Yoga Retreat-Pilgrimage India

chief locations :

A journey to the sacred in Southern India, open to yoga and non-yoga practitioners, facilitating a closer contact with the daily life of its inhabitants.

Yoga Retreat-Pilgrimage to Southern India
A journey to the sacred in Southern India, open to yoga and non-yoga practitioners, facilitating a closer contact with the daily life of its inhabitants. We will be traveling to the most important temples of Tamil Nadu then moving to the backwaters in Kerala, exploring people’s lives as they pray, eat, work, and search for the Unknown.

A daily yoga practice will be the foundation of our exploration, deepening or discovering for the first time the practice of meditation. Our asana will be offered at different levels so that we may serve every practitioner and need. We will learn about great teachers, such as Ramana Maharshi and Sri Aurobindo.

Special work on attention will be the basis of our daily practice. We may be able to experience how to become a community from a simple group of travelers and how to enjoy life in a nourishing way.

An open heart and a present mind will be the inner center of our pilgrimage. A wish to become available and trust the Unknown could arise as we may enter the sanctum sanctorum of our being, the place where real silence resides. All is upon Grace.

Day 1 • Arrive Chennai

Day 2 • Tiruvanamalai (possible stop in Mahalipuram)

Day 3 • Tiruvanamalai

Day 4 • Tiruvanamalai

Day 5 • Pondicherry

Day 6 • Pondicherry: visit to Auroville

Day 7 • Chidambaram Shiva temple and Tanjore

Day 8 • Tanjore

Day 9 • Tanjore - Madurai (main visit including Meenakshi)

Day 10 • Madurai, Meenakshi temple

Day 11 • Kollam Ayruvedic center

Day 12 • Kollam

Day 13 • Kollam

Day 14 • Kochi: visit and free time

Day 15 • Kochi: visit and free time

Day 16 • Kochi - departure

B= breakfast L= lunch D= dinner

Yoga practice : Our daily yoga practice will focus on meditation, asana, work on attention, basic pranayama, and Sutras. We will be inspired by spiritual lessons of the great teachers we meet in India through their teachings. All levels welcome including beginners. Family members or friends not practicing yoga are also welcome.

Day 1 • Chennai

Arrival in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Welcome meeting at 2:00 pm in a designated room of the Rain Tree Hotel in Chennai. Please bring your registration form and info about your medical insurance (compulsory). Departure for a brief tour of the city that includes the Theosophical center of Krishnamurti. Dinner, not included, on our own and overnight in Chennai..

Day 2 • Mahabalipuram-Tiruvannamalai (B+D)

Yoga practice. Breakfast and departure to Tiruvannamalai, the site of the sacred mountain of South India, Arunachala. On the way we may visit the temples in Mahabalipuraham, time permitting. A powerful site and a very important pilgrimage destination in India, Tiruvannamalai owes its fame also to the presence of Sri Ramana Maharishi and its ashram. Ramana was an extraordinary man, a fully enlightened being who reached liberation when he was very young. Lunch on route, not included. Arrival in Tiruvannamalai and check in our peaceful resort where we will stay for 3 days, on full board, commuting to Ramana Maharishi Ashram each day.

Days 3 and 4 and 19 • Tiruvannamalai (B+L+D)

During this time in Tiruvannamalai we will focus on our yoga practice and on Ramana Maharshi ‘s teachings. We will attend to lectures about him and visit his ashram and the caves where he meditated for long time. Among other activities, we will explore the Arunachaleswar Temple and walk the Kora around Arunachala Mountain as pilgrims have been doing for many centuries.

Day 5 • Pondicherry (B+D)

After our yoga practice and breakfast, we drive by our private coach to Pondicherry, the largest French colony in India. There is a strong French influence in the city, especially in the old quarters, with Rues and Boulevards lined with Mediterranean style houses and bakeries, although the city remains very much Indian. French is still understood, and the whole city makes for rather pleasant mix of East and West. On arrival, check in to our hotel and lunch on our own. This afternoon we will visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, introducing another pillar of the Indian spirituality. Guided tour and return to the hotel to enjoy the ocean breeze and some relaxing free time. Possible satsang. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6 • Pondicherry and Auroville (B)

Yoga practice by the beach. Breakfast and departure to Auroville, the international attempt at an ideal spiritual community founded in 1968 and based on the spiritual teachings and practices of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Auroville is inhabited by people from across the world and is an ongoing experiment in human unity, transformation and consciousness, as well as sustainable living and the future cultural, environmental, social and spiritual needs of mankind. Pick up and drive back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Days 7 and 8 may be subject to change as we may be given the possibility to attend some special lectures in Auroville. In that case, our stay in Pondicherry will be extended for an extra one or two days.

