Discover the Best Meditation Retreats in India
What to expect:
- Traditional meditation techniques such as Vipassana, as well as walking meditation and Yoga Nidra sessions with experienced gurus.
- Authentic vegan and vegetarian Indian cuisine that are inspired by the principles of Ayurveda.
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Mindful yoga practices mixed with guided meditation to calm the mind and relax the body.
- Tours and excursions of sacred temples, ancient sites and breathtaking natural landscapes.
Your complete guide to meditation retreats in India
Overall, India promises an authentic and truly transformative experience. Here’s how you can elevate your meditation practice in this magical place.
Top destinations in India
From the holy temples of Rishikesh to Kerala's peaceful, palm-lined beaches, there are dozens of sublime towns and cities that offer a unique spiritual experience.
To help you narrow down your search, we’ve shared some of the most popular places for a meditation retreat.
Rishikesh
Rishikesh is the birthplace of yoga and a haven for peace seekers.
Lying at the foothills of the Himalayas beside the Ganges River, it offers the perfect backdrop for a traditional meditation journey or
ancient Ayurveda experience.
In Rishikesh, you’ll find a number of renowned yoga ashrams and schools where some of the best gurus and instructors share their knowledge and insights.
When you’re not practising breathwork or delving into
mindfulness, you’ll be able to explore Rishikesh’s countless temples, monuments and sacred sites.
Kerala
Known to the locals as 'God’s Own Country',
Kerala is a piece of heaven on earth.
Hugging the Malabar Coast, the small state is peppered with idyllic
beach retreats that offer traditional wellness treatments and guided meditation.
Yogis that visit this region for a meditation getaway will also have the opportunity to experience the traditional Ayurveda lifestyle.
You can expect wholesome Ayurveda dishes made with locally grown, organic produce and various holistic healing treatments that cleanse and purify the system from top to toe.
Goa
With many incredible beaches, traditional ashrams and sacred places of worship, yogis can delve into spiritual meditation without the distractions of daily life or cheesy tourist gimmicks.
Here, you’ll have the luxury of meditating for hours on end on the soft, powdery shore or settling into deep relaxation with an Ayurvedic massage.
Best time to visit India
If you’re planning on deepening your meditation practice in India, it’s vital that you plan your holiday around the continent’s temperamental climate.
Unless you love a torrential downpour in the middle of a guided meditation session, you might want to skip India from June through to October.
During this time, the monsoon season is in full swing and your holiday can quickly turn into a natural disaster.
The best time to visit India is from late October to March when the clouds clear and the weather is cool, dry and pleasant.
In the peak of winter, Northern India can get a bit chilly, so if you plan on visiting in December, pack a snug jacket and woolly scarf.
Bucket-list attractions in India
There is no place on earth quite like India.
In this unique country, travellers can tour ancient desert temples, explore cities glazed in gold and experience yoga and meditation in its most authentic form.
With so much to explore, be sure to include at least one of these top attractions on your itinerary:
- Marvel at a monument etched in stone at the Kailasa Temple
- Explore the legendary Red Fort in Old Delhi
- Visit the gleaming Gold Temple in Amritsar
- Float along the Ganges in the holy Hindu city of Haridwar
- Meditate at the Badrinath Temple
India travelling tips
India is notorious for its chaotic streets buzzing with lumbering livestock, lively markets and blaring mopeds. So, be prepared for a sensory overload.
Although many yogis
travel solo here, it can be a bit overwhelming to traverse the overcrowded cities alone.
Travellers can hail one of the many yellow and black taxis zooming around the city, or for a smoother ride, arrange one through a reputable taxi service.
If you're hopping from one town to the next on your meditation journey, hiring a private car with a local driver will be the safest and easiest option.
Flying is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to travel between big cities, with budget airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir offering affordable flights to major hubs.
If you plan on flying around India, be sure to plan and book in advance as planes can fill up fast here.
Find inner peace on a meditation holiday in India
Book your next retreat with Basubu and discover the beauty and diversity that is India.