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Day 1 — Arrival & the Ganga Aarti
Rishikesh Yog Kendra
Stress-Free Yoga Retreat in Rishikesh
Retreat Highlights
- Duration5 Nights, 6 Days
- LanguageHindi / English
- ModuleResidential with Meals
- FoodSatvic Vegetarian
- AccommodationPrivate, Shared or Four Sharing
- LevelOpen to All — No Experience Needed
- Date5th – 10th & 23rd – 28th, Every Month
Retreat Fee
6 Days- Private RoomSingle occupancy · ₹28,000 for Indian nationals$599
- Two Shared RoomShared with one guest · ₹24,000 for Indian nationals$499
- Four Sharing RoomShared with three guests · ₹18,500 for Indian nationals$399
Escape the chaos of daily life and immerse yourself in the quiet of a yoga retreat in Rishikesh, on the banks of the Ganga. This is a sanctuary where you can reconnect with yourself through yoga, meditation and mindfulness — six days, five nights, and nothing to organise once you arrive.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of Rishikesh, the retreat is a holistic journey of self-discovery and relaxation. Each day begins with yoga designed to release stress and revitalise the body and mind. Guided meditation helps you find inner peace, and the mindfulness techniques are simple enough that you can carry them home and actually keep using them.
What sets this retreat apart is that it does not ask you to be still for six days. Alongside the practice there is a visit to Vashisht Guha and yoga on the riverbank, a sound healing session, the Ganga Aarti at the ghats — and an afternoon rafting on the Ganga, because for a good many people that is exactly how stress comes off.
Led by experienced instructors and set amidst greenery and the sound of the river, the retreat suits anyone wanting to relax, recharge or deepen an existing practice. There is no syllabus, no exam and no certificate. It is simply six days arranged so that you can stop arranging things.
Retreat Overview
Discover Tranquility Beside the Ganga
The Retreat
Five nights and six days, fully residential, open to anyone. You need no yoga background and no particular fitness — a good number of guests arrive having never practised, and the sessions are paced for a mixed group rather than a training.
It runs twice every month, from the 5th and from the 23rd, so there is nearly always a batch within a fortnight of when you can take the time off. Six days fits inside a single week of leave, which is deliberate.
What You Do
The days have a shape but not a syllabus. Practice twice, eat well, sit in the evening, and see something of Rishikesh in between — with real free time built into most afternoons.
Across the six days:
- Asana & PranayamaTwice daily, morning and late afternoon, at a pace that suits everyone in the room.
- ShatkriyasThe traditional morning cleansing practices, taught simply and safely.
- MeditationGuided each evening, with the techniques explained so you can keep them going at home.
- Yoga PhilosophyThe ideas behind the practice, taught through conversation rather than lecture.
- Sound HealingTibetan bowls and gong — you lie down and the vibration does the work.
- Vashisht Guha & Beach YogaA morning at the cave where Sage Vashishta is said to have meditated, and practice on the river sand afterwards.
- River RaftingAn afternoon on the Ganga — the part of the week guests talk about most.
- Ganga AartiThe fire-lit evening ceremony at the ghats, on your first night.
Living & Resting
Your room, three satvic meals a day and every session are inside one fee. Rooms come as private, twin shared or four sharing — the last at $399 per person, which is the most affordable residential stay we run, and the retreat itself is identical whichever you choose.
Each room has an attached bathroom and free Wi-Fi, set in a quiet garden with mountain views at sunrise, and there is space enough in them to sit and practise on your own.
Being honest about the shape of it: Day 1 is an arrival evening and Day 6 is breakfast and checkout, so the retreat is four full days between them. That is enough for the rhythm to take hold, and short enough that most people can actually get away.
Before You Book
Is This Retreat Right for You?
This is a retreat, not a training. There is no assessment, no certificate and nothing to complete — and if that sounds like a gap, it is worth saying that it is the entire point.
It is also not six days of sitting quietly. There is rafting on the river, a cave to visit and a town to wander, alongside the practice.
This retreat is likely a good fit if you recognise yourself in any of these:
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You are burnt out from work
You need a break that does not itself need organising. Room, food, sessions and excursions are arranged; you turn up and stop making decisions for six days.
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You have one week off, not a month
Six days fits inside a single week of leave, and the retreat runs twice a month, so the dates usually bend around you rather than the other way round.
