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Day 1 — Arrival & the Ganga Aarti
Rishikesh Yog Kendra
6 Day Mindfulness Retreat in Rishikesh, India
Retreat Highlights
- Duration5 Nights, 6 Days
- LanguageHindi / English
- ModuleResidential with Meals
- LevelBeginner — No Experience Needed
- FoodSatvic Vegetarian
- AccommodationPrivate, Shared or Four Sharing
- Date5th – 10th & 23rd – 28th, Every Month
Retreat Fee
6 Days- Private RoomSingle occupancy, own bathroom$599
- Two Shared RoomShared with one guest$499
- Four Sharing RoomShared with three guests$399
Life moves fast, and sometimes the most useful thing you can do is stop. The 6 Day Mindfulness Retreat in Rishikesh at Rishikesh Yog Kendra is a short, restful escape built around exactly that: slowing down, breathing, and giving your mind and body time to settle in the quiet of the Himalayan foothills.
This is a retreat, not a training. There is nothing to pass and no experience required. Over six gentle days you take part in guided meditation, easy beginner-friendly yoga and breathing, and simple practices that help you unwind, alongside plenty of time to rest, walk in nature, and enjoy the calm of Rishikesh beside the river Ganga.
The retreat is designed for people who need a genuine break: from work, from screens, from a busy routine. Days follow an unhurried rhythm of gentle practice, rest, nourishing satvik meals and quiet time, with space for an Ayurvedic massage, a sound healing session, and the evening Ganga Aarti by the river. Most guests leave feeling lighter, clearer and more rested than when they arrived.
Because it runs for just six days, the retreat fits easily into a holiday, and it suits complete beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Groups stay small, so the atmosphere is calm and personal rather than crowded. Accommodation and meals are included, so once you arrive, everything is taken care of.
If you are looking for a short mindfulness and yoga retreat in Rishikesh that is restful, authentic and genuinely restorative, somewhere to step out of the rush and simply slow down, this is built to give you exactly that.
Retreat Overview
6 Day Mindfulness Retreat Overview
The 6 Day Mindfulness Retreat at Rishikesh Yog Kendra is a short, residential wellness retreat in Rishikesh, India, designed for rest and stress relief. Over six days you take part in guided meditation, gentle beginner-friendly yoga and breathing, an Ayurvedic massage and a sound healing session, with fresh satvik meals, time in nature and the evening Ganga Aarti. It is open to everyone, needs no experience, and is not a teacher training.
The Retreat
A mindfulness retreat is a simple idea: a few days set aside to slow down, be present, and let the body and mind recover. This retreat brings that together in one of the most peaceful settings in India, the foothills above Rishikesh, where the river Ganga leaves the Himalayas.
Your Days
The days are gentle and unhurried. You practise guided meditation and mindfulness, take part in easy yoga and pranayama suitable for complete beginners, and have plenty of time to rest, walk and simply be. Along the way there is space for an Ayurvedic massage, a sound healing session, an introduction to yoga philosophy, and the evening Ganga Aarti by the riverside.
This is a retreat rather than a course, so there is no assessment, no certificate and no pressure. It is open to everyone, whatever your background or fitness, and it is designed above all to help you rest and ease stress.
Your retreat includes:
- Guided meditation and mindfulness practice.
- Gentle, beginner-friendly yoga and pranayama.
- A relaxing Ayurvedic massage.
- A sound healing session.
- An introduction to yoga philosophy.
- Simple cleansing practices.
- Three fresh satvik vegetarian meals a day.
- Comfortable residential accommodation.
- Time in nature and the evening Ganga Aarti.
Living & Resting
The retreat runs for six days and is fully residential, so once you arrive, your stay, meals and daily rhythm are all taken care of. Instruction is given in English and Hindi. Because it is short, it fits neatly into a holiday, and many guests leave feeling rested, clearer and ready to return to daily life at a calmer pace.
Before You Book
Is This Mindfulness Retreat Right for You?
This retreat is designed for anyone who needs rest and relief from a busy life: professionals facing stress or burnout, complete beginners curious about meditation, solo travellers looking for a calm and safe experience in India, and seasoned practitioners who simply want to slow down. No yoga or meditation experience is required, and there is no fitness level to meet.
A retreat is a personal choice, so it helps to know whether this one fits what you are looking for. The short answer is that it is built for rest, not performance.
This retreat is likely a good fit if you recognise yourself in any of these:
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You need a break from a busy life
Work, screens and a full schedule have left you tired, and you want a few days to genuinely switch off and recover.
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You are new to meditation and yoga
You are curious about mindfulness and want to try it gently, with guidance, rather than being thrown into an intensive course.
