Ardh Kumbh Mela Retreat: Program

You can get a glimpse of what the Kumbh Mela is all about in this beautiful trailer:

Ardh Kumbh Mela Retreat: Yoga for the Heart

During the retreat we will immerse ourselves in a deep practice of traditional Hatha Yoga. The practice is designed to suit the beginner as well as the experienced practitioner and will include Asana (physical Yoga postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises), Dhyana (Meditation) and Yoga philosophy. Our heart will be at the center of our practice: you will learn to let go of the patterns that imprison your heart, to open yourself to love, reconnect with your heart and trust its intuitive voice.

A typical retreat day during the main retreat will look like this*:

06:00am: wake up
06:15am - 06:45am: bathroom and jala neti (nose cleansing)
06:45am - 07:00am: herbal tea & small snack
07:00am - 07:30am: meditation practice
07:30am - 09:00am: Hatha Yoga & Pranayama practice
09:00am - 10:00am: group breakfast
10:00am - 11:30am: free time
11:30am - 12:00pm: silent time in nature, Ajapa Japa (concentration technique)
12:00pm - 01:00pm: Yoga philosophy & group discussion
01:00pm - 02:00pm: group lunch in silence
02:00pm - 04:00pm: free time (on some days: Yoga philosophy session)
04:00pm - 06:00pm: Hatha Yoga & Pranayama practice
06:00pm - 07:00pm: group dinner
07:00pm - 08:30pm: free time (on some days: evening program)
08:30pm - 09:30pm: meditation and Yoga Nidra (meditative deep relaxation)
09:30pm: bedtime
10:00pm: lights off

*the schedule might vary based on external circumstances and special events

Ardh Kumbh Mela Retreat: Accommodation

All our properties are vetted by us personally and we are grateful to call some of the owners our friends. For this trip, we've mostly selected properties that allow us to enjoy an exclusive stay as a group, making you feel as if you'd be on a trip with a group of friends. We chose to stay in boutique properties with a history and all of these properties are in calm locations (very important for us in India) and surrounded by a lot of green.

Organic cuisine:

We serve freshly cooked vegetarian, organic and ayurvedic food during our main retreat, introducing you to India's magical spices and incredible variety of dishes. However, we adapt our dishes to suit the typical Western tongue and belly (i.e. the food will be less spicy than normal :) ). You will also get the chance to learn some basic Indian recipes and get busy in the kitchen with us. As healthy eating is an integral part of Yoga, we will explore the basic ayurvedic principles of food together throughout the retreat. If you have any food allergies, please do let us know in the booking form.

Booking inquiry:

Retreat cost:

€ 1.599 / £ 1.499 / $1.899 / ₹1,30,000

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

• Welcome gift package: an assortment of luxury goods to get you off to a good start in India

• Accommodation: 13 nights in deluxe double rooms in personally vetted boutique properties

• Food: full organic vegetarian board during the main retreat in Allahabad and Varanasi, breakfast in Delhi and Lakhnau

• Transport: chartered private AC bus from Delhi to Agra, Lakhnau, Allahabad, Varanasi

• Yoga & meditation: at least 2x 120 minutes per day during the main retreat (on travel days this will vary)

• Workshops: at least 3x 90 minute workshops on yoga & ayurveda

• Yoga props: during the retreat we will provide you with a mat and a jala neti pot

• Spiritual ceremonies: opening and closing ceremony with a Hindu priest, attending the Ardh Kumbh Mela on Maha Shivratri, attending Aarti in Varanasi

• Tours: guided tour in all cities, boat tour on the Ganga

• Entry fees: all entry fees for sights and monuments

• For full booking terms and conditions please click here.

What you'll have to Cover Yourself:

• Visa for India: you can find all information about the visa here , we also advise you to consult with your local Indian consulate or visa office for in-depth requests

• Flight to India: your own flight to and from Delhi

• Return from Varanasi to Delhi: your own flight from Varanasi back to Delhi if you fly home or elsewhere if you continue your travels (you also have the option to travel with us in the bus back to Delhi from Varanasi (around 13 hours) for a small fee of 30€)

• Lunch and dinner in Delhi, Agra, Lakhnau: we will organise lunch and dinner at good restaurants for the group where each participant will cover their own expenses

• Travel and health insurance

• Additional activities: e.g. massages, extra services, etc.

• Spending money and gratuities

Prepare for your retreat

India is a country like no other in the world: it is full of vibrancy, colours, scents and sounds. Sometimes, this can feel overwhelming for people who are used to the comparatively quiet Western world. Oh, there is also a lot of people! The secret to enjoying each aspect of your travel and getting in touch with the magic soul of India lies in taking things slow and in a relaxed fashion. Maybe you can already find some time before the retreat to find some more calm time for yourself. Start slowing down a bit, take a bubble bath in candlelight, wrap yourself up in some warm blankets, get a steaming cup of tea and read a nourishing story for your soul, eat slowly and consciously - don't rush to India straight from your office desk. 

We will travel in safe and clean spaces, but please come well prepared. This includes checking for recommended vaccinations, carrying a small personal travel pharmacy kit, digital scans of your passport and important documents stored safely on the internet (e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), getting appropriate travel and health insurance, etc.. You will receive a packing list from us with things you should bring to the retreat after your booking has been registered. If you have any questions regarding the retreat preparation, feel free to reach out to us at any time!