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You are new to yoga entirely
Nothing here assumes a practice. The sessions are paced for a mixed group, and no one is watching how far you fold.
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You want some adventure with the quiet
Rafting on the Ganga, the cave at Vashisht Guha, a bungee site down the road if that appeals. Stress does not always unwind by being still at it, and this retreat is built knowing that.
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You are travelling on a budget
The four-sharing room is $399 per person for the whole six days including meals — the cheapest residential stay we offer, and the same retreat as everybody else’s.
It is taught in English and Hindi, so international guests can follow every session, and it suits most ages and levels of fitness. Solo travellers are common — six days and shared meals tend to sort that out by about the second evening.
If you want ten days rather than six, our Vedic Yoga Retreat goes deeper into the temples, the philosophy and the spiritual side of Rishikesh, with eight or more sacred sites on the itinerary. This one is shorter, lighter and has the river in it.
And if what you actually want is to teach yoga afterwards, this is the wrong booking — take the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training instead.
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 This Retreat?
10+Years
Experience
Experience
Rishikesh has no shortage of short retreats, and most of them are the same few days of asana with a temple visit bolted on. Here is what makes this one different.
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![Stress free retreat setting in Rishikesh]()
![A peaceful yoga retreat atmosphere]()
More than sitting still
Rafting on the Ganga, a morning at Vashisht Guha, yoga on the river sand, a sound healing session and the aarti at the ghats. Most stress retreats offer quiet and nothing else; for a lot of people quiet alone is not what unwinds them, and this one is built knowing that.
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![Morning practice during the retreat]()
![A small group practising together]()
Six days, twice a month
Short enough for one week of leave, and running from the 5th and the 23rd, so there is nearly always a batch within a fortnight. You do not have to rearrange a year to take it, which is rather the point for anyone booking a stress retreat.
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![A guest room at Rishikesh Yog Kendra]()
![The garden walkway with the Himalayan foothills beyond]()
From $399, everything included
The four-sharing room is the most affordable residential stay we run, and it buys exactly the same retreat as the private room — same sessions, same food, same excursions. Room, three satvic meals a day and every activity sit inside one fee.
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![A teacher working with a guest during practice]()
![Guided evening meditation]()
Experienced teachers, gentle pacing
The sessions are led by the same faculty who teach our teacher trainings, but the pacing here is different — the job is to read the room and give it what it needs that morning, not to get anyone through a syllabus. Nobody is assessed and nobody is compared.
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![Satvic vegetarian meals served daily]()
![The residential campus below the forest]()
Nothing left to organise
Fresh satvic vegetarian meals three times a day, rooms kept clean and quiet, and every excursion arranged with the transport to reach it. When you have come here because you are exhausted by logistics, not having any is most of the treatment.
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![Guests and students at Rishikesh Yog Kendra]()
![The closing get-together of the retreat]()
A decade of teaching behind it
Rishikesh Yog Kendra is a Yoga Alliance registered school and has been running training here for around ten years. The retreat is taught by the same faculty on the same campus — the difference is the pace, not the standard.
Day by Day
Your Six Days, Day by Day
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.
An easy first day with no morning programme, so you can travel in, find your room and settle before anything starts. The retreat opens down at the river.
- 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 sets the shape of the rest — shatkriyas at dawn, asana and pranayama before breakfast, philosophy late morning, and a second practice in the afternoon.
- 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 or city tour
- 16:30 – 18:30 — Asana and Pranayama
- 18:30 – 19:30 — Meditation
The morning leaves the yoga hall altogether. You travel out to the cave where Sage Vashishta is said to have meditated — dark, cool and completely silent inside — and practise on the riverbank afterwards, where the sound of the Ganges does much of the work of settling the mind.
- 06:30 onwards — Vashisht Guha visit and beach yoga
- 09:00 – 10:00 — Breakfast
- 11:00 – 12:00 — Yoga Philosophy
- 12:00 – 13:30 — Free time or city tour
- 16:30 – 18:30 — Asana and Pranayama
- 18:30 – 19:30 — Meditation
The day the retreat changes pace. 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, which is about as complete a contrast as a single day can hold.
