Yoga Tour, Rishikesh
Tour Packages for India
Originated and nurtured in the hands of early Indian saints, Yoga is an ancient art form of natural holistic well being. Despite being centuries old, this genre of natural Indian health treatment has gained tremendous popularity over the years amongst the people of the western world. A yoga tour of Rishikesh will help you delve deep into the essence of this for meditation and maybe adopt some of its methods too.
In the world of ever increasing work pressure, constant fierce competition and continuous urge to be the best, man seeks and deserves the most precious element of the present – Peace. Every single person is running after a moment’s peace of mind. Today yoga centers are cropping up in every corner of the world, especially in UK and USA. But it is only natural to learn a particular thing from the very place where it originated. This has brought several tourists from all over the world India to imbibe the art of yoga and live a life of health, wellness and peace.
Rishikesh, in North India, is one of the most visited holy cities and is one of the best gifts of nature with beautiful sceneries and landscapes. Probably due to the wealth of natural beauties, the holy Ganges flowing by and the fresh atmosphere, it is at this spot of the Indian subcontinent that yoga developed to immense heights. People from various parts of the globe come to Rishikesh to understand, study and take in the art of yoga.
A yoga tour to Rishikesh lets you into the various details of ashrams, yoga centers and the very essence of yoga. The first city located on the course of the Ganges, Rishikesh is sprinkled with several ashrams which offer lessons and practices in yoga, meditation and self evaluation. Nestled at the base of the majestic Himalayas with the sacred Ganges flowing by, the town of Rishikesh is an ideal place for discovering yoga. Situated at a height of almost 1360 feet above sea level, Rishikesh is also known as the 'Yoga Capital of the World'.
Rishikesh is a key access to the sacred Himalayas and it is generally the starting point for sojourns to other religious places like Kedarnath, Gangotri Badrinath, and Yamunotri. Every year this town sees a huge influx of tourists who seek peace and calm of mind and soul. To cope up with the hectic times of the present days, it is really helpful to take up a trip to Rishikesh which guarantees to rejuvenate your body and soul and inculcate it with energy, self discipline and resolution.
When to take a yoga tour to Rishikesh?
If you are looking to know Yoga in Rishikesh, the place is best visited during the international yoga festival which takes place on the first week of February every year. Eminent yoga practitioners grace this festival to give you lessons, lectures and teachings in yoga. The renowned yoga personalities and yoga learners display their talents to the visitors at the fair.
About Yoga tour to Rishikesh
While at Rishikesh, the class lessons at the ashrams may seem less disciplined and liberal compared to the ones imparted in the West, but it offers a slow, free and realistic process of yoga learning. Allowing you to study yoga in rather spiritual terms than mere rigorous bookish instructions, Rishikesh is a pleasant place to start learning what India has to offer. With the sun rising right there from behind the Himalayas, and reflections on the Ganges, live religious chants set the spiritual tone. Starting at around 4 o’clock in the morning, the hymns glide across the land and waters till well into late evening. At night holy ceremonies take place and offerings of several camphor light diyas float beautifully on the river.
Where to study on yoga tour to Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a hub of a plethora of yoga centers and ashrams which makes it difficult for you to go to the right place to learn the meditation form properly. We help you select and visit the right centers here:
The Yoga Study Centre,
Ganga Vihar, Haridwar Road,
Rishikesh, 249201
Tel +91 135 431196
Located on the other side of Rishikesh from the other ashrams, The Yoga Study Centre is easily reachable by shared rickshaws that ply along the main road.
In strict military style, Bramacharya Rudra Dev, the senior Iyengar teacher at Yoga Study Center carries out yoga lessons at the yoga study centre. Students are expected to pick up the rules and tutorials fast and keep with the pace of the classes. Several students from the western part of the world visit here and appreciate his style of instructions and feel the affection behind his challenging adjustments made to suit the orientation of each student.
The classes here are conducted for twenty days, thrice a year during February, April and September. The students of Bramacharya Rudra Dev consist of locals as well as foreigners. The ashram provides you with blankets and mats. As far as dress is concerned, men and women, both, are expected and advised to dress decently. The centre remains closed from the middle of December to the middle of January and for the months of March, May and June.
Yoga Niketan Ashram
Tel. +91 135 430227
Positioned near the walkway, towards the south of the Sivananda Ashram, Yoga Niketan Ashram offers classes imparted in traditional Indian education style. Asanas or exercises instructed here typically include classical postures perfected with few adjustments or variations. Yoga instructors often use a typical tone to deliver the lessons and this helps you relax. The green ashram lawns with monkeys all around, lie at a bare walking distance from the main road. This leads you to the spectacular river views far from the hustle and bustle. Minimum stay at the ashram has to be 15 days or more and you are strictly required to attend both the morning and evening yoga sessions at the scheduled time. Students failing to attend the classes can opt to sit in the library and do some reading.
Sri Ved Niketan Ashram
Tel. +91 135 433537/430279
This ashram lies just on the Eastern banks of the Ganges. The classes here offered are much in the lines of the teachings of the gentle yoga style of the Bihar School of Yoga and classes which include a few asanas, yoga, mild warm up exercises for the joints, some pranayama and Hindu philosophy. They also offer meditation classes. All instructional lessons are conducted in the big central hall in the morning as well as the evening.
Ashrams on yoga tour to Rishikesh
Dayananda Ashram
Founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, the great scholar and preacher of Vadanta, during the 1960s, the Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh is located along the Holy Ganges. Primarily a seat for Vedanta and Sanskrit studies, it offers lessons in English and adheres to the ancient Indian tradition of teaching. The library here showcases over 5000 titles on different subjects, like, Indian and western philosophies, Yoga Vedanta, Sanskrit Grammar, and Religion. The daily yoga classes and Iyengar Yoga camps are held at the Yoga studio.
Sivananda Ashram
Established by Swami Sivananda, the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh is the head office and spiritual center of the huge worldwide spiritual organization known as "The Divine Life Society." It is an updated yoga center where you have disciplined schedules from 4 am and continues through the day covering various sessions like Samadhi Shrine chanting, meditation, Hatha Yoga class, Karma Yoga, and the Akhanda Kirtan. The library houses some of the best spiritual books, CDs and cassettes.
Omkarananda Ashram
Founded by Philosopher Swami Omkarananda, Omkarananda Ashram is a mainly a spiritually focused scientific, non-political, educational, humanitarian, cultural, Charitable Trust, which steadily endeavors to offer tireless noble service to the poor and needy for spiritual upliftment.
