Spiritual Holidays

Ravi Jaisinghani, Founder of Sukham Spiritual & Meditation Retreats

can guide you through these spiritually-charged locations in India

Mumbai & Goa:

A very suitable gateway into India. The most westernized and English-speaking locations, offering the finest luxury hotel stays by the sea, especially the Taj group of resorts. This is a happy and safe landing pad to explore the colourful diversity of India, blend in with the weather and the food, take the beaches and the seas for granted and foster your unique individuality, whatever and whoever you may be. The big city keeps you anonymous, entertained, and fulfilled - gastronomically and spiritually!

An overnight train journey or a quick flight away are the best beaches of India, in Goa. Here, you can switch off from skyscrapers and Bollywood, and tune in to a higher state of being: with yoga, pranayama, and meditation.

The air and the environment will support your spiritual practices.

Spiritual and Meditative places of interest, from first-hand personal experience, in the area, are:

1. Vipassana Meditation Centre, (The Buddha) IGATPURI.

2. Siddha Yoga, (Remember "Eat Pray Love"?) GANESHPURI.
3. Osho Commune and Koregaon Park area, PUNE.

4. Anandamayi Ma Ashram, PUNE.
5. Sadhu Vaswani Mission, PUNE.

6. Shiva Temple in Gokarna, a couple of hours drive from South Goa, GOKARNA.

Amritapuri, Kerala

Amritapuri is the birthplace and residence of my Guru, Amma, whom you see on the home page. It is a peninsula with Southern Kerala backwaters and fishing villages on one side of it, and the expansive Arabian Sea on the other, with picture-perfect sunsets in all seasons.

Amritapuri is the headquarters for Amma's worldwide spiritual mission and home to hundreds of Amma's monks, nuns, devotees, and visitors. Its residents have dedicated their lives to self-realization and humanitarian service. Every day Amma's Children gather here from all over the world to have her "darshan", a glimpse, an embrace, and a listening ear with spiritual reassurance; and to celebrate the bliss of being. Amritapuri is fully self-sufficient and a refuge (ashram) to spiritualists. Amma Herself is a global figure for charity work, just as well as a Guru for one's own spiritual development.

Here you will be introduced to many methods and techniques to suit your spiritual life - and spend time with a living Buddha, Amma herself. Amritapuri is a place for spiritual practice and celebration. This is Amma's (meaning mother) home base, so you can "just be". For more info, you can visit www.amritapuri.org.

Alleppey, Varkala, Kovalam, Trivandrum - Kerala

Alleppey is Kerala's backwaters. Fishing villages with their palm leaf cuisine and crafts. Ayurveda (alternative medicine) centres and ayurvedic oil massages nestled in between coconut tree fields and placid waters. Traditional houseboats to live in and cruise for a day or two. A two-hour car drive Southward is Varkala beach. Just about the most unique beach in India, thanks to its shimmering cliff 200 feet above, dotted with so many seafront restaurants and resorts. Of course, you will sample the finest fish curries straight from the sea and stay in a beach resort next door, sleeping to the sounds of waves and waking up to Yoga sessions down below at the beach. Swimming and sports are encouraged just as much.

A visit to Sri Narayana Guru's Sivagiri monastery in Varkala town and a meal there will enliven your day! An hour's drive south from Varkala brings us to the capital city of Kerala - Trivandrum. A charming homely city rich in heritage and culture with the 16th century Padmanabha Swamy temple in its heart centre. Trivandrum is also the core of Ayurveda. A suburb of Trivandrum is Kovalam beach, a highly recommended place for a quiet reflective stay. This is a zone for fruitful spiritual work within oneself. Browsing for artefacts strolls, and swims are leisure activities here.

A nearby place of interest (40 miles away) will be the Southernmost tip of India called Kanyakumari. The three oceans merge here, at the high current spot you stand on - the sea-green of the Bay of Bengal, the blues of the Arabian Sea, and the Grey of the Indian Ocean. A trip is worthwhile!

Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal, the small Himalayan kingdom next-door to India on the North East. It is a different country and topography, much liked by Western travelers. A lineage of the brave Gurkhas and a melange of Buddhist Hindu ideals. This hills and valleys city is adorned by religious monuments, ancient temples, monasteries, and stupas (symbolic of the enlightenment of the Buddha). Yes indeed, Siddharth Gautama the Buddha was born in Nepal and he promoted his teachings by crossing over to Varanasi and Bodh Gaya in India. Here the weather can be very pleasant, the food tasty and interesting, and the gifts memorable.

A 100 miles from Kathmandu is the highest point on Earth - Mount Everest. A trek to base camp or views of this mighty mountain by helicopter are good ideas. The people of Nepal are tourist-friendly and hospitable.

Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu

This is India, distinctly different from India. A coastal habitat in Tamil Nadu, South East India. The BBC One series The Real Marigold Hotel 2020 (season four) has captured the exquisiteness of Pondicherry a.k.a Pondy.

The city has a long meandering stretch of a seaside promenade and a relaxed detached vibe to it, popular with discerning tourists from the world over. Pondy was a French colony between 1674-1954 and its French legacy is preserved in its architecture, streets, boutiques, colonial villas, and heritage hotels - all this a breezy stroll from the seafront. Here 18th century Churches stand alongside 500-year-old Hindu temples. The Aurobindo Ashram located on rue de la Marine is a noteworthy spiritual centre, founded by the Cambridge University educated, sagely yoga Guru philosopher Sri Aurobindo in 1926. Five miles away in the tree-lined countryside lies Auroville - meaning city of dawn, an experimental township created for harmonious universal living, founded by Mirra Alfassa, the foremost disciple of Sri Aurobindo.

