Vashishta Cave: half-day

Departing Rishikesh after lunch for a 1-hour drive to the hidden meditation cave, Vashistha Gufa.This is an ancient cave where Sage Vashistha (namesake of vashisthasana, side plank) and his wife meditated for hundreds of years. This meditation cave is hidden in the middle of Gular trees and alongside the sacred River Ganga. This cave is beautifully maintained by the small Swami Purushottamanand ashram which is nearby.

Take the journey down the 200 steps as a descending meditation until you arrive at the entrance to the cave. Settle into the stillness on the soft mats inside the cave. Be held in the aroma of incense and the peaceful energy within. Meditate. 

Wander down to the sand beach, let the river ganga wash over you as we await the setting sun. Be guided through a beautiful chant to the Goddess Ganga as the sun sets. Journey back to Ganga Kinare for dinner, followed by Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra.

Parmarth Niketan:half-day

We will visit the Parmarth Niketan Ashram, the largest spiritual haven in Rishikesh and a pilgrimage for spiritual seeks from every corner of the earth. We will wander the grounds, soak in the meditative atmosphere and join together with the Ashram residents for the largest Ganga Aarti in the city, before sitting with the spiritual teachers for evening Satsaṅga. 

Parmarth Niketan feels like home from the moment you enter, as a spiritual presence flows through you. Visiting the Ashram is a true honour and we are delighted to host this experience for you. 

You may well recognise this Ashram from the BBC program, The Real Marigold Hotel, or from news coverage of visits from the world's most renowned spiritual leaders. 

Kunjapuri Devi Temple: half-day

Journey before dawn under the light of the moon up into the foothills of the Himalayas. Walk the path up to Kunjapuri Devi mountain top temple following in the footsteps of many pilgrims. Watch the moonset and the sunrise with panoramic views of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains. The Kunjapuri Devi Temple is a sacred site of immense importance. Kunjapuri Devi Temple is the temple of Goddess Durga. It is a significant shrine and pilgrimage destination for Goddess Worship.

Be guided through the Adi Shakti chanting meditation to honour this auspicious site. We will then journey on to hike into the Himalayas, through rural villages and ginger farms to a nearby plateau to enjoy nature, where we will be joined by a priest for a traditional Yajna Fire Ceremony. Afterwards, we continue home to Ganga Kinare for a late lunch and a relaxing afternoon.  

Beatles Ashram: half-day

The Beatles Ashram, also known as Chaurasi Kutia is on the outskirts of Rishikesh. During the 1960s and 1970s, as the International Academy of Meditation, it was the training centre for students of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who devised the Transcendental Meditation technique. The ashram gained international attention in 1968 when the  Beatles stayed there and composed most of the songs for their White Album.

Today, the Ashram is abandoned but the influence that the Beatles had on this place remains. Wander the deserted yoga halls, sit and meditate in the many private mediation caves and enjoy the unique blend of vibrant art graffiti and jungle plants reclaiming the ruins.

The Food

Dinning on this all-inclusive retreat is a cultural and gastronomic experience to nourish your belly and soul. As Rishikesh is a designated holy city no animal products (including eggs) or alcohol can be consumed. This retreat includes 3 meals per day when onsite at Ganga Kinare, but there are plenty of opportunities to eat off-site for more adventurous travellers. The Jal Jalebi restaurant at Ganga Kinare is well known for its fine dining riverside experience. The buffet-style menus showcase the best of Northern India cuisine whilst also catering for international tastes. It is very challenging to cater for medical food intolerances with absolute safety, so this retreat is not suitable for anyone with a nut allergy or coeliac disease. If you have any other food intolerances or allergies please discuss with us at the time of booking and we can advise accordingly as to whether this retreat is viable. 

Room Options

All the room options are Ganga Kinare are great. In every room grade you can lose yourself in the luxury of the comfortable beds and fully air-conditioned rooms with all modern day amenities such as Wi-Fi, television, intercom, sitting area, safety deposit locker, mini-fridge, bathrooms with luxury toiletries. We have room options ranging from single private room with queen bed or opt to share with another retreat guest in a spacious twin room. 

Deluxe Partial River View (Twin / Single / Double)

Deluxe rooms are standard 270 sq. feet rooms with a partial view of the river Ganga - a really luxury for a Rishikesh hotel.

Premium River View (Single / Double)

Premium Rooms at Ganga Kinare, are 320 sq. feet rooms having 180° uninterrupted view of the Holy River Ganga and the Rajaji National Park along with multiple modern amenities. 

Premium Private Balcony (Twin Only)

The largest of our room options, 430 sq feet, plus its own private balcony offering partial views of the River Ganga. The room is split into two halves each half with a large queen bed. Feels more like 2 bedrooms that share 1 bathroom / dressing space. 

Travelling to Rishikesh

The best pilgrimages start with a journey! Let us take you by the hand and guide you through travelling in India. We'll recommend which flights to book from the UK and put you in touch with other guests so you can travel together. To get to Rishikesh you first fly to Delhi and then take a short interconnecting flight to Dehradun. We recommend budgeting £700 - £900 for your flight but this may fluctuate. We will guide you on what flights to book. For the best prices we recommend making two separate flight bookings, one from London to Delhi and then an internal flight from Delhi to Dehradun. Once at Dehradun you'll be collected by our airport transfer specialists for a 30 min drive to Rishikesh. But don't worry we'll tell you which flights to book and hold your hand every step of the way! Please note the cost of flights is not included in the retreat. Upon booking this retreat we'll supply more information about travelling in India such as visas, travel vaccinations and more. We really are here to make sure you have the best time travelling to India. 

Pay in Three Installments

A £500 deposit to confirm your booking, then two further equal payments on 1st February 2025 and 1st July 2025.