- 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 largely yours. The morning practice runs as usual; after that you choose — wander the town, take a city tour, or head out to the bungee site if that is your idea of unwinding. 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 — Meditation
- 19:30 onwards — Get-together dinner and activity
A quiet close. Breakfast together, and check out afterwards — 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 — five nights and 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 Yoga & Meditation ![]()
3 Satvic Meals Daily ![]()
River Rafting & Excursions ![]()
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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Daily PracticeAsana, pranayama, shatkriyas, meditation and yoga philosophy
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River RaftingAn afternoon on the Ganga, arranged for the group
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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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Ganga AartiThe evening ceremony at the ghats on your first night
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Get-Together DinnerThe closing evening on the last full day
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. Our instructors are certified teachers with years behind them, both in their own practice and in the classroom, and each brings real depth to their subject — asana, philosophy, meditation. On a retreat their job is different from a training: 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
Accommodation, Satvic Meals & Campus Life
& Campus LifeGuests 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 rooms are equipped with everything you need for the six days, and the retreat itself is identical whichever you pick.
Set in a quiet garden, the accommodation looks out at the mountains, which are at their best at sunrise. The surroundings are calm enough to actually rest in, and the rooms are spacious enough to sit and practise in on your own without interruption.
You are served fresh, hygienic, nutrient-rich 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 for the vitamins and minerals a week like this asks for.
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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yiping zhu
200 Hour Yoga TTC
“In January of this year, I attended the 200-hour yoga teacher training course at Rishikesh Yog Kendra, and it was truly a life-changing experience! From the moment I stepped into the school, I was embraced by its warm and vibrant atmosphere. Surrounded by the breathtaking Himalayan mountains, I felt an incredible sense of peace and inspiration—this was the perfect place to fully immerse myself in yoga, self-exploration, and personal growth. The course covered Hatha yoga, asanas, pranayama, meditation, yoga philosophy, anatomy, and psychology. Every class was filled with depth and passion. The teachers were highly knowledgeable and experienced, blending traditional wisdom with modern teaching methods to make the learning process both enlightening and engaging. Their encouragement and personal guidance pushed me beyond my limits, helping me grow more than I ever imagined! The accommodation was quiet, comfortable, clean, and ideal for both study and relaxation. And the food? Absolutely healthy and delicious! Each meal was thoughtfully prepared with fresh, nutritious ingredients, perfectly aligning with the yogic lifestyle. Looking back, I truly feel that this was one of the most fulfilling and rewarding journeys of my life. Not only did I build a solid foundation in yoga, but I also gained confidence, formed meaningful friendships, and left with a heart full of gratitude. If you’re looking for an authentic, powerful, and deeply meaningful yoga teacher training experience, Rishikesh Yog Kendra is the perfect choice! I highly recommend it—don’t miss out!”
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Celia Escandell 200 Hour Yoga TTC
“I attended Rishikesh Yog Kendra for my 200-hour teacher training during the summer, and I have only wonderful things to share about my experience. From the moment I arrived, I felt at home. The warm and welcoming environment made me feel like part of a family. The teachers are deeply passionate and highly experienced. In just one month, I learned more than I could have imagined, realizing my own strength and discovering how much my body is capable of. Their encouragement and guidance instilled a new sense of confidence in me. It was a truly transformative experience—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The intentional Satvik diet served on campus was both delicious and nourishing. I’ve never felt as healthy, especially in terms of gut health. The founders, Neha Thakur and Vimlesh Joshi, play an incredible role in preserving and promoting the authentic legacy of Yogic culture. Their profound knowledge and passion were deeply inspiring, as were the other instructors. I will always cherish their teachings and the wisdom they shared. This experience has brought about a dynamic transformation in me on multiple levels. I feel more content, blissful, and productive than ever before. I highly recommend Rishikesh Yog Kendra for anyone seeking a life-changing experience. I am beyond grateful for the lifelong friendships and memories I’ve made during my time there in 2024. Feeling blessed is an understatement!”
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Parveen Yogi
200 YTTC + 85 Hr Prenatal Postnatal
“This is the best yog school in Rishikesh. They provide a good service Food, accommodation. Experience yog teacher. I love this yog school. I am already yog instructor but when I started a 200 hours yttc in this school, I get a more yog knowledge. After my 200 hours yttc, I am decided aerial yoga course, prenatal yoga course complete here. Again and again Thanks to the rishikesh yog kendra. Hariom all of you.”
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Kanidta Adler
200 Hour Yoga TTC
“had the opportunity to study Cross 200 hrs. and fire yoga worth the time traveled to study better understand yoga in love with yoga Thank you for having a good school good teacher Thank you for accommodation and Indian food.”
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Sunny Singh
200 Hour Yoga TTC
“I have just completed my 200 hrs ttc. My journey here at Rishikesh yog Kendra was amazing experience of my life. I dont think there will be a moment that matches this ever again. Accommodation was very good. Awesome rooms and clean beds to sleep. Food here was the best and organic Best teacher teach from the heart not from the book. If anyone planning take yoga ttc this is the right place. it will change your life completely.”
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Virtika chauhan 50 Hour Aerial Yoga TTC
“Namaste everyone If you’re planning to start your yoga journey then this place “Rishikesh Yog Kendra” is the best centre to choose. Why? Cuz teachers here are the best in their own ways. You can ask them about anything anytime or put your queries face to face. They’ll teach you things that you never thought of doing … Will Help you grow in your own space. Teachers here are so friendly and professional at the same time … You wouldn’t go home without the happy memories in your mind … As for the staff here That is also fine ….. The food being served here is really divine (Monty bhaiya) My gratitude to every teacher {Sunil sir(hatha yoga), Dhiru sir(Meditation), Swami ji(philosophy), Neha mam(Anatomy), Vimlesh sir(Ashtanga, vinyasa and aerial), Ankit sir(ashtanga and aerial)}for all you have done, which I will never forget. I truly appreciate you all and your time you spent helping me in many things. Thank you very much for the course. I enjoyed every minute of practical and theoretical sessions. Thank you Neha mam for giving me the push i always needed…”
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Amice Mentor
200 Hour Yoga TTC
“I did 200hrs YTTC from Rshikesh Yog Kendra. I had a wonderful time and made a good foundation on yogic lifestyle. I highly recommend this place for beginners and intermediates. The stay and sessions is really transforming and rejuvenating. All thanks to gurus and entire crew behind the course.”
Ready to begin your own practice? Apply for a course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need yoga experience to join?
None at all. This is a retreat rather than a training, and the sessions are paced for a mixed group — some guests have never practised, others have taught for years, and both are accommodated in the same room. Nothing is assessed, nobody is compared, and every session can be taken at whatever level suits you that day.
Is there a certificate at the end?
No, and that is deliberate. A retreat is not a qualification — there is no syllabus, no exam and nothing to pass. What you take home is six days of rest, a practice that has found a rhythm, and some simple techniques you can keep using. If a certificate is what you need, our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training leads to one that is internationally recognised.
Is river rafting included? What about bungee jumping?
River rafting is included — it is scheduled for the whole group on day four and the fee covers it. Bungee jumping is different: it appears on day five as one option for your free time, alongside a city tour or simply resting, and it is a third-party activity in Rishikesh that you book and pay for separately. Tell us at the start of the week if you want to do it and we will point you to the right operator.
What is the difference between this and the 10-day Vedic retreat?
Length and character. This retreat is six days and lighter in tone — practice twice a day, a cave visit, sound healing, the aarti, and an afternoon rafting on the Ganga. The Vedic Yoga Retreat runs ten days and goes considerably deeper into the spiritual side: eight or more temples and ghats, Garbha Sanskar, kirtan, satsang and far more philosophy. If you have a week, take this one. If you have a fortnight and the temples are what draw you, take that one.
What does four sharing mean, and who will I share with?
A four sharing room has four beds and is shared with three other retreat guests, usually of the same gender unless you are booking as a group. At $399 per person for the six days including all meals and activities it is the most affordable stay we offer, and the retreat is exactly the same as it is for anyone in a private room. If you would rather not share, the twin shared and private options are there.
Can I join if I am travelling alone?
Most guests do. Groups are small, meals are shared and six days is long enough that people rarely stay strangers — the get-together on the last evening usually confirms that. You can book a private room if you would like your own space, or a shared room, which is cheaper and the faster way to know somebody.
What visa do international guests need?
Most international guests travel to India on a tourist visa, and many nationalities are eligible for the Indian e-Visa, which can be arranged online before you travel. Rules vary by country and do change, so check the current requirements with your nearest Indian embassy or the official Indian visa website before booking flights, and allow for arrival and departure days on top of the six-day retreat.
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.
