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In the Footsteps of the Masters
Pilgrimage to India
February 17 – March 15, 2008
Puri – Kolkata – Gurgaon – Delhi
Babaji’s Cave – Rishikesh
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Itinerary
- Sunday, February 17 – Gurgaon:
Arrival day. Whenever you fly into Delhi, we plan to pick you up at the airport and take you 30 minutes to the Gurgaon guesthouse where you will stay.
- Monday, February 18 and Tuesday, February 19 – Gurgaon:
Get acquainted with India, Gurgaon, and Ananda devotees serving there. Satsang with Ananda India leaders or with Swami Kriyananda if he is available. Shopping and possible outing to Mahatma Gandhi’s shrine in Delhi. Rest and get acclimatized.
- Wednesday, February 20 – Delhi-Bhubaneswar-Puri:
We have a morning flight from Delhi to Bhubaneswar, and from there we continue by bus to Puri. We arrive in time for lunch at our hotel, the beautiful Mayfair Beach Resort which is situated right on the Bay of Bengal and within walking distance of Sri Yukteswar’s seaside hermitage.
- Thursday, February 21 and Friday, February 22 – Puri:
We will meditate each day at Karar Ashram, the seaside hermitage of Sri Yukteswar, and the site of his mahasamadhi mandir, where his body is buried beneath the sands. For retreat details click here.
We will also meditate at the ashram of Bhupendranath, a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, as well as explore the town of Puri and view the famous Jaganath Temple complex.
There will be time to relax and absorb the experiences of our pilgrimage, and enjoy the peaceful gardens, pool and beach. An evening bonfire and kirtan by the sea is one of the highlights of our time in Puri.
- Saturday, February 23 – Puri-Bhubaneswar-Kolkata:
We leave Puri after breakfast and travel to Bhubaneswar to catch our flight to Kolkata, our spiritual hometown.
Our hotel in Kolkata will be the 4-star Golden Park. We’ll proceed directly from the Kolkata airport to spend the afternoon at Yogananda’s boyhood home at 4 Garpar Road. It is now the residence of his great-nephew, Somnath Ghosh. He, along with his wife and their children lovingly maintain the home and share it as a shrine. They welcome us and make us feel like one of the family, sharing stories, family relics, photos and prasad.
We will have hours of visiting, chanting, and meditating, and each of us will have the opportunity to spend time in the small attic meditation room where, Yogananda said, “I found God.” We will also be able to meditate in the bedroom where Babaji came to Yogananda, giving his blessing to the one he had chosen to take the timeless teachings of yoga to the West.
- Sunday, February 24 – Kolkata:
We will travel to Serampore, the small town where Sri Yukteswar had his hermitage. We will walk down Rai Ghat Lane to have kirtan under the Banyan tree where Babaji greeted Sri Yukteswar after he completed writing The Holy Science.
We will visit Sri Yukteswar’s ashram, where Yogananda spent ten years in training with his divine guru. We’ll also visit other members of Yogananda’s family, and the ashram of Motilal Thakur, a disciple of Sri Yukteswar.
- Monday, February 25 – Kolkata:
Just around the corner from the Ghosh’s home is the family home of Tulsi Bose. We will meditate in this home, a shrine in its own right, with its own relics and treasures. It now the residence of Devi and Hassi Mukherjee. Hassi is Tulsi Bose’s daughter.
Yogananda stayed here during his return visit to India in 1935-6, cared for by Tulsi’s wife, Martan Ma. After lunch with Devi and Hassi, we will meditate at the home of Bhaduri Mahasaya, the “levitating saint.” Then we will drive to the Kali temple in Dakshineswar, just outside Kolkata. Yogananda visited this temple with his sister Roma and her husband. Here he entered cosmic consciousness and the image of Kali came alive before him, granting his request that Roma’s husband become spiritually awakened.
We will chant and meditate in this powerful spot. Ramakrishna, one of the best-known masters of India, lived here many years along with Sarada Devi, his spiritual companion. We will be able to meditate in the room where he and his disciples spent many hours.
- Tuesday, February 26 – Kolkata-Delhi:
We’ll spend most of the day again visiting the homes of Yogananda and Tulsi Bose. We’ll have a discipleship initiation at Yogananda’s, which is, for many, one of the most powerful experiences of the entire pilgrimage. In the evening we will fly back to Delhi and Gurgaon.
- Wednesday, February 27 – Gurgaon/Delhi:
A day trip to Delhi to visit the spectacular new Akshardham temple, perhaps Delhi’s biggest and most beautiful. This will be followed by lunch and shopping at Delhi's crafts markets.