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You are travelling solo
You want a calm, safe and welcoming place to spend a few days, with a small group and a settled routine rather than arriving somewhere unfamiliar alone.
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You already practise and want to rest
You have a yoga or meditation practice and simply want time and space to deepen it without the demands of a training.
The retreat is taught in English and Hindi, and groups stay small, so it feels calm and personal. Because everything is gentle and beginner-friendly, people of very different ages, backgrounds and fitness levels settle in easily together.
If a short, restful break in a peaceful setting is what you are looking for, this mindfulness retreat is very likely a strong fit.
Still deciding?
Speak With Our Yoga Course Advisor
Choosing the right yoga teacher training is an important decision. Speak with our Course Advisor to discuss the curriculum, daily schedule, accommodation, fees, and everything you need to know before joining. We're here to make your journey simple and stress-free.
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Rishikesh Yog Kendra
Why Choose Rishikesh Yog Kendra for a Mindfulness Retreat?
10+Years
Experience
Experience
Rishikesh Yog Kendra offers a gentle, all-inclusive mindfulness retreat in a peaceful setting above the Ganga, with meditation, yoga, Ayurvedic massage and sound healing brought together in one short stay. Groups are small, everything is taken care of, and the retreat is taught within a traditional yoga school rather than at a commercial resort.
There are many places to take a retreat, so it is fair to ask what makes ours worth choosing.
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![Practice on the riverbank at the Ganga ghat]()
![The garden walkway with the Himalayan foothills beyond]()
A genuinely peaceful setting
The retreat takes place in the quiet foothills above Rishikesh, beside the Ganga, which is one of the reasons the town has drawn people seeking calm for generations.
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![A guided meditation session during the retreat]()
![Stillness practice at Rishikesh Yog Kendra]()
A holistic mix, not just meditation
You get meditation and mindfulness, gentle yoga, an Ayurvedic massage, a sound healing session and time in nature, so the retreat cares for body and mind together.
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![Morning practice during the retreat]()
![A small group practising together]()
Gentle and beginner-friendly
Nothing is demanding or intense. The pace is easy, and no experience or fitness is needed, so you can actually rest.
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![A teacher working with a guest during practice]()
![Guests and students at Rishikesh Yog Kendra]()
Small groups
The retreat is kept small, so it stays calm and personal, and you never feel like one of a crowd.
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![A guest room at Rishikesh Yog Kendra]()
![Satvic vegetarian meals served daily]()
Everything included
Accommodation, satvik meals and all activities are part of the retreat, so once you arrive there is nothing to arrange.
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![Vashisht Guha, the cave visited on the retreat]()
![The residential campus below the forest]()
Rooted in tradition
Because the retreat is run by our traditional yoga school, the practices are authentic, the atmosphere is calm, and the focus stays on genuine well-being rather than a commercial experience.
A retreat is really about trust: trusting that you can put your days in someone else's hands and simply rest. We aim to earn that through a calm, well-cared-for experience rather than any promise.
Your Retreat
What Do You Do on a 6 Day Mindfulness Retreat?
On this retreat you take part in guided meditation and mindfulness, gentle yoga and breathing, an Ayurvedic massage and a sound healing session, along with an introduction to yoga philosophy, simple cleansing practices, time in nature and the evening Ganga Aarti. Days are unhurried, with plenty of space to rest between activities.
The retreat is built to feel restful rather than full, so each part has room to breathe. Here is what your days include.
CoreThe Six Parts of Your Days
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Guided Meditation and Mindfulness
At the heart of the retreat is meditation. You are gently guided through simple mindfulness and meditation techniques, with enough theory to understand what you are doing and why. The aim is not to master anything, but to help your mind settle and to give you practices you can take home.
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Gentle Yoga and Breathing
Each day includes easy, beginner-friendly yoga and pranayama. The practice is soft and accessible, designed to release tension and calm the nervous system rather than to challenge you. No flexibility or experience is needed.
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Ayurvedic Massage and Relaxation
The retreat includes a relaxing Ayurvedic massage, one of India's traditional approaches to easing tension and restoring balance. It is a highlight for many guests and a simple, welcome part of slowing down.
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Sound Healing
A sound healing session uses the gentle vibrations of instruments such as singing bowls to encourage deep relaxation. It is a calm, restful experience that fits naturally into the rhythm of the retreat.
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Nature, the Ganga and Evening Aarti
Rishikesh itself is part of the retreat. There is time to walk in nature and to take in the peaceful surroundings, and in the evening you can join the Ganga Aarti, the traditional riverside ceremony of light that is one of the most memorable experiences in Rishikesh.
