Profound Encounters With The Spiritual Essence of India
“There’s no moment of delight in any Pilgrimage like the beginning of it” Charles Dudley Warner
JOIN US ON OUR NEXT HEALING JOURNEY
15 - 29 November 2024
15-day journey
28 Dec. 2024 - 7 Jan. 2025
11-day journey
India Calling journeys are healing and transformational. They are imbued with a sense of Pilgrimage – one of returning home to your spiritual Self. Through breathwork, a mantra-based meditation, yoga, Ayurveda and the Sudarshan Kriya, you are provided with the tools to heal and transform, and all against the beautiful backdrop of a chaotic, heavenly and divine Mother India.
These journeys are not for the average tourist – more for those on the road less travelled. While you will experience an incredible diversity of human life in this extraordinary country, perhaps the most profound encounter will be with yourself.
Those drawn to India Calling journeys may well be at a crossroads in their lives or navigating their way through challenging times. These are often an opportunity to take stock of what’s really important to you and create new priorities and boundaries, so that you feel more aligned with a sense of purpose.
“A journey becomes a Pilgrimage as we discover, day by day, that the distance travelled is less important than the experience gained.” Ernst Kurtz
ABOUT INDIA CALLING
India Calling was conceived from Stefanie and Ivan’s shared love of India, and respective, strong family connections to this sacred land. “We share the same spiritual teacher, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and on His UK visit in 2023, we talked with Him about bringing groups to India. With His blessings to proceed, and His idea to imbue the trips with a strong Ayurveda focus, India Calling was born”.
Our intention is for these beautiful times to forever echo in your soul, just as the evocative sights, sounds, textures, exotic tastes, and heavenly aromas will long dance in your memory.
“Are you a tourist, or a Pilgrim? Both are on a journey. While the tourist satisfies the senses, the pilgrim is on a quest for truth.” Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Testimonials
Christine Walters
JOURNEY LOCATIONS
Click for Bangalore
Click for Mysore
Click for Kerala
Click for Bangalore
Bangalore ‘Garden City Of India’ : 2 – 7 November 2024
Our adventures begin in the extraordinary Art of Living Ashram, in beautiful rural countryside just outside Bangalore.
The Ashram is a sacred space for inner transformation. Your 5-day stay here will draw you into timeless, peace-infused meditations and yoga sessions, special breathing techniques, profound Vedic ceremonies and personalised, deeply healing experiences of Ayurveda.
Inclusions:
- Ayurveda: a relaxing ‘Marma’ treatment on arrival to help reduce any lingering jet lag.
- Ashram Tour to introduce you to what soon feels like home.
- 3-day Meditation & Breath Workshop, including the powerful Sudarshan Kriya, and a personalised mantra-based meditation technique.
- Nadi Pariksha Ayurveda consultation to determine your specific constitution, or dosha.
- Morning Yoga with Stefanie against the backdrop of the Ashram springing into life, with beautiful sunrises accompanying sights, sounds and scents of India.
- Kriya practice (following the workshop) led by Ivan in the very special Vishalakshi Mantap (Ashram temple).
- Evening satsangs followed by delicious, healthy (sattvic) meals enjoyed in the company of old and new friends.
- Traditional Vaidic Pujas and Homas.
Click for Mysore
Mysore : 7 – 9 November
‘City Of Palaces, Sandalwood and Incense’
Departing the Ashram for Mysore, we journey through small towns and beautiful, rural Indian countryside. This is a lovely scenic drive, running alongside long stretches of natural reserves with possible wildlife sightings en route.
Mysore Homestay
We have 2 days and nights in the enchanting city of Mysore,(now known as Mysuru). Rich in tradition, our Mysore guided tour will include the incredible Chamundeshwari Temple built on the top of Chamundi Hill, which has long been a pilgrim’s destination, and is reached by a thousand steps (or vehicle, you will be pleased to know!).
Mysore is known as the City of Palaces, with blends of Hindu, Islamic, Gothic and Rajput styles. It is home to the centuries-old Devaraja Market, filled with a plethora of silks, spices, natural oils and a visit to Stefanie’s favourite incense shop, where we watch our orders being hand rolled, is a Mysore must.