Day 7 • Chidambaram – Tanjore (B+D)

Yoga practice in the morning followed by breakfast. Drive by coach about 40 miles to Chidambaram. Here we will visit the Nataraja Temple, where Shiva is worshiped as the Cosmic Dancer, depicted in 108 dancing poses in 10th century stone carvings. Stop for lunch on our own. We continue our driving toward Tanjore. Check in to our beautiful hotel and dinner. Relaxing overnight in Tanjore

Day 8 • Tanjore

Longer yoga practice this morning followed by breakfast. Today we will visit Tanjore’s main temple, Brideeswara. We will also admire the famous Tanjore paintings, involving a very intricate process with gold leaf added onto the main painting. Lunch on our own in town and back to the hotel. Rest of the day is free to enjoy a longer siesta or a time by the pool. Possible satsang after dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9 • Madurai (B+D)

Yoga practice followed by breakfast and departure to Madurai, considered the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and South India. Check in and lunch on our own. In the afternoon, visit of Meenakshi Temple, one of the most significant Temples in all of south Asia and Ramana Maharshi famous room where he became enlightened. Possible visits in Madurai: Ghandi Museum, Thirupparankundram Temple and Thirumalai Nayak Palace. In its heyday Tirumalai Nayak Palace at Madurai was considered to be one of the wonders of the South. Dinner at the restaurant and overnight in Madurai

Day 10 • Madurai (B+D)

Daily yoga practice and continuation of visits followed by free time. Pick up before dinner included in the restaurant and overnight in Madurai.

Days 11-12-13 , 27, 28 • Kollam (B+L+D)

Drive to the backwaters in Kerala to stay at an Ayurvedic center for Ayurvedic treatments (optional), exploring the culture of the backwaters. We will focus on yoga and Ayurveda. The backwaters are an extraordinary natural, cultural and beautiful place to visit. We can only reach the nearby villages by private boat, one of the activities planned for the next three days along with watching the Kathakali dance during the evening program. Full board.

Day 14 • Kochi (B)

Yoga practice in the morning followed by breakfast. Drive to Kochi the capital of Kerala and a place of international tourism and interest for its music, dance, shopping, the center of the spice trade even today, and multi-cultural life. Between today and tomorrow we will visit: the Hill Palace Museum, a fully-fledged archaeological museum and Kerala’s first ever Heritage Museum, the spice market, and handicraft shops. Exploring, lunch, and dinner on your own. Overnight in Kochi.

Day 15 • Kochi (B+D)

Yoga practice in the morning followed by breakfast. Day at leisure and free time. Final satsang and farewell dinner. Overnight in Kochi

Day 16 • Kochi – Depart (B)

Breakfast and departure by private bus to Kochi international airport for your flight back home. Only one ride is included in the price and the bus will leave with the earliest flight on schedule.

The order of events and visits may be subject to change .

Leaders and yoga teachers
Patrizia De Libero

Hilary Brich

Price:
US$ 2,099 per person in double

Based on a minimum of 20 participants

Please contact for single supplement.

Payment:
First deposit (non-refundable) of $500

Please make checks payable to: Kairos Pilgrimages

Memo: India-Yoga

Based on a minimum of 20 participants

Single supplement pricing upon request.

In case of a lower number of participants price will stay the same but number of services included may be subject to change.

Price includes:
1 Night at Chennai Raintree or similar, with breakfast
3 nights at Sparsa, Tiruvanamalai on full board basis
2 nights at Windflower, Pondicherry or similar on breakfast & dinner basis
2 nights at Ideal Riverview, Tanjore on breakfast & dinner basis
2 nights at GRT Madurai or similar on breakfast & dinner basis
3 nights at Fragrant Nature Kollam or similar on full board
2 nights at Le Meridien, Kochi on bed & breakfast basis
Breakfast always included from day 2, lunch and dinner as per program
AC Deluxe Volvo Coach as per program
English speaking guides
Entry fees to:
Madurai: Meenakshi Temple, Nayacker Palace, and Gandhi Museum
Kochi: Matancherry (Dutch) Palace
Kathakali performance in Fragrant Nature
Temples when required
Journeys To The East Tour leader for the entire duration of the program
Yoga teacher YTT
Goods and Services Tax (GST), standard in India
Tips for hotels, drivers, and guides
Price does not include:
Any flights and travel insurance. Please ask your Journeys to the East assistant for help or information regarding flights or insurance.
Any meals not arranged by the tour
Ayurvedic or spa treatments at Fragrant Nature Resort
Any expenses of personal nature
Any camera charges (often required at historic sites in addition to entry fees)
Any charges which may be incurred due to circumstances beyond our control, like strikes, natural disasters, etc.
Any increase in the input costs like taxes, hotel or transportation rates, increases in entry charges, etc. (between now and Jan 2019 )

Participant requirements:
Every pilgrim will submit a registration form, confirming that s/he does not have any pre-existing medical conditions that may affect his/her health during the trip.
Every pilgrim must sign and return the JTTE waiver before the beginning of the pilgrimage.
Every pilgrim must possess medical insurance that includes emergency repatriation during the dates of the trip.
Vaccinations: Each pilgrim should discuss this subject with his/her physician to ensure their maximum health and comfort while traveling.
Each pilgrim must be in relatively good health and have sufficient physical stamina to be able to walk up to one mile per day without any support or discomfort; they should also be able to bear the potentially hot weather conditions of a South Indian summer. Sun glasses, hats and sun-blocking fabrics and creams are strongly encouraged.
It is the responsibility of each pilgrim to ensure his/her visa and passport is valid for the dates of travel. JTTE will not be responsible for any issue related to this subject and will not be able to offer any refund in case of passport issue of any kind.
Terms and Conditions:
Please read the Terms and Conditions for Kairos Pilgrimages before registering for this pilgrimage. Thank you.

REGISTRAZIONE