INDIA

Sacred India: In the Land of the Gita

A contemplative pilgrimage · North India · February 2027

  • Dates: 7–26 February 2027 (Phase 1)
  • Duration: 20 days + optional 7-day yoga week
  • CHIP 3 — Group: Maximum 15 participants
Reserve your spot
See the program

Phase 1 — the pilgrimage, in five stages

The shape of the journey

This is not a sightseeing tour with a spiritual veneer.
The sequence of places is the teaching itself: arrival, the Gita spoken, the land of Krishna, the Ganga, and the Buddha’s awakening.

Delhi — Arrival and the First Temple

Ārambha · the beginning

Across two days, Delhi holds many worlds — the Mughal grandeur of Humayun’s Tomb, the calm of the Lotus Temple, and your first Krishna temple at ISKCON Delhi, where the Bhagavad Gita opens the way.

  • Deli
  • 2 Nights

Kurukshetra — Where Krishna Spoke the Gita

Jñāna · knowledge

The field of the Mahabharata, and Jyotisar — the spot where Krishna delivered the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna and revealed his universal form. The philosophical source of the journey.

  • Kurukshetra
  • 2 Nights

Vrindavan — In the Land of Krishna

Bhakti · devotion

Five days in Braj, where Krishna lived: the temples of Vrindavan, the birthplace at Mathura, the circumambulation of Govardhan, and the villages of Barsana and Nandgaon.

  • Vrindavan · Mathura · Govardhan
  • 5 Nights

Varanasi — Sunrise on the Ganga

Moksha · liberation

The eternal city on the Ganga — a boat at first light, the Kashi Vishwanath temple, and the great evening aarti — with Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught, close by.
  • Varanasi & Sarnath
  • 3 Nights

Bodhgaya — Where the Buddha Awoke

Bodhi · awakening

East to the Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Temple, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, with an excursion to the ancient university at Nalanda. A meditative close to the pilgrimage.

  • Bodhgaya
  • 4 Nights

Optional Yoga Week in Rishikesh

Yoga Week in Rishikesh

Yoga

The eternal city on the Ganga — a boat at first light, the Kashi Vishwanath temple, and the great evening aarti — with Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught, close by.

  • Rishikesh
  • 7 Nights

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WHEN TO GO · FEBRUARY 2027

The calendar does
most of the choosing

February is the cool, dry heart of the North Indian season — comfortable on the plains, crisp in the foothills, and clear of the Holi crowds (Holi falls on 22 March). The dates are set so the optional yoga week in Rishikesh culminates on Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva.

RECOMMENDED

PHASE 1

20-day

From Delhi to the Bodhi tree — and, if you wish, the Himalaya

7 to 26 February, 2027

The route

  • Delhi — 2 nights
  • Kurukshetra — 2 nights
  • Agra (Taj Mahal) — 1 night
  • Vrindavan / Braj — 5 nights
  • Varanasi & Sarnath — 3 nights
  • Bodhgaya — 4 nights

Optional

PHASE 2

7-day

Rishikesh yoga week

28 February to 6 March, 2027

The route

  • Rishikesh — 7-day yoga week

DAY BY DAY

Phase 1

Delhi — arrival & the layered capital (2 nights)

Day 1

Sun 7 Feb — Arrival.
Arrive in Delhi, rest, gentle evening

DAY 2

Mon 8 Feb — Delhi.
Humayun’s Tomb and the Mughal legacy, the Lotus Temple, and ISKCON Delhi (Bhagavad Gita exhibits, evening aarti).

Kurukshetra — where the Gita was spoken (2 nights)

Day 3

Tue 9 Feb — To Kurukshetra.
Transfer (~3.5h). Brahma Sarovar; evening sound-and-light retelling of the Mahabharata at Jyotisar.

DAY 4

Wed 10 Feb — Kurukshetra.
Jyotisar (where Krishna delivered the Gita to Arjuna), Sannihit Sarovar, Sthaneshwar Mahadev, Bhishma Kund, Krishna Museum; afternoon reflection.

Agra — the Taj (1 night)

Day 5

Thu 11 Feb — To Agra.
Fast train via Delhi. Taj Mahal at sunset.

Braj / Vrindavan — the land of Krishna (5 nights)

Day 6

Fri 12 Feb — Agra → Vrindavan.
Taj at sunrise, Agra Fort, transfer to Vrindavan.