We may also visit the Mysore Art of Living Ashram, join in Kriya and enjoy a sattvic Ayurvedic meal at a neighbouring retreat. For certain places we have booked fantastic guides, known personally by Stefanie or highly recommended by the Ashram.
And we will be staying at one of Stefanie’s favourite homestays, an enriching and immersive experience of local culture, traditions and, of course, delicious Indian home cooking.
Click for Kerala
“An Ayurvedic Wellness Retreat On A Private Beach” : 9 – 15 November 2024
We then move on to Kerala, meaning ‘the land of coconut trees’ also known as “God’s Own Country”. Following our arrival into Kochi, we journey through lush, coconut groves heading for the tranquillity of our Ayurveda and Yoga Retreat. We arrive in time for our first sunset on the beach, followed by a light sattvic meal.
After dinner we may have a short Yoga Nidra to help ensure good rest, finally serenaded and soothed to sleep by the sound of the gentle waves of the Arabian Sea. We have 5 days and 6 nights at this magical retreat, located right on the pristine white sands of a beautiful beach just south of Thrissur.
There are plenty of quiet spots for reading and relaxing, and multiple yoga and meditation spaces. You will have 3 personalised, dosha-specific Ayurvedic treatments included, (with opportunities for additional treatments at own cost), and as many fresh coconuts as you can count.
Our days start with a gentle sunrise walk along the beach and /or a little light stretching and yoga with Stefanie, followed by Kriya with Ivan, before a nourishing sattvic breakfast.
There are 3 – 4 optional daily yoga classes including pranayama, hatha, vinyasa, restorative and yin. Morning yoga will be in one of the yoga shalas overlooking the beach.
We have use of the retreat bicycles for cycling trips along the quiet and enchanting coastal path with picturesque Keralan views.
There are sun loungers on the beautiful palm-fringed beach, from which you can marvel at the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, or simply read in hammocks swinging in the tropical garden.
Our days are interrupted only by more delicious Ayurvedic meals, before spectacular sunset beach walks. Another day in Paradise!
ITINERARY
Trip length: 15 Days
Trip price: £3,550*
(*£3,200 with an EARLY BIRD option booking by 30 June 2024)
- 1st - 15th November 2024
- Pick up from Bengalaru International Airport and transfer to Art of Living Ashram Bangalore
- Ashram 5-night stay includes Meditation and Breath Workshop, personalised mantra-based meditation workshop, and day trip to Bangalore City (temples, lunch, market visit, botanical gardens5
- Transfer to Mysore homestay. Visit to include 1,000-steps climb or vehicle ride up to Chamundi Hills and Chamundeswari Temple. Royal Palace and temple visits, unique incense and oil shop and delicious home-cooked food.
- Transfer to a beautiful Ayurveda & Wellness Retreat in Kerala for personalised Ayurvedic treatments and gentle beach time. As well as our morning practice, there are optional yoga, pranayama and meditation sessions during the day, bicycles we can take along the idyllic coastal path, a beautiful evening boat trip and a pottery class at Clayfingers with a delicious home-cooked lunch: www.clayfingerspottery.com.
Please be aware there are recommended vaccinations for travel to India. A list of Travel Clinics is available on request.
INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS
Inclusions:
- All internal travel costs (internal flights & road transport)
- All meals (except restaurant meals) and accommodation
- Courses & sessions
- Riverboat trip
- Individual dosha (constitution) reading with Ayurvedic doctor at the Ashram Panchakarma
- Relaxing Ayurvedic treatment on arrival (Marma)
- Entrance fees to any palaces / temples we visit together
Exclusions:
- International flights
- Travel insurance and Visa costs
- Additional meals and drinks taken away from group
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Additional Ayurvedic or naturopathy treatments you may choose to book
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Optional tips you may choose to give to our guides, drivers and Veda5 staff
Please be aware there are recommended vaccinations for travel to India. A list of Travel Clinics is available on request.
WHAT I NEED TO DO
What I need to do next?
- Confirm your place by paying the booking fee £250
- You will receive confirmation of your booking and a form requesting information such as dietary requirements etc.
- We will have a group meeting before we leave, around mid-October for the November group (over Zoom is possible also).
- Read NEXT STEPS and contact us with any questions - we are here to fully support you joining our India Calling Journey.
INDIA AWAITS YOU!
Secure your place with a booking fee
Contact Us
We are available to answer any of your questions.