A full day's visit is welcome. Some three hours away by car lies Chennai city, the busy metropolis capital of Tamil Nadu, to connect to everywhere else with a flight. A visit to The J. Krishnamurti Foundation in Chennai is a notable stop in one's spiritual odyssey. He was a world philosopher of great merit and all his works are promoted here, where he lived.

Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu

Tiru in short is a brimming hot-pot for Meditators and spiritual seekers. It is a mystical, inspired town, woven around the sacred mountain Arunachala, sometimes referred to as the phallus of Lord Shiva! Fortunately, treks over this 800-meter high hill are encouraged and an organized circular walk around it (8 miles), even a full moon's night walking tour, is of special religious significance. At the foothills of Arunachala lies a glorious and welcoming monastery, Sri Ramana Ashram, where you are likely to have a three-day stay and board. This is an authentic Hindu Ashram experience gifted by the Trust to spiritual aspirants, meditators, and all those interested in learning of its source energy, Sri Ramana Maharishi, the great sage of Arunachala. This enlightened saint inspired many renouncers who settled here and dedicated their lives to spiritual uplift, from Southern India, and from the Western world. There is a noticeable sprinkling of European and American long-term residents here, who have established themselves in the Tiruvannamalai way of life. Tiru is not far from Pondy, at 67 miles by road, but it deserves its special place on the map as a spiritualist's delight. Mountain treks, countryside cycling, eating out, "sattvic" ashram meals, temple visits, esoteric conversations in westernized cafes, and "Sadhana" (spiritual practice) at Sri Ramana Ashram is how it is. At best, you will want to come back here again and again, and in the least, you will cherish a smiling fond memory of Tiruvannamalai.

The key place of interest to visit: Arunachala Shiva Temple, one of the largest and tallest in India, founded in the 9th century and expanded in the 15th century. Major Indian cities Chennai to the East and Bangalore to the West are almost equidistant at 120 miles or so. Tiru is spoken of as a prominent tourist destination attracting considerable foreign visitors'.

New Delhi, Jaipur (Rajasthan), Taj Mahal (Agra)

An enchanting golden triangle. Each at 150 miles from the other on the superhighway. New Delhi is the Capital city of India and is extremely well showcased for sightseeing and tourism. Credit goes out to architect Sir Edwin Lutyens for an extraordinary Viceroy's House and Connaught Place which is an outdoor shopping district. Old Delhi is one out-of-this-world western backpacker's district with delectable roadside food and beverages, and New Delhi is a grand invitation into London like 100-acre gardens and 1550-1850 Mughal dynasty monuments. Places to spend time would be, Lodi Garden, Dilli Haat, India Gate, Rajpath, Paharganj, Ramakrishna Mission, Birla Temple, Green Park, and Connaught Place. There is no regret in Delhi - it is time very well spent. A range of fine hotels and restaurants will show you graceful hospitality.

Jaipur is the famed capital of royal Rajasthan founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II in 1727 also known as the pink city, courtesy of the color of the stone used in its construct. In the center of Jaipur are Amber Fort and the obvious place for your Elephant ride from the bottom of "Amer" town to the royal portals of Amber Fort. Rajasthan is the land of the fabled desert kingdoms of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner; and decor and cuisine dating back to the Era of brave Rajputs defending their very own Rajasthan.

The globally romanticized Taj Mahal is 150 miles south of New Delhi and 150 miles East of Jaipur. You have seen the picture - now you might as well see this world heritage edifice of white marble built in 1653 by Emperor Shah Jahan. The Obamas, Clintons, Trumps, Trudeaus, and British Royalty - all have been fascinated by this Wonder of the World and posed before it. If this is on your mind, then a visit to rustic Agra city is on the cards.

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Rishikesh & Haridwar, North India

Welcome to the land of the Ganges (Ganga) river and the spiritual heart-chakra of Yoga (Hatha yoga), Pranayama, and Meditation (Dhyan). This Himalayan foothills sage-inspired town (rishi meaning a sage) is a five-hour drive north of New Delhi at 166 miles. Many from the West come here for a long stay at renowned yoga ashrams such as Sivananda Yoga, Art of Living, Beatles Ashram, or Parmarth Niketan, and get qualified as yoga teachers to practise overseas. Others visit for a spiritual holiday, a honeymoon, and a pilgrimage of the holy Ganges. Yet others come for a river rafting expedition, glamping, and more adventure sports! The Ganges originates in Gangotri, a nine-hour trip high above, and Rishikesh is the purest spot to be at after that to witness its abundance and purify oneself, even if symbolically. A bed and breakfast stay by its banks is a nice way to be. Haridwar city at an hour's drive downstream serves as a gateway to many Hindu shrines, temples, and a high vibe evening aarti of the Ganges. Rites, rituals, prayers, flower offerings, and such are practiced here.

A scenic hill station of interest a couple of hours drive north would be Dehradun and Mussoorie, home to India's elite boarding schools and home base to personalities like Victor Banerjee and Ruskin Bond. Considering its proximity to New Delhi, Rishikesh is a proposition worth considering.

Even more of India? You may like, Chandigarh city designed by modernist architect Le Corbusier; and the spiritual heart of the Sikh faith, the Golden Temple in Amritsar - both located in Punjab. Then there is the Dalai Lama's presence in the Cedar forested Himalayan town of Dharamshala. There are Tea plantations in British-built hill stations, Darjeeling in the North East, and Ooty-Coonoor in Southern India. A treat if you relish a good cuppa. There are the 14th century stone temple ruins of Hampi in south-central India, a world heritage site; and there is the colorful temple city of Madurai in the south. If you have a place in mind, then that too!