2024
INDIA Pilgrimage & Nepal Pilgrimage and Trekking
Come for both or choose 1!
(Do both and save $200 on each!)
INDIA: Oct 17- Oct 31
NEPAL: Nov. 4-17 2024
CHECK OUT THE TWO VIDEO’S BELOW & SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE INFO
NEPAL Pilgrimage, Trekking, White Water Rafting.
November 4-16. 2024
This is a spiritual adventure of a life time. Nepal is magnificent! We will land in historic Kathmandu and immediately go to our heritage hotel in the gorgeous Unesco world heritage protected city of Bhaktapur (literally meaning the city of Bhakti/devotion). You’ll be blown away at the architecture of these ancient stone pagoda temples. We meander around this gorgeous timeless village sit and have kirtan and sacred sangha ( spiritual discourse) while local onlookers witness with appreciation.
The next day after our morning sat sangha & yoga we will head to Pokhara but first stopping off for a white water rafting trip on the sacred Trishulla River, singing and chanting the entire way while some may choose to jump in the calm areas or jump from the rocks into mountain swim holes. The next day we move to the city of Pokhara, a bustling small city on a lake surrounded by Himalayan peaks where all trekkers meet up to get gear and get ready for their mountain adventures. Nepal is the home of 1310, Himalayan peaks over 6000 meters (!) and an incredible eight of the fourteen tallest mountains in the world are located within Nepals’ borders!
This not only makes it an adventurists and outdoor lovers dream come true but also makes the scenery breathtaking.
We will park it in Pokhara for a couple of days at lovely heritage hotel. This is our launching point for our 5 day trek.
And the trek! Panoramic views of some of the world’s mightiest peaks while passing through rhododendron forests teeming with exotic birds, friendly Gurung villages, a small lake, scattered forests, picturesque rice fields, and a dip in the healing jhinu hot springs. We’ll stay in simple family run lodges known as tea houses, with tasty local mountain meals.
Remember although we’re trekking through the Annapurna range, we’re not carrying anything except small day hike bags and walking sticks/trekking poles (optional but useful and availble in Pokhara). We have sherpas doing it for us. This is pleasant hiking…you won’t be using an icepick to scale a wall. The weather will be perfect this time of year. It won’t be difficult but it won’t be that easy either.
When all trekked out.A couple more nights in the Pokhara resort (options for massage, paragliding, explore the town) and then fly to Kathmandu at nice hotel shopping and exploring Unesco World Heritage temples.
Besides our guide Arjun, I’ll also be bringing my famous assistant Janeswhara Prabhu who is a kirtan master and travelled to the holy places of Nepal & India many times. He’s an excellent resource for Vedic knowledge and culture.
INDIA 2024
Oct17th-Oct 31st
cities TBA
BACK TO THE MOTHERLAND!
The home of yoga, mystics, mantras, sadhus, samosas, Ayurveda, and most of all: devotion and LOVE! Without a guide it’s easy to get lost in the craziness of modern India. To decipher the mystery, Raghunath will be that mentor to introduce you to spiritual India. Raghunath has been visiting since 1988 and has been taking students to India since 2007! Find out why he has so many return pilgrims! The most common things he hears from pilgrims even years after visiting is, “I think of India every day”.
We’re not going to park it at some hotel, visit the gateway of India and do some asanas. This is the real deal. Raghu will take you to the holy cities and villages that have been dear to the yogis and devotees since before recorded time. This is a Bhakti Yoga adventure! He will teach asana, and philosophy regularly and offer reading recommendations from books of ancient India so you can enter into the mood of a pilgrim.
More than tourism it will be a chance to learn and grow. We’ll learn meditation techniques, study sacred texts, and dine on authentic and excellent vegetarian food. Because he has spent a lot of time in India with sadhus and saints, we will meet up with other guides, friends, Vedic astrologers, palmists, & Swamis whom some Raghunath has known intimately for years.
We’re going to deepen our understanding of yogic culture. With proper guides, India can be a portal to another time -- an ancient spiritual culture. It still exists side-by-side with the modern. As you discover it, you will consequently discover yourself a little more -- and your life will never be the same.
Hare Krishna.
SELF INVESTMENT
INDIA PILGRIMAGE: $4000 USD (includes a $500 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot; this trip will sell out!
NEPAL PILGRIMAGE/TREKKING: $3500USD (includes a $500 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot)
Remember if you go on both pilgrimages there will a few days in between to rest where ever you like. (we can give recommendations in both India and Nepal) AND you will get $200 off of BOTH Pilgrimages. ($400 SAVINGS)
The FEES include:
• Airport pick up & drop off
• ALL Internal travel by domestic flights/bus etc
• 3 meals a day
• Hotel / Lodging
• All yoga sessions & classes given by Raghunath or his assistant
The Fees do NOT include:
• International airfare**
• Spending money (can be as much or as little as you like. Most places accept credit cards)
• Rickshaw rides in Vrindavan (however these are inexpensive) or for shopping
• Your visa or passport.
• A tip is appreciated for our guides if you liked their help; not mandatory.
ABOUT THESE PILGRIMAGES- from Raghunath
These trips are are pilgrimages and as such, not designed to be a "vacation", but rather a yogic learning experience. Of course, you will see many places and be guided in your travels, but the focus is on spiritual growth and not just sightseeing.
India and Nepal are “developing” countries. Please do not expect ANYTHING to be up to American or European standards. Students sit on the floor (if you need a chair due to health issues it can be arranged) and live simply. Many of the teachers and guest lecturers wear traditional Vaisnava dress (dhotis/robes/saris). We will visit temples, including Hare Krishna temples & ashrams. The pilgrimage includes Kirtan (group singing of traditional Sanskrit mantras) as well as japa (individual chanting of mantras on meditation beads). Travel in India can involve some austerity, but our teachers and assistants are all seasoned veterans of many pilgrimages and extensive travels. All reasonable measures will be taken to provide and care for students.
We request guests to follow a codes of behavior compatible with a yogic pilgrimage. This includes eating exclusively vegetarian or vegan. No meat, fish or eggs. No illicit sexual activities on this trip. Consumption of alcohol, non-prescribed drugs and use of tobacco is not permitted. We reserve the right to ask anyone to leave the trip at any stage and without any refund for breaching this code of conduct.
Students will see many sights in exotic locations, but the primary purpose of the trip is not sightseeing. We will practice asana, japa meditation, do a lot of Kirtan, tell the stories of ancient India, chant mantras and otherwise explore the ancient yogic traditions. This training and journey has been designed to be a magical, transformative, and life-changing experience!
FOR REGISTRATION OR MORE QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT RAGHU’S ASSISTANT TARA BELOW.