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Satvik Food and Simple Living
Three fresh satvik vegetarian meals are served each day, the simple, nourishing diet that supports rest and clear-headedness. Combined with early nights and unhurried days, the food is part of how the retreat helps you reset.
Day by Day
6 Day Mindfulness Retreat Schedule
Days 2 onward share the same morning: wake at 06:00, shatkriyas at 06:30, then asana and pranayama until breakfast at 09:00. Lunch is at 13:30, dinner at 19:30 and lights go off at 21:30. What changes is everything in between — open a day below to see it.
Nothing is asked of you on the first day. Travel in, find your room, and let the week start where Rishikesh starts — at the river, in the evening, with several hundred people and a great many lamps.
- 16:30 – 18:30 — Ganga Aarti, the fire-lit evening ceremony on the banks of the Ganges
- 19:30 – 20:30 — Dinner
- 21:30 — Lights off
The first full day, and the one that teaches the shape of the rest. Cleansing before sunrise, breath and movement before breakfast, philosophy late morning — and the day closes with the first guided meditation, which is where most people notice the pace of the week is not the pace they arrived with.
- 06:30 – 07:00 — Shatkriyas (yogic cleansing)
- 07:00 – 09:00 — Asana and Pranayama
- 11:00 – 12:00 — Yoga Philosophy
- 12:00 – 13:30 — Free time
- 16:30 – 18:30 — Asana and Pranayama
- 18:30 – 19:30 — Guided meditation
The quietest morning of the week, and for most guests the one that stays with them. You travel out to Vashisht Guha — the cave where Sage Vashishta is said to have meditated, dark and cool and completely silent inside, where nobody speaks — and sit on the riverbank afterwards, where the sound of the Ganges does the work that instruction usually has to.
- 06:30 onwards — Vashisht Guha and beach yoga, in place of the morning hall practice
- 09:00 – 10:00 — Breakfast
- 11:00 – 12:00 — Yoga Philosophy
- 12:00 – 13:30 — Free time
- 16:30 – 18:30 — Asana and Pranayama
- 18:30 – 19:30 — Guided meditation
A day of two halves. The morning runs as usual, then the group goes out onto the Ganga to raft — and the evening replaces the meditation with a sound healing session, where you lie down and let Tibetan bowls and gong do the settling for you. Stillness arrived at from the opposite direction.
- 06:30 – 09:00 — Shatkriyas, asana and pranayama
- 11:00 onwards — River rafting on the Ganga
- 13:30 – 14:15 — Lunch
- 18:30 – 19:30 — Sound healing
- 19:30 – 20:30 — Dinner
The last full day, and mostly yours to spend. The morning practice runs as usual; after that the day is unscheduled — walk into town, take a city tour, sit by the river, or head out to the bungee site if that is your version of letting go. The evening is a get-together rather than an ordinary dinner.
- 06:30 – 09:00 — Shatkriyas, asana and pranayama
- 11:00 onwards — Free time, city tour, or bungee jumping (optional, arranged locally)
- 18:30 – 19:30 — Guided meditation
- 19:30 onwards — Get-together dinner and activity
A quiet close. Breakfast together, then check out — with time to walk down to the river once more if your travel allows it.
- Morning — Breakfast
- After breakfast — Check out
Course Fee
Retreat Fee, Dates & Registration
The retreat runs twice a month — from the 5th and from the 23rd — six days, fully residential. One fee covers your room, three satvic meals a day, every session and the excursions. Private and shared rooms are shown below; a four-sharing room is also available at $399 per person, the most affordable stay we offer.
Course Timeline
September 2026Sep 5 - 10, 2026
September 2026Sep 23 - 28, 2026
October 2026Oct 5 - 10, 2026
October 2026Oct 23 - 28, 2026
November 2026Nov 5 - 10, 2026
November 2026Nov 23 - 28, 2026
December 2026Dec 5 - 10, 2026
December 2026Dec 23 - 28, 2026
January 2027Jan 5 - 10, 2027
January 2027Jan 23 - 28, 2027
February 2027Feb 5 - 10, 2027
February 2027Feb 23 - 28, 2027
Course Fees
Two Shared Room
USD499/ Person
5 Nights, all inclusive
Most Booked![]()
Private Room
USD599/ Person
5 Nights, all inclusive
What's Included ![]()
Daily Guided Meditation ![]()
3 Satvic Meals Daily ![]()
Cave Visit & Beach Yoga ![]()
Sound Healing Session
Secure Booking • Four-sharing from $399 • Small Groups
What We Offer
What's Included & Not Included in the Retreat Fee
One fee covers the whole six days — your room, your food, every session and the excursions with the transport to reach them. Here is the full list, and the short list of what sits outside it.
