Blog | Spiritual Retreats in India

Spiritual Retreats in India.
Rishikesh, Karnataka and Kerala
BY KARINA TAYLOR

India is a wonderful country that never ceases to amaze me every time I visit it as it has one of the richest and most diverse cultures in the world. It is located in South Asia and is so vast that it stretches from the Himalayan mountain range in the North to the shores of the Indian Ocean in the South, which is why on every trip I discover different architectural, cultural, culinary and spiritual wonders, among many other distinctive features.

To understand more about its spiritual richness, I recommend that you get to know its people as a local and not as a tourist. The ideal is to immerse yourself in its culture either by walking or by taking a ride on a rickshaw, experiencing its traditions with its multiple religions, languages and dialects, customs and festivals, and tasting its gastronomy as extensive and diverse in flavors, spices and condiments.

But also another way to get to know it is through Yoga, a discipline that originated here in India and through which connects the body, mind and spiritual. I believe that nowadays with the stress that we handle, we should adopt it as a philosophy of life. Some of the benefits of yoga are to perfect our posture and mind through postures (asanas), breathing (pranayama) or hand gestures (mudras).

There are three specific places that I would recommend for such practices, since India is so vast and there is so much to see and enjoy, being these: Rishikesh, Karnataka and Kerala.

Rishikesh - is about an hour from Delhi by plane, and is known as the Yoga capital of the world. Karnataka - is 2.5 hours from Delhi by plane to Goa and 3.5 hrs. from Goa airport by road and Kerala - three hours by plane to the south of India, known as the cradle of Ayurvedic medicine.

Where to stay in Rishikesh:

Rishikesh is home to the spectacular Spa Ananda, India's most renowned health and wellness spa, ranked the #1 spa in the world by Condé Nast Traveler in 2019 and celebrating 20 years in all things related to disciplines such as yoga and Ayurveda.

It is located on an estate surrounding Maharaja Tehri-Garhwal's Palace in Narendra Nagar and is surrounded by forests and the Ganges River Valley. When staying there, everyone dresses in white Kurtas, which are loose-fitting cotton shirts and pants giving them a touch of wellness and comfort which is what we are looking for today. There are other options for all budgets, such as the Aalia Resort being another option in this destination.

Where to stay in Kernataka:

SwaSwara, inspired by the first sound of creation, "OM," is a resort in Gokarana located at Om Beach. This sanctuary is more than a spa, considering it a place where its main objective is to offer a life plan, to rebuild our body and mind with balance and harmony. It is famous for its Ayurveda treatments: the oldest healing system in the world.

Ayurvedic practice seeks to identify any imbalance in the doshas or basic energies of an individual, as they have a fundamental and unique balance. These three energies are known as vata, pitta and kapha humors. The balance is different in each individual, so each of us has our own unique challenges and attributes. Through treatments and by modifying our way of eating, (meat, alcohol and dairy are generally prohibited), we can establish a complete balance between body and soul.

Where to stay in Kerala:

In Kerala I recommend Coconut Lagoon (Heritage Mansion) which is located on Vembanad Lake, one of the largest inland lakes in India with its own ecosystems. There is only one way to get to Coconut Lagoon and that is by boat. They have their own private jetty to reach the resort. In this resort there is from bird watching, you can navigate through the canals of Kumarakom, has its own Ayurveda center, or enjoy their traditional dances since the eighteenth century.

Highlights in Rishikesh:

• Yoga courses
• Meditation
• Attend a "Ganga Aarti" ceremony at the ghats on the banks of the Ganges River.
• Visit and eat in an Ashram, and if you are interested visit Chaurasi Kutia (the Ashram where the Beatles stayed)
• Visit the Parmarth Niketan Ashram, where you can take part in the chanting, meditation and yoga sessions offered by the ashram.
• Walking from Ram Jhula to Laxman Jhula
• Rafting or Kayaking on the Ganges River
• Visiting its wonderful temples in the city of Haridwar
• Trekking to the source of the Ganges River
• Take a walk to the waterfalls of Neer Gaddu

Highlights in Kernataka:

• Visit the ruins of Hampi
• See Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries
• Sample authentic Kodava cuisine, craft beers and restaurants
• Jeep rides and boat safaris at Nagarhole
• Relaxing on Goa's famous beaches
• Touring the hills of Kodagu, famous for its spices and coffee plantations
• Visit Mysore teeming with monkeys, tigers and Asia's largest elephant population
• Enjoy the Gokarna coast where SwaSwara is located.
• Visit its capital Bangalore, which is famous for its cyber industry, palaces, temples, art, among other attractions.
• Visit the Islamic ruins of northern Karnataka.

Highlights in Kerala:

• Experience Ayurveda to the fullest extent.
• Cruise in a houseboat, kayak or canoe
• Visit Wayanad - to spot wild elephants
• Fort Cochin - Kochi, experiencing the art of Kathakali or Theyyam, their traditional trance-induced rituals
• Yoga, surfing and beach sessions in Varkala
• Trekking, or rafting in Periyar Tiger Reserve
• Experiencing ashram life in Amrithapuri
• See their traditional Kathakali or Theyyam trance-induced rituals
• Ayurveda cooking class or Kerala Gastronomy class

Ideal dates to visit India:

High season covers the months of October through April, as after that the monsoons start, and it is very hot in addition to heavy rains....

These are perfect destinations to find Spirituality and Wellness... I recommend them!

You have to live the best moments...!