The Author of Autobiography of a Yogi, Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda recounts about the Great Masters of India, and the legacy of Kriya Yoga in his book. This tour is an inspiration from the places mentioned in the Autobiography.
THE TOUR INCLUDES VISITS TO :
1. YSIS Sadhnalaya, Noida
2. Dwarahat (YSS Ashram, Babaji Cave)
3. Haridwar (Swami Keshabnanda Ashram)
4. Rishikesh (Vashishta Cave)
5. Brindavan (Swami Keshabnanda Ashram)
6. Agra (Taj Mahal)
7. Kolkatta, (Gharpar Road residence of Master, Dakshineshwar, Serampore hermitage)
8. Puri Hermitage
9. Ranchi
10. Varanasi,( Dashashmegh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Sarnath)
DETAILS
DAY 1 : Arrive New Delhi, met at the Airport and transfer to YSIS Retreat in NOIDA, overnight.
DAY 2 : Full day city tour of New and Old Delhi, including visit to Red fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, India Gate, Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, Akashrdham Temple return to YSIS for evening meditation, overnight
DAY 3 : After morning meditation and breakfast drive to Corbett National Park, 275kms, 6-7 hours drive, arrive at TarangiResort by the Kosi River. Lunch, afternoon game drive in the park, go out looking for the various species of exotic birds, jackals, sambar and spotted deers wild elephants, sloth bears, leopards, and the King of the Jungle the elusive Tiger. Surely, Tiger spotting is not guaranteed and is a matterof chance, but this park is known to have the highest density of Tigers and therefore good chances of Tiger sightings. Return to the resort for evening meditation, followed by dinner, and overnight Corbett
DAY 4 : Morning drive to Dwarahat, 6-7 hours drive. Arrive for Lunch at Dwarahat Ashram, located in Ranikhet district. Relax in the peaceful environs of the Ashram, interact with the resident monks. In the evening get together in front of the meditation room for group energisation exercises, followed by group meditation, and chanting. Dinner served at 8pm. Mostly the Head Monk Swami Nirvananandji takes a discourse on Master’s Gita for one hour after dinner. Overnight Ashram.
DAY 5 : Morning we drive to Kukuchina point, from where approx 1 hour trek starts to Babaji’s cave. This is the famous Dronagiri mountain where Lahiri Mahasaya used to roam around during his posting in Ranikhet and met Babaji. Now a hall has been made at the place where the Palace was materialized by Babaji for Lahiri Mahsaya to fulfill his desire. Meditate in the hall for a brief while. Then climb the final steps to reach the Holy cave of Babaji, which Lahiri Mahasaya also used to meditate in his previous incarnation. This cave is the birth place of Kriya. This was where Kriya initiation was given to Lahiriji in 1861 by Babaji, and thus was reborn the lost Kriya Yoga in dark ages. Meditate in the cave, feel the bliss of the great ones around you.
Come out, have Lunch outside the main hall below, relax and interiorize the feeling of being present at this historical and world changing place. Trek back to the point where the car is waiting for you to take you back to the Ashram. Arrive in time for the evening group energisation exercises and meditation. Evening discourse by Swami Nirvananandji, overnight Ashram.
DAY 6: Full day at Dwarahat Ashram, evening enjoy the discourse by Swami Nirvananandji
DAY 7 : After breakfast drive to Rudraprayag, en route visit………………overnight Monal Resort Rudraprayag
DAY 8 : Morning drive to Rishikesh, visit Vashistha and Christ’s cave. Meditate in the cave, come out and roam the busy lanes of Rishikesh, the foothill town of mighty Himalayas. After Varanasi this is the one town which has been visited by almost all enlightened masters of India. Take a boat ride on the Ganges. Lunch in one of the restaurants in the busy lanes of Rishikesh. Come to Parmarth Niketan by evening to perform Yagna ( we sit around a fire, and as we place the Aahuti (offerings) into the flames, we symbolically offer all our "impurities" - our anger, our greed, our jealousy, our grudges, our pains, our obstacles - and we pray to God to make us as pure as the ghee we are pouring into the flames. Followed by a beautiful and soul stirring ceremony called “Ganga Aarti on the Holy River Ganges alongwith about 50 young kids dressed like monks. These kids have been adopted by this Ashram and are learning Vedic studies.
DAY 9 : Morning drive to Haridwar, visit Keshavnanda Ashram, where he established a hermitage in Haridwar in a beautiful place, at the foot of Chandi Hill, next to sacred Ganges river, with the object of practicing yoga. Here, he constructed the samadhi mandir of Sri Swami Shyamacharan Lahiriji, morning meditate in the small room where Lahiri Mahasayaji ashes are preserved. After lunch we will explore this ancient city before our afternoon visit to Shree Anandamoy Ma's Ashram and Samadhi Shrine. Enjoy evening Aarati on the banks of the Ganga. Transfer to train station to take overnight train to Delhi.
