Yoga Retreats in Uttarakhand

This is a guest post by Manmohan Singh of Rishikul Yogshala.

Recognized as the land of Ayurveda and yoga, Uttrakhand is a nest to several destinations which are known for meditation and yoga. The ancient science of yoga was discovered by the seers in Uttarakhand centuries ago. Since then, it has become the hub of yoga and meditation practice.

Yoga helps in maintaining a healthy mind and body. Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word, which means to yoke or unite. Yoga is knowledge of the self which, you may begin in the land of god – Uttarakhand, blessed with religion and culture. Everything in this enchanting land is either holy or related to the divine energy. You may not want to miss a chance to be part of this beautiful journey. Stick to the blog to learn more about this fascinating land.

Why Uttarakhand for Yoga?

Uttarakhand is a cushion for the fall of unhealthy living. Along with its landscapes and peaceful environment, it is a place of practice of the age-old discipline, yoga. Holy Ganges is a part of India’s history, culture, and religion since times immemorial, and it exhibits maturity and serenity while passing through Hrishikesh and Haridwar. It seems that the mighty river Ganges is also in deep meditation while crossing these two cities.

All of this calm and peaceful history of this place makes Uttarakhand suitable for practicing yoga. Both yoga and Ayurveda along with meditation, contribute to attaining physical and mental well-being through a suitable schedule. This schedule involves exercise, special diet, breathing practice, meditation, herbal remedies, and physical therapies. This ancient technique of yoga and Ayurveda is well preserved in Uttarakhand.

Read: Best Yoga Retreats in India

Important places/Hubs in Uttarakhand for Yoga

Yoga tourism has become a hot topic all over the world. Being the preferred place of yogis from all around the world to practice this age-old science, Hrishikesh is known as the yoga capital of the world. There are a number of institutes and ashrams that contribute to serving people with the authentic knowledge of yoga which makes this place everyone’s first choice while seeking mental peace and fitness. This place is far from the hustles and bustles of city life and nestled in the lap of nature and blessed with the precious gift of yoga. As an ancient practice for complete transformation of the body, mind, and spirit, yoga suits aptly with the calmness of this place. Hrishikesh is the first choice for weekend getaways and preferred destinations.

Apart from Hrishikesh, Haridwar is another place that hosts a number of yoga schools and ashrams offering different types of yoga teacher teaching as well as yoga retreats. Located by the banks of the Ganges, the places also attract plenty of pilgrims from all over the country especially during the festive months.

What Attract Visitors to Hrishikesh for Yoga?

As we all know, Hrishikesh has a remarkable impact on the history of yoga. Here you can find numerous centers that also attract tourists. People believe that when you practice meditation in Hrishikesh, it brings you closer to the accomplishment of moksha. This place has much significance in terms of yoga, Ayurveda, and religious rituals.

Hrishikesh is an ancient town with Sivananda Nagar on the one side and temples, Ram Jhula, and Laxman Jhula in the north and ashrams and Swargashram in the eastern bank. You may witness Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat at dusk or may go to Neelkanth Mahadev temple, or may experience divine energy at Vashishtha Guha cave by the Ganges.

Over the years, Hrishikesh has set its reputation for serving the authentic knowledge of yoga around the world. From Europe, China, Australia, and the USA, yogis and yoginis choose Hrishikesh to learn the purest form of yoga under the guidance of learned and highly knowledgeable yoga masters or gurus.

What Types of Packages are Available (for practitioners, for teachers?)

Hrishikesh is full of options when it comes to yoga depending upon your needs, budget, and duration. Here you may find three days to month-long packages which ensure quality. Some of them include all the expenses related to accommodation and food and somewhere you need to pay extra for all these facilities. You must enquire about all the details carefully before settling for a program. The packages in general start from $900 including all the facilities.

If you’re a teacher and looking to make yoga your profession, you must start with the 200-hour teacher training program. There are three levels of the teacher training course – 200 hours, 300 hours, and 500 hours. You may choose from them depending upon your level.

You can also take part in these programs to deepen your understanding of the subject. Even if you’re a regular practitioner, you may go for the teacher training program, or you may choose to stay in an ashram and contribute to volunteering and practice yoga for almost free.

Best Months to Visit and Expenses

Best Months to Visit, Minimum stays recommended and Tentative Expenses…

Hrishikesh has continental type of climate but being located at the foothills of the Himalayas, it witnesses a favorable weather throughout the year. However, the summers can be quite hot and the temperatures may reach the 40s (Celsius) during the day time. Monsoon in Hrishikesh brings moderate rains and the vegetation all around springs back to life during this period.

Winters can be chilly especially during the months of December and January when the temperature can dip to 9 degree Celsius. The best time to visit Hrishikesh is from September to April and also the first week of May.

Hrishikesh has plenty of options for accommodation. Starting from budget stays to luxurious stays, everything is available in this beautiful land. Lots of hotels are available by the river side offering spectacular views of the Ganges.

Apart from that, there are ashrams where one stay at a cheap price. Some even offer packages which include food, accommodation, activities like yoga, meditation, etc. For backpackers, there are a good number of hostels where one can get rooms at only $5 – $8. For those who love luxurious stays, there are luxury hotels available located just a few kilometers away from the main town.

List of Yoga Retreats

People come from all over the world to learn the secrets of yoga. If you don’t have enough availability of time and you want a getaway, you may go for yoga retreats. If you have done yoga retreats in Nepal, then trust me Hrishikesh will be a completely different experience for you with its holistic and extensive programs.

These are some of the best centers offering yoga retreats as well as yoga teacher training programs in Hrishikesh.

• Parmarth Niketan
• Himalyan Yog Ashram
• Rishikul Yogshala
• Hrishikesh Yoga Peeth
• Arogya Yoga School
• Sattva Retreat Hrishikesh
• Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram & Retreat
• Osho Gnaga Dham Ashram

Author Bio:
Manmohan Singh is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher and a Traveller in India. He organize 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh.. Manmohan Singh conducts Yoga Teacher Training in India in different cities. He loves writing and reading books related to yoga, health, nature, Himalayas and Trekking in India.
Website: rishikulyogshala.org