We Offer
What's Included
Everything covered inside your program fee
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Accommodation5 nights in a private, twin shared or four sharing room
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Satvic Meals3 vegetarian meals daily with fresh fruit
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Guided MeditationEvery evening, with the technique explained rather than simply led
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Daily PracticeAsana, pranayama, shatkriyas and yoga philosophy
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Vashisht Guha & Beach YogaThe cave visit and practice on the riverbank, transport included
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Sound HealingA sound healing session in place of the usual evening meditation
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River RaftingAn afternoon on the Ganga, arranged for the group
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Ganga AartiThe evening ceremony at the ghats on your first night
We Don't Offer
Not Included
Good to know before you book
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Travel CostsTravel to and from Rishikesh
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Bungee JumpingOne option for free time on day five — a third-party activity, booked and paid separately
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Personal ExpensesLaundry, telephone, shopping and any extra meals
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Extra StayAny nights before or after the retreat dates
Our Team
Your Teachers for the Six Days
A retreat lives or dies on the people leading it, and a meditation session more than most — guiding one well is a different skill from teaching a posture. Our instructors are certified teachers with years behind them, both in their own practice and in the classroom, and on a retreat their job is not to get you through a syllabus but to read the room and give it what it needs that morning. They are the same faculty who teach our teacher trainings, and the standard is the same. Meet them below.
Vimlesh Joshi Ji
Founder · Hatha, Aerial & Ashtanga
Founder of Rishikesh Yog Kendra, Vimlesh Ji has spent more than a decade teaching Hatha, Aerial and Ashtanga yoga in the Himalayan tradition.
Food & Accommodation
Your Peaceful Home in the Himalayas
in the HimalayasGuests stay in clean, comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi. Each has an attached bathroom, and you choose private, twin shared or four sharing to suit you — the retreat itself is identical whichever you pick, and the rooms are equipped with everything you need for the six days.
Set in a quiet garden, the accommodation looks out at the mountains, which are at their best at sunrise. Our management keeps the rooms clean and the campus calm, and there is space enough in each room to sit quietly on your own — which matters more on this retreat than on most, since the practice is one you will want to continue between sessions.
You are served fresh, nutritious vegetarian meals throughout. In line with satvic principles, the menu offers wholesome breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared to nourish body and mind, with fresh fruit alongside.
School Campus
Our campus sits in the quiet foothills of the Himalayas — open practice halls, a rooftop terrace to sit out on, and the hills in full view from sunrise to dusk. Close enough to the Ganga for a morning walk, far enough for the silence a practice needs.
- Open practice halls
- Rooftop terrace
- Quiet location
Deluxe Room
Clean, spacious rooms with an attached washroom and enough floor space to meditate or practise on your own. Housekeeping takes care of the rest, and you choose between a private or a shared room.
- Attached washroom
- Free WiFi
- Private or shared
Sattvic Food
Three fresh vegetarian meals a day, along with seasonal fruits and herbal tea. Everything is cooked in the school kitchen and included in your course fee — no separate charges for food or stay.
- 3 meals daily
- Seasonal fruits
- Included in the fee
Student Reviews
View More
Our Student Reviews & Success Stories
4.8
Reviews on 
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An Onoma Yoga Student“The top three reasons why you should consider spending time learning at the Rishikesh Yog Kendra - 1. If you want a teacher whose voice you will always carry in your head and heart - Vimlesh sir especially will leave a lasting impact on your persona practise - he is by far one of the best I’ve trained under 2. Because you deserve a learning experience that challenges your self concepts, and teaches you to think for yourself - Ankit sir, Neha ma’am and Swami Amarna and Swami Misra ji will ensure that you go feeling transformed with new knowledge and tools up your sleeves 3. Because you are sure to meet strangers who become life long friends, undergoing that journey with you carefully guided by the loving hands of the course creators It’s been a worthy investment for me that I trust will give me lifelong gains:)”
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Komal Malhotra Yoga Student
“They give just not yoga certificate but also give love and how to live life with happiness. No. 1 yog kendra of rishikesh. Excellent Teachers and very helpful also.”
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kajal shah Yoga Student
“My yoga journey with Rishikesh yog Kendra has been an transformational experience. Special thanks to Ankit Sir, Sunil sir, Swami Arana sir, Vimlesh sir and Neha mam for supporting me throughout this beautiful journey. Each day had been a new learning experience with all these mentors. One of best teachers @rishikesh Yog Kendra.”