DAY 7

Sat 13 Feb — Vrindavan.
Banke Bihari, Radha Raman, ISKCON Vrindavan; Prem Mandir evening aarti.

Day 8

Sun 14 Feb — Mathura & Gokul.
Krishna Janmabhoomi, Dwarkadhish, Vishram Ghat; Gokul.

DAY 9

Mon 15 Feb — Govardhan.
Govardhan Parikrama, Kusum Sarovar, Radha Kund.

Day 10

Tue 16 Feb — Barsana & Nandgaon.
Radha’s and Krishna’s foster villages; evening kirtan.

Varanasi & Sarnath — the Ganga (3 nights)

Day 11

Wed 17 Feb — To Varanasi.
Morning flight via Delhi (or overnight train). First walk along the ghats at dusk.

DAY 12

Thu 18 Feb — Varanasi.
Sunrise boat on the Ganga, Kashi Vishwanath, evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh.

Day 13

Fri 19 Feb — Sarnath.
Where the Buddha gave his first teaching (Dhamek Stupa); afternoon reflection in Varanasi.

Bodhgaya — the Bodhi tree (4 nights)

Day 14

Sat 20 Feb — To Bodhgaya.
Travel east (~5–6h / train to Gaya). Afternoon: Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi tree.

DAY 15

Sun 21 Feb — Bodhgaya.
Dawn meditation under the Bodhi tree; the international monasteries.

Day 16

Mon 22 Feb — Nalanda & Rajgir.
Excursion to the ancient Buddhist university and Griddhakuta hill.

DAY 17

Tue 23 Feb — Integration day.
A quiet day of meditation and reflection in Bodhgaya.

Return & close (2 nights)

Day 18

Wed 24 Feb — Return to Varanasi.
Travel; evening rest.

DAY 19

Thu 25 Feb — Varanasi.
Phase 1 closing circle; a final sunrise on the Ganga and evening aarti.

Day 20

Fri 26 Feb — Phase 1 concludes.
Participants ending here depart. Those continuing rest and prepare for the transfer to Rishikesh.

Transition to Phase 2

Day 21

Sat 27 Feb — To Rishikesh.
Depart Varanasi; fly to Dehradun (via Delhi); transfer to Rishikesh; check in.

DAY BY DAY

The Yoga Week in Rishikesh

Phase 2 · optional

A residential immersion in the Himalayan foothills — yogic science, pranayama, hatha yoga, yoga philosophy, and meditation, with periods of silence — timed to culminate on Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva. Best joined as a continuation of the pilgrimage; no sightseeing during the week.

Rishikesh yoga week

Day 1

Sun 28 Feb — Arrival & orientation.
Settle in; gentle opening practice; evening Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan / Triveni Ghat.

DAY 2

Mon 1 Mar — Foundations.
Yogic science; pranayama; hatha yoga; philosophy.

Day 3

Tue 2 Mar — Deepening.
Practice; meditation; teachings.

DAY 4

Wed 3 Mar — Practice & the cave.
Optional Vashishta Gufa meditation excursion.

Day 5

Thu 4 Mar — Silence.
Practice with an extended period of silence and reflection.

DAY 6

Fri 5 Mar — Preparation.
Practice; teachings on Shiva and the meaning of Maha Shivaratri.

Day 7

Sat 6 Mar — Maha Shivaratri.
Gentle daytime practice and rest. Evening: Shivaratri ceremonies, aarti, and (for those who wish) the all-night vigil in Rishikesh.

Departure

Sun 7 Mar.
Slow morning; transfer to Dehradun; onward journey.

BEFORE YOU COMMIT

A few honest practicalities

Weather

February is cool and dry on the plains and crisp in the foothills — pleasant days, cold early mornings. Bring genuine warmth for dawn starts and the Rishikesh week.

Pace

Deliberately unhurried. The Braj days, the Govardhan walk, and the Bodhgaya integration day are built for reflection, not coverage.

FITNESS

Moderate. Expect walking on uneven ground, temple steps, early mornings, and the Govardhan circumambulation, which can be shortened.

RESPECT

Modest dress for temples; some inner sanctums restrict photography and non-Hindu entry.

From the field where the Gita was spoken to the river where it ends.

Kurukshetra, Vrindavan, Varanasi, Bodhgaya — knowledge, devotion, liberation, awakening. If the shape of the journey feels right, the next step is to hold your place for February.

Reserve your place

Secure Your Spot

Phase 1

20-day pilgrimage)

€2800

Shared (twin): €2800 | Private (single room): €3200

iNCLUDED

  • The full 20-day facilitated pilgrimage program (Phase 1)
  • Accommodation throughout — shared rooms (private rooms on the Private option)
  • Selected hotels and ashram guesthouses along the route
  • Daily breakfast and most meals (predominantly vegetarian)
  • Private group transport, plus the internal flight or train to Varanasi
  • Guided temple and site visits with local specialists
  • Included ceremonies and experiences (Ganga aarti, sunrise boat ride, Jyotisar, and more)

NOT INCLUDED

  • International flights
  • Indian e-visa and travel insurance (required)
  • Lunches on transit days, drinks, and personal expenses
  • Single-occupancy supplement (Shared option only)
  • Phase 2 (Rishikesh) unless added
BOOK NOW

Reserve with a 30% deposit. Balance due [CONFIRM date]. Cancellation terms: [CONFIRM].

Phase 1 Yoga Week

Phase 2 (optional Rishikesh yoga week)

€1000

+ €[SET] per person

iNCLUDED

  • The full 20-day facilitated pilgrimage program (Phase 1)
  • Accommodation throughout — shared rooms (private rooms on the Private option)
  • Selected hotels and ashram guesthouses along the route
  • Daily breakfast and most meals (predominantly vegetarian)
  • Private group transport, plus the internal flight or train to Varanasi
  • Guided temple and site visits with local specialists
  • Included ceremonies and experiences (Ganga aarti, sunrise boat ride, Jyotisar, and more)

NOT INCLUDED

  • International flights
  • Indian e-visa and travel insurance (required)
  • Lunches on transit days, drinks, and personal expenses
  • Single-occupancy supplement (Shared option only)
  • Phase 2 (Rishikesh) unless added
BOOK NOW

Reserve with a 30% deposit. Balance due [CONFIRM date]. Cancellation terms: [CONFIRM].

Who this journey is for

  • Travelers drawn to self-discovery through devotion, philosophy, and sacred landscape.
  • Facilitators, therapists, and integration professionals seeking contemplative depth.
  • Anyone drawn to bhakti, meditation, and the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
  • Those wishing to step out of routine into stillness and reflection.
  • Students of Krishna-consciousness, yoga philosophy, and India’s living traditions.

North India’s sacred geography — Braj, the Ganga, the field of the Gita — is among the oldest continuously living spiritual landscapes on earth.

Reserve your place

Join an intimate circle of seekers for a contemplative pilgrimage into the heart of sacred India.

Reserve your place

Deposit: 30% · Limited to 15 participants

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s for you if you’re drawn to a contemplative, devotionally-rooted pilgrimage rather than a packed sightseeing tour — comfortable with early mornings, temple visits, and unhurried days for reflection. Unsure? Request a short call before booking.

Participation in a facilitated small-group pilgrimage through North India, 7–26 February 2027 (Phase 1), led by Anthony Tate / Transcendent Institute [CONFIRM any local co-facilitator or retreat partner]. We act as facilitators and coordinators, not a travel agency.

No — Phase 2 (28 February–6 March) is optional. You can join the 20-day pilgrimage alone, or continue into the yoga week, which culminates on Maha Shivaratri.
No special experience required — all levels welcome. You should be comfortable with moderate walking on uneven ground, temple steps, early mornings, and the Govardhan circumambulation, which can be shortened.
Yes — you’ll take part in living Hindu devotional practices: temple darshan, kirtan, and the evening Ganga aarti. These are traditional cultural and devotional ceremonies.
Limited to 15, to keep the group intimate.

[CONFIRM — see pricing section.]

Reserve with a 30% deposit. [CONFIRM balance due date and cancellation schedule for this trip.]
International flights, the Indian e-visa, travel insurance (required), lunches on transit days, and personal expenses.
February is cool and dry — pleasant days, cold early mornings, especially in the foothills. Bring layers and genuine warm clothing, modest dress for temples, and comfortable walking shoes.