- Thursday, February 28-Sunday, March 2 – Gurgaon:
International Kriya Yoga Retreat. Open to everyone, this retreat offers classes and initiations in everything from beginning meditation to Higher Kriyas. This gathering brings together Swami Kriyananda, Kriya teachers from Ananda worldwide, and hundreds of students from India and the West, to focus on deepening our understanding and perfection of the path of Kriya Yoga. Not to be missed!
- Monday, March 3 – Gurgaon-Bhimtal:
A morning visiting traditional temples in Delhi, including Chhatarpur temple, and lunch at a Krishna temple. In the afternoon we board a train, arriving at Bhimtal in time to spend the night at Monolith Resort, overlooking the peaceful lake there.
- Tuesday, March 4 – Bhimtal-Ranikhet:
We are now in the beautiful Himalayan foothills. Our morning meditation will be at the ashram of Mauni Ma, a direct disciple of the saint, Neem Karoli Baba. We’ll also have her darshan if she is present. Then breakfast overlooking the lake, and a drive to the town of Ranikhet, where Lahiri Mahasaya stayed.
On the way there, we will stop to meditate at Neem Karoli Baba’s riverside ashram, where he lived for many years. In Ranikhet we’ll stay at Woodsvilla Resort, with, clouds permitting, a spectacular view of the high Himalayas from the rooms.
- Wednesday, March 5 – Babaji’s Cave:
After a two hour bus ride, we’ll walk 1 to 1 ½ hours on forest trails, to the cave said to be that to which Mahavatar Babaji summoned Lahiri Mahasaya, where he materialized a golden palace, and where he initiated Lahiri into Kriya Yoga, ushering in a new era in spiritual awareness worldwide. We’ll spend 3 to 4 hours meditating in and around the cave, and exploring on our own. A deeply spiritual experience.
- Thursday, March 6 – Ranikhet-Gurgaon:
After a meditative morning in the lovely natural surroundings of Ranikhet, we’ll drive downhill again, stopping for the darshan, if possible, of Swami Paramananda, a supremely joyful and energetic 119 year old yogi. We’ll arrive near the train station in time for dinner, then we’ll board a night train, with first-class sleeping berths, on our way to Delhi.
- Friday, March 7-Sunday, March 9 – Gurgaon:
Yogananda’s Mahasamadhi Retreat. March 7 marks the passing of Yogananda, March 9 that of Sri Yukteswar. We will join Swami Kriyananda and hundreds of Ananda devotees from East and West to honor these great Gurus in a weekend of devotion, music, instruction, and deep inspiration. For retreat details click here.
- Monday, March 10 – Gurgaon-Agra:
Optional daytrip to the Taj Mahal, India’s most famous attraction, or a free day in Gurgaon.
- Tuesday, March 11 – Gurgaon-Rishikesh: An early morning train takes us to the Ganges at Haridwar, where we will meditate by the ashes of Lahiri Mahasaya. Then we’ll proceed to the devotee’s town of Rishikesh and our river-view hotel, The Great Ganga. We will join the evening group of worshipers watching the arati on the banks of the Ganges.
- Wednesday, March 12-Friday, March 14 – Rishikesh:
Our days will include meditations and kirtans at all of our destinations. We will visit the powerful temple at Swami Shankarananda’s Kriya Yoga Ashram; visit with our friend, Vanamali Devi at her ashram; and travel to Dehra Dun for a satsang with Swami Gyanananda, a long-time disciple of Yogananda.
We will also visit the ashrams of Anandamoyee Ma and Swami Sivananda. We’ll have a powerful purification ceremony on the banks of the Ganges. We’ll also have time in Rishikesh to sightsee, shop, and explore the forested pathways along the Ganges between the towns of Ramjhula and Lakshmanjhula. On a quiet stretch of the river above Rishikesh we will meditate in the cave that was the home to the saint, Vashistha. Just downstream from this shrine is the cave where Swami Kriyananda spent a month in seclusion.
- Saturday, March 15 – Rishikesh-Gurgaon:
After most of the day in Rishikesh, we’ll board an afternoon train to Delhi, returning late to our Gurgaon guesthouse.
- Sunday, March 16:
You may choose to fly home from Delhi this day, or stay more days on your own.
Alternate Itinerary
The above is a 28-day pilgrimage within India: February 17-March 15.
Space permitting, however, it is also possible to join the pilgrimage later on for those who cannot spend the entire 28 days.
- 19-day pilgrimage: February 26-March 15.
Includes Delhi, Kriya Retreat, Babaji's Cave, Mahasamadhi Retreat, and Rishikesh.
- 10-day pilgrimage: March 6-March 15.
Includes Mahasamadhi Retreat and Rishikesh.
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Yogananda's Boyhood Home, Kolkata |
Kali Temple, Dakshineswar |
View Pilgrimage Brochure online
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