India Yatra
Himalayan Heart
24 August - 5 September 2023
Himalayan Heart
- DELHI, LADAKH, AGRA, HARIDWAR, RISHIKESH-
I still remember the first time I arrived in India. In an instant moment I had to let go of any ideas and conditioned concepts about life and how it should look like. Surrounded by the vast and powerful Himalayan mountain range, I felt at home in my heart, yet was filled with deep curiosity to explore. I often call the Himalayas my home. Not because it is the most comfortable place to live in (by far not), but it is the most real, raw, spiritual and ancient Yogic place for me to remember who I am.
This is a journey to the roots of Yogic wisdom. You will sit at the foothills of the holy Himalayas and say your prayers, be part of sacred ceremonies, get blessed by vedic priests. You will see magnificent temples, meet incredible people and eat outstanding Indian food. You will deepen your understanding of Yoga as an holistic art of living that guides the way to an embodied life.
Mama India will teach you how to live your life as a prayer.
Get ready for a journey that will change your life. This is not a Yoga retreat but a pilgrimage to the heart. It demands openness to dive deep & look beyond. It involves overcoming challenges, and cultivating patience and compassion. A little closer to our natural way of being, one breath at a time.
With so much love and excitement,
xxx Alexia
Once, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.
THE PLACES WE VISIT
Delhi & Taj Mahal
Delhi is the capital of India and is a bustling wild city, full of impressions, heritage, culture and people! We will enjoy a Delhi city tour and visit the most important monuments as well as markets.
The Taj Mahal is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. And it is worthwhile to see it at least once (or more) in a lifetime and enjoy the awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Ladakh & Leh
Ladakh, once the hub of the ancient Silk Route, is described as a place where Buddhist spirituality and its ancient culture reign supreme amidst virgin nature. It is a place that makes conscious of a higher power that keeps a benevolent vigil over this Himalayan haven. To me, it is a place that holds power for deep spiritual insight and belonging.
Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is connected by road, open only five months a year due to heavy snowfall. Traveling to Leh feels like a true gift as it opens a treasure box of ancient secrets. You will visit mountain caves, ancient temples and Buddhist monasteries and get inspired by the Indo-Tibetian culture and atmosphere that makes this place just so unforgettable. This will be the first time I take a group with me to Ladakh, make sure to take this unique chance!
Please note also: Ladakh lies at 3600m altitude and will require some physical preparation. If you want to go to India, but feel this might be a bit too much of a challenge for your first trip, please see my other upcoming Shakti Yatra to South India.
Haridwar, Rishikesh & Ganga
Haridwar is one of India’s most important pilgrimage places with some of the most stunning ceremonies, vedic priests and Pujas that you will ever experience. Rishikesh is known to be the capital of Yoga. Home of the Rishis (Saints). Both are located along the Ganga with so many Ashrams (sacred centers of knowledge, wisdom, devotion & service) and opportunities to deepen your holistic Yoga practice. You will connect with the roots of Yoga by feeling the place, taking barefoot steps on the sacred soil and bathing in the holy river. We will also visit my teacher Maa Gyaan in her home and enjoy a Satsang (spiritual discourse). This is an initiation into the Yogic path as it is and always has been: A holistic science of life that is gracefully blessed by the art of the divine.
Pilgrims are poets that create by taking journeys.
-Richard Niebuhr
Itinerary
Day 1/ Arrival in Delhi. Welcome Circle.
Day 2/ Delhi City Tour.
Day 3/ Flight to Leh. Small walk in the city, visit Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, Leh market.
Day 4/ Leh. Sham Valley, visit Likir, Alchi Monastery, Sangam (Confluence of Zanskar & Indus Rivers, Magnetic Hill), and Saspol village cave.
Day 5/ Leh. SHEY-THIKSAY-HEMIS Monastery
Day 6/ Leh.
Day 7/ Flight to Delhi. Integration & Yoga.
Day 8/ Agra & Taj Mahal
Day 9/ Delhi to Haridwar. Ganga Aarti. Puja. Rituals.
Day 10/ Haridwar.
Day 11/ Rishikesh.
Day 12/ Rishikesh.
Day 13/ Departure Day. Tour ends in Rishikesh
** the Yatra includes daily Yoga and Meditation classes taught by Alexia as well as visits to local Swamis for Satsangs, Rituals and Ceremonies.
The idea of going on a spiritual journey is really part of the DNA of India itself.
-Diana Eck
Included
Full program according to itinerary
Accommodation in 4**** or 5***** (heritage) hotels
Local travel guide, city tours, all entrances
2 Domestic flights: Delhi-Leh and Leh- Delhi
All transfers during the pilgrimage
All meals except 1-2 lunches while traveling
Daily Yoga and Meditation program with yogalexia
An experience you will never forget and that will deeply transform you
5% off your Pilgrimage investment will be donated to my Charity Project Narichaya in rural India, where we are building a learning centre for underprivileged women.
**this Pilgrimage is organized in cooperation with Spiritual India Tours
Not included:
International flights, some temple donations, gratuity for our guides
I do not at all understand the mystery of Grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.
-Anne Lamott
Meet your India Guide & Teacher
Alexia Daksha Damini
Alexia has been traveling to India since 2008. She calls India her spiritual home and returns on a yearly base to study with her teachers, to take groups on life-changing pilgrimages and to connect with the sacredness of the land. For Alexia, India opens a door to mysteries: “The Motherland astonishes, surprises, awakens and changes you forever. She gives you a glimpse of what’s possible. And once you have had a little taste, you won’t let go and will seek to keep deepening the connection with what you have discovered.”
Alexia’s pilgrimages are unique and never the same. She makes sure you experience India off-the-beaten track by taking you to secret Himalayan caves and her favorite hidden spots by the sacred Ganga river; she organises Satsangs with local Swamis and makes you look behind the veil by teaching how to travel as a pilgrim rather than a tourist. Her pilgrimages are an expression of her love for the Motherland, be assured that you too will find love in India.
A fairytale journey that you will remember for a lifetime.
FAQs
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Yes! Our pilgrimage route takes us mostly to spiritual places that are often off the beaten tourist track. These places are well maintained and safe. We are also always making sure we are staying in clean hotels and take plenty of safety measurements.
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You can apply online for your e-tourist Visa to India via this link:
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
You can apply for this Visa anytime after you have signed up for the pilgrimage. You will receive an email that says “VISA GRANTED”. The Visa, however, only begins upon your entrance to India.
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Yatra is a sanskrit word and means “spiritual journey” or pilgrimage. I have called my India journeys Yatras because they are fundamentally different to Retreats. We are traveling a lot, visiting sacred sites, temples and spiritual homes. We will do daily spiritual practices and hold our energy and intentions high. This is not a trip to relax, but a deep encounter with yourself and a country that has ancient roots of wisdom and will empower you to see beyond the veils.
It requires you to be open, accepting, loving and welcoming. It might take you to your limits, yet only to discover that your mind is your only limit. India helps us expand and grow. Be open and you shall receive.
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Our Yatra begins in Delhi and ends in Rishikesh
You may book your flight in and out of Delhi International Airport.
All further Info will be given to you after you have signed up for this incredible journey.
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While India is quite colorful and open when it comes to dress code, there are certain standards to follow especially when visiting temples and sacred sites.
Make sure to pack clothes that are not black in color, long sleeves (below shoulders) and lose pants or skirts (below knees). You can also use shawl to wrap around your waist, head or shoulders when you enter a temple site.
If you do not have clothes that suit this trip, do not worry, come in comfortable outfits and i will take you to the markets on day one. You can get India clothes for a cheap price at the local markets and they will serve you for many India trips to come :)