Naukchiatal

Naukchiatal is a picturesque emerald lake at an altitude of 1,800 metres (approximately 4,500 feet) and is one of the nine famous lakes of the Kumaon region of India. It is a peaceful setting with a charming town. There are numerous saints and ashrams in this area, including:

Vankhandi Maharaj (also called Saint Francis Baba) who has lived for the past thirty years in a small ashram on a mountain top near Bhimtal. He lives in perfect harmony with nature and the animals, and the tigers come to visit him.

130-year-old Swami Paramananda, a dynamic sadhu, was formerly a doctor in Calcutta who  renounced his worldly duties to dedicate his life to the spiritual search. He met Lahiri Mahasaya when he was a child. We hope to have darshan with him, chanting and meditation, with the chance to ask him questions. Previous trips to this wonderful saint have left everyone uplifted. This Swami also recounts to us his personal contact with Babaji.

Nainital

On the way from Naukchiatal to Nainital (in the Almora area) we will stop to meditate at another Neem Karoli Baba ashram and at various temples.

Dwarahat and Babaji’s Cave

From Almora we proceed to Dwarahat/Ranikhet where we will stay at the Dronagiri Retreat, close to Babaji’s cave. We will visit the powerful temple of Dronagiri, known for millennia as one of the Shakti Pita, dedicated to the divine mother. A whole day will be dedicated to the cave of Babaji, an experience that will include a beautiful walk of approximately an hour to reach the cave where Babaji gave the first Kriya initiation in modern times to Lahiri Mahasaya, who then went on to teach it to thousands in Benares. From the Dronagiri retreat we can enjoy the splendid panoramic view of the Himalayan range.

Pipalkoti

Along the road to Badrinath we will stop at Pipalkoti along the way visiting local tea plantations, temples and other characteristic and splendid places of this natural area.

Badrinath (3,100 metres)

Badrinath is the holiest shrine and pilgrimage place in all of India. Located at 3100 metres on the banks of the Alaknanda River, it was established by Swami Shankaracharya in the seventh century. The shrine is dedicated to Badrinarayan, a form of Vishnu, whom many devotees consider to be Babaji. The statue in the temple was found in the river by Shankaracharya. We will hike to the spectacular falls of Vasudev, hike into the Neelkanth Valley, visit the sacred temple of Badrinath, meditate at the caves of Veda Vyasa and Ganesha, who brought the epic Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita to the world. We will also have time to visit the Tibetan colony of Mana and enjoy the holy city of Badrinath, including visits to the swamis and babas who live in this holy valley. We will be at an altitude of about 3000-3400 m (9500-11000 ft) and have spectacular views of the snow covered mountains and green valleys of the Himalayas. One can experience a profound silence in this beautiful valley.

Rishikesh

Located at the foot of the Himalayas on the banks of the Ganges river, Rishikesh is blessed with the holy atmosphere of many ashrams, saints and sadhus. We will meditate along the Ganges and in various ashrams and holy places. One of the highlights will be a visit to Vanamali Devi, a devotional woman sage, living in her picturesque ashram above the Ganges. There will be an opportunity to meditate in Swami Sivananda’s kutir and on the ghat where spent many hours each morning in meditation, and visit his tomb at the Divine Life Society. We also go to Haridwar (place known for the famous Kumbha Mela) and visit the ashram of Ananda Mayi Ma where the saint left her body and another ashram. There will be free time to walk, shop and meditate in peace.

After Rishikesh the group returns to Delhi.

Jayadev Jaerschky along with Shantidev Graf and Radhika di Scenna will be your guides. They are residents of Ananda Assisi with plenty of experience in guiding Himalayan pilgrimages. They will be joined by our long-time Indian guides (for example, Mahavir). In addition, local mountain experts will accompany the group through some stages of the pigrimage. Languages spoken will be English and Italian.