DAY 10 : Arrive New Delhi, and drive to drive to Brindavan, 175kms, 3-4 hours drive. Brindavan is childhood hometown of Lord Krishna. Visit various temples in the vicinity alongwith the famous ISKON temple. Post Lunch visit Swami Keshavnanda’a hermitage in Radha Bagh, he was a leading disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, who moved in Himalayas in recluse before starting this hermitage in 1923. Yoganandji met him on his visit to India in 1936 in this very hermitage. Overnight Brindavan.
DAY 11: Morning boat ride in the Ganges, and then drive to see Taj Mahal in Agra, 65kms drive, and then return to New Delhi, 225kms, 5 hours drive. Overnight YSIS Ashram
DAY 12: Fly to Bhubneshwar (Puri), visit Sri Yukteshwar’s Hermitage “Kararashram” in the evening., overnight Puri
DAY 13: Morning visit the famous Jagannath Temple, where Daya Maa had vision of Lord Krishna, and where it is said Lord Jesus spent some of his years before returning to Palestine. Evening YSS Kendra in Puri and do Group Meditation, overnight Puri
DAY 14: Morning fly to Kolkatta. Drive to YSS Ashram at Dakhineshwar. Visit the Kali temple where the Mother Kali appeared to Guruji. Then visit Ramakrishna Paramhansa's room, a great place to meditate. In the afternoon return to the ashram for group meditation and dinner. Overnight YSS ashram.
DAY 15: Visit Mother Teresa’s home and charity where her body lies. After a short visit, we will walk around the corner to the Shrine of the Levitating Saint, mentioned in the Autobiography of a Yogi. The highlight of the day is our visit to Guruji’s boyhood home (4 Gurpar Road) and meditate in the sacred attic, where he found God. Overnight ashram
DAY 16: Breakfast, take a scenic boat ride up the Ganges to Serampore. Here we will stroll down Rai Ghat Lane, the same walk taken by Master and Sri Yukteswar each morning to take their dip in the Ganges. At this ghat (bathing place), Mahavatar Babaji appeared under the banyan tree to Sri Yukteswar, after the completion of his Holy Science. We will chant and meditate at Sri Yukteswar's ashram and visit his family home. Then walk a short distance to Ananda Lok, where Guruji lived while attending Serampore College. Return by boat to Dakshineswar Ashram, dinner and overnight Ashram.
DAY 17: Fly to Ranchi. Drive to YSS Ashram, day free to enjoy the environs of the Ashram, evening attend group energisation exercises, meditation and chanting. Overnight Ashram.
DAY 18: Full day at Ranchi Ashram. Overnight Ashram
DAY 19: Morning at Ashram, evening board an overnight train to Varanasi.
DAY 20: Arrive Varanasi, check into Hotel. Late morning: Visit the Benaras Hindu University founded in 1916 and its famous Museum - Bharat Kala Bhavan which houses one of the finest collections of Mughal miniature paintings and brocade textiles. The Bharat Mata and Durga Temple
Afternoon: Proceed on an excursion to Sarnath - The place where the Buddha turned the “Wheel of Law” and delivered His First Sermon. See the Chowkandi and Dhamek Stupas, the ruins of 9th and 10th century monasteries and temples, the temple built by the Mahabodhi Society in 1931, and the Tibetan Temple. Visit the famous Sarnath Museum.
Evening boat ride on Ganges, see the evening Aarti of the Holy River while doing the boat ride. Overnight Varanasi
DAY 21: Sun rise at the holy river is a truly tranquil and breath taking sight with pilgrims standing waist-deep in water, praying to the rising Sun. Past these bathing ghats, see the "burning ghats" where the Hindus cremate their dead. This is done with great religious fervour which makes for a moving experience. On your return walk through the streets of the old city. See the famous Vishwanath temple with its spires covered with gold, dedicated to Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Return to the hotel for Breakfast
Later visit the Dashashmedh ghat, where Babaji appeared to Lahiri Mahashaya and Mazumdar. We will try to visit Satyalok, the Ashram of Lahiri Mahashaya. Post Lunch visit Trailanga Swamy Ashram and Ananda Moyi Maa’s Ashram and the famous Kashi Vishweshwar temple of Lord Shiva. Overnight Varanasi
DAY 22: Board flight to New Delhi. Overnight at YSIS Ashram
DAY 23: Fly back home
