Temples & Traditions
An Iyengar Yoga Retreat in Rishikesh & Varanasi
The Call
There are places that don’t just exist on a map.
They exist in the body.
Rishikesh. Varanasi.
Where practice is not something you do… it’s something the air does to you.
This journey is not a retreat in the usual sense.
It’s a meeting point, between discipline and devotion, structure and surrender.
Temples. Tradition. Transcendence.
The Journey
March 1 – March 10, 2027
9 nights | 10 days
Delhi → Rishikesh → Varanasi → Delhi
We begin in the foothills of the Himalayas, in Rishikesh, the birthplace of yoga.
Here, practice is woven into the day:
Morning meditation overlooking the mountains
A 5-day immersive Iyengar yoga retreat
Sacred rituals, chanting, and fire ceremony
Wandering markets, temples, and the quiet pulse of the Ganges
Then we move to Varanasi, where time loosens its grip.
Walk the narrow laneways of one of the oldest living cities
Witness evening Aarti on the Ganges
Sunrise boat journey through a city where life and death sit side by side
This is not sightseeing.
This is witnessing.
The Practice
This is an Iyengar yoga retreat held inside India itself.
Expect:
Daily asana grounded in precision and progression
Pranayama and restorative work to settle and refine
Space for observation, not performance
A rhythm that supports integration, not exhaustion
You won’t be “doing yoga in India.”
You’ll be studying yoga where it was born.
What’s Included
9 nights premium, heritage-style accommodation
Daily breakfast, most lunches & dinners
All domestic flights within India
Guided tours, temple visits, and ceremonies
A fully held 5-day Iyengar yoga immersion
Local guides and private transport throughout
Investment
Twin/Double: $5,395 AUD
Single supplement available
Payment plans available.
Is This For You?
This is for you if:
You feel the pull toward India, but want to be held well inside it
You practice Iyengar yoga (or are ready to meet it properly)
You’re willing to be a student again
You want depth, not decoration
Not for ticking boxes.
Not for passive travel.
The Container
16 places only
6 have already raised their hand.
This will be a small, intentional group.
A moving practice room, held across cities, rivers, and rituals.
Learn More (Full Itinerary & Details)
This page is the threshold.
The full detail lives here:
👉 https://essenceofindiatours.com.au/temples/
(We recommend reading this carefully before booking.