will give you a chance to get acclimated before we take a 1st class train early the next day to the Intl. Yoga Festival in Rishikesh. The ride is long, but comfortable and the scenery quite uneventful until we get closer to the Himalayas. Good time to catch up on sleep. Once we get to Rishikesh and the holy Mother Ganga river, we will check into our hotel (a resort-like facility up-stream) for 8 nights and get registered at the International Yoga Festival. The next morning we will begin our 4:30 am yoga and meditation “Sadhana” with Siddhi at the yoga room of the resort; most participants at the Festival are staying in the Niketan Parmarth Ashram, where the festival is held; trust us: we prefer “our” resort! 
Arrangement (B.) We will have a few relaxing days at ourquaint, private guesthouse, an antique oasis of beauty and tranquility (not to mention the delicious home cooked foods). Daily early morning visits to the Golden Temple are optional; we will feast on ancient chants and the sights of devoted Shiks. Of course daily: yoga with Siddhi on the lawns of our guesthouse and lectures on Sikhism with a local expert. Amritsar is a great location for getting high-quality, tailor-made clothes and shopping for Kundalini Yoga artifacts like paintings of the 10 gurus, etc. After two nights we will travel by bus and train to Dharmasala, the exile residence of his Holiness the Dalai Lama, where we will stay for 3 nights at the guesthouse of the Tibetan Art & Culture Center. The likes of Bill Gates and Richard Gere stayed here when visiting the Dalai Lama. Back in Amritsar you might choose to board your return flight home on this day, March 12. Expert lectures on Tibetan Buddhism available in Dharmasala.
Arrangement (C.) Those who stay may take an optional trip to Agra, which will introduce us to one of the 8 wonders of the world: the Taj Mahal. On March 13 we will take a flight from Amritsar and overnight in Agra to enjoy the sunset over the monument as well as a first-in-line set up to enjoy the sunrise. It’s jaw-dropping spectacular! A personal guide will explain the details of this most impressive monument. Our hotel in Agra is a 5-star. A mid-morning train will take us to Delhi for sightseeing and shopping. The 5 pm flight from Delhi brings us back to Amritsar. From here we are on our way back home unless you have other plans.