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Praj A
Yoga Student
“Rishikesh Yog Kendra was the best thing i could do for myself. Neha mam was very supportive from the beginning till the end. Tbh I like Anatomy better when she teaches! All the teachers i call them my Gurus were wonderful and inspiring. They were beyond epic, a little shout out to them for pushing us in the right direction and their love and support that turned a whole class of talented people into becoming yoga instructors. I won’t sugar coat it though, there were times where it was rough and I felt exhausted and burnt out but I keep going because I had the support of all teachers instructors and fellow students in the course. Stay was good and vegetarian food was delicious. I finally know how to do yoga postures correctly without injuring myself or others. I also made some new life long friends that I can’t wait to see again while traveling. If you feel scared or nervous that you wont fit in or belong just take that thought and toss it out the window because this course made me feel wanted, loved and a part of a family. This was truly an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend it!”
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khushboo mangwani Yoga Student
“Hello everyone I have done pre&post natal from Rishikesh Yoga Kendra and It’s a best place to learn. Really experienced teachers with amazing techniques and methods. Neha mam kuldeep sir Vimlesh sir Thank you everyone for everything”
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Deepti Juyal Yoga Student
“I love the pre, post Pragnancy course taken by Neha ma’am. She teaches very well. Also, best place to learn and refine your postures. Teachers do hardwork on students’. Jai sir’s classes are energetic and well planned according to students.”
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pooja tiwari Yoga Student
“It was an amazing experience with Rishikesh Yog Kendra... teachers were very professional and i got to learn Yoga through practical sessions and theory sessions which made us clear that according to health issues how we should teach to the person.... Thanks to Rishikesh Yog Kendra..”
Ready to begin your own practice? Apply for a course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any yoga or meditation experience to join?
No. The retreat is designed for complete beginners as much as for experienced practitioners. Everything is gentle and guided, and there is nothing you need to know or be able to do beforehand. All you need is the willingness to slow down and take part at your own pace.
Is this a teacher training, and do I receive a certificate?
No. This is a wellness and mindfulness retreat, not a teacher training, so there is no assessment and no teaching certificate. Its purpose is rest, relaxation and stress relief, not qualification. If you are looking to become a certified teacher, our <a href="<?php echo $link; ?>200-hour-yoga-teacher-training-india.php" title="200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh"><strong>yoga teacher training courses</strong></a> are the right choice instead.
Is the retreat good for stress and burnout?
The retreat is designed with rest and stress relief in mind, which is why the pace is slow and the days are unhurried. Guided meditation, gentle yoga, massage and simple living all help you unwind. It offers a genuine break, though it is a restful experience rather than a medical treatment, so for any health condition it is always wise to speak with your doctor as well.
Is it suitable for solo travellers, including women?
Yes. Rishikesh is a well-established destination for international visitors, and many people come to this retreat alone, including many women. Because it is residential and the group is small, you are among fellow guests and staff in a settled, welcoming place rather than arriving somewhere unfamiliar on your own.
How long is the retreat, and is it residential?
The retreat runs for six days and is fully residential. You stay on campus for the duration, with your accommodation, meals and daily activities all included, so there is nothing to organise once you arrive.
Do I need to be fit or flexible?
No. The yoga is gentle and beginner-friendly, and every activity can be taken at your own pace. The retreat is about resting and feeling better, not about physical performance, so fitness and flexibility are not required.
Is the schedule strict, or can I simply relax?
The rhythm of the retreat is gentle and there is plenty of free time built in. You are welcome to take part in everything or to rest when you need to. The idea is to support you, not to fill every hour, so you can find the balance of activity and rest that suits you.
What is included in the price?
Your accommodation, three satvik meals a day, and all the retreat activities, including meditation, yoga, the Ayurvedic massage and the sound healing session, are included. Once you have arrived, the essentials of your stay are taken care of.
Getting Here
How to Reach Here?
From Delhi to your mat in Tapovan — by air, rail, road or bus, here is every way students make their way to us.
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By Air
Jolly Grant Airport, about 25 km from Rishikesh, has daily flights from Delhi. We can arrange a cab from the airport to the school for an additional fee.
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By Train
Daily trains connect Delhi to Haridwar railway station. Once you arrive at Haridwar, we can organise a pickup for you at a reasonable charge.
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By Taxi
We can also arrange a cab to bring you the whole way from Delhi to the school in Rishikesh, for a reasonable fee.
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By Bus
Buses run from Delhi to Rishikesh bus stand through the day. On arrival we can arrange a cab for the short hop to the school.
