INDIA

Sacred India: In the Land of the Gita

Discovering the Roots of Yoga · North India · February 2027

  • Dates: 14–27 February 2027 (Phase 1)
  • Duration: 14 days + optional yoga week in Rishikesh
  • Group: Maximum 15 participants
Reserve your spot
See the program

Phase 1 — the pilgrimage, in four 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.

  • Delhi
  • 2 Nights

Vrindavan — In the Land of Krishna

Bhakti · devotion

Three days in Braj: the temples of Vrindavan, the circuit of Govardhan, Radha Kund, Barsana and Nandgaon, and the birthplace at Mathura with Gokul and Mahavan.

  • Vrindavan · Mathura · Govardhan
  • 3 Nights

Agra

Yātrā · the journey

The Taj Mahal at sunrise and Agra Fort, then two days east by road with a night in Lucknow and a boat at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet.

  • Agra • Lucknow
  • 2 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

Haridwar & Rishikesh: Ganga Magic

Tapas · practice

Two days in Haridwar, with the aarti at Har Ki Pauri and the hilltop temples of Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi, then two days in Rishikesh: the bridges, the ashrams on the riverbank, and the Triveni Ghat aarti. Phase 1 closes here, where the optional yoga week begins.

  • Vrindavan · Mathura · Govardhan
  • 4 Nights

Optional Yoga Week in Rishikesh

Yoga Week in Rishikesh

Yoga

A residential yoga week in the Himalayan foothills — daily hatha yoga, pranayama, philosophy, and meditation on the banks of the Ganga — culminating on Maha Shivaratri, during the season of the Rishikesh Kirtan Fest.

  • 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 contains Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva, and falls within the season of the Rishikesh Kirtan Fest.

Main Program

PHASE 1

14-day

From Delhi to the Ganga — and, if you wish, the Himalaya

14 to 27 February, 2027

The route

  • Delhi — 2 nights
  • Kurukshetra — 2 nights
  • Vrindavan / Braj — 5 nights
  • Agra (Taj Mahal) — 1 night
  • Haridwar & Rishikesh — 3 nights

Optional

PHASE 2

7-day

Rishikesh yoga week

28 February to 7 March, 2027

The route

  • Rishikesh — 7-day yoga week
  • Kirtan Fest — Feb 12th to March 28th
  • March 6th Mahashivrati celebration

DAY BY DAY

Phase 1

Delhi — arrival & the layered capital (2 nights)

Day 1

Sun 14 Feb — Arrival.
Arrive in Delhi, rest, gentle evening

DAY 2

Mon 15 Feb — Delhi.
Humayun’s Tomb and the Mughal legacy, the Lotus Temple, and ISKCON Delhi (Bhagavad Gita exhibits, evening aarti).

Vrindavan & Braj — The Land of Krishna (3 Nights)

Day 2

Mon 15 Feb — Delhi to Vrindavan

Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb in the morning. Transfer to Vrindavan (~3h). Evening darshan at Banke Bihari and Prem Mandir.

DAY 3

Govardhan, Barsana & Nandgaon

Early start for the Govardhan circuit and Radha Kund, then the villages of Radha and of Krishna’s childhood.

DAY 4

Mathura & Gokul

Krishna Janmabhoomi, Gokul, Mahavan and Raman Reti. Evening aarti in Vrindavan.

Agra — the Taj (1 night)

Day 4

Thu 18 Feb — To Agra.
Nidhivan, Radha Raman and Keshi Ghat in the morning. Transfer to Agra (~1.5h). Taj Mahal until sunset.

Day 5

Fri 19 Feb — Agra to Lucknow

Agra Fort in the morning, then the expressway to Lucknow (~4.5h). Evening in old Lucknow.

Varanasi & Sarnath — The Ganga (4 Nights)

Day 6

Sat 20 Feb — To Varanasi

Transfer to Varanasi (~5h), arriving for lunch. Evening Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

DAY 7

Sun 21 Feb — Varanasi

Sunrise boat on the Ganga, Kashi Vishwanath, and a walk along the ghats. Evening at Assi Ghat.

Day 8

Mon 22 Feb — Sarnath

Where the Buddha gave his first teaching (Dhamek Stupa). Afternoon free; group session.

DAY 9

Tue 23 Feb — Rest day

No scheduled visits. Time for the river, rest, and integration

Day 10

Tue 23 Feb — Barsana & Nandgaon.
Radha’s and Krishna’s foster villages; evening kirtan.

Haridwar — Where the Ganga Reaches the Plains (2 Nights)

Day 11

Wed 24 Feb — To Haridwar

Flight to Dehradun and short transfer to Haridwar. Evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri.

DAY 12

Thu 25 Feb — Haridwar

Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi by cable car; Daksha Mahadev temple at Kankhal.

Rishikesh — The Foothills (2 Nights)

Day 13

Fri 26 Feb — To Rishikesh

Short transfer (~45 min). Ram Jhula, Lakshman Jhula and the riverside ashrams. Evening aarti at Triveni Ghat.

DAY 14

Sat 27 Feb — Rishikesh

Optional morning at Vashishta Gufa. Phase 1 closing circle.

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 — culminating on Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva, and including evening sessions at the Rishikesh Kirtan Fest. Best joined as a continuation of the pilgrimage; no sightseeing during the week.

Rishikesh yoga week

Day 1

Sun 28 Feb — Arrival & orientation.
Travel from Varanasi; 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. Evening session at the Rishikesh Kirtan Fest.

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. Evening session at the Rishikesh Kirtan Fest.

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.

Our Team

Facilitator

Anthony Tatekawa

Founder of the Transcendent Institute. Psychologist specialized in integrative psychotherapy and yoga certified teacher. 

Instructor

Farah Diva

MD specialized in Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine. Facilitator and trainer of the Transcendent Institute.

Instructor

Holly

MD surgeon and Kaballah teacher and senior facilitator.

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 Varanasi mornings 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 — knowledge, devotion, liberation. 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

14-day pilgrimage

€2900

Shared (twin): €2900 | Private (single room): €3300

INCLUDED

  • The full 14-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 2 — Yoga Week in Rishikesh

Phase 2 (optional Rishikesh yoga week)

from €550

Private room €650 

INCLUDED

  • 1 week Yoga training immersion
  • Massage and sound healing sessions
  • Accommodation throughout — shared rooms (private rooms on the Private option)
  • Daily breakfast and most meals (predominantly vegetarian)
  • Private group transport, plus the flight to Dehradun and road transfer to Rishikesh
  • Guided temple and site visits with local specialists
  • Evening sessions at the Rishikesh Kirtan Fest and the Maha Shivaratri ceremonies

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)
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, 14–27 February 2027 (Phase 1), led by Anthony Tatekawa / 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–7 March) is optional. You can join the 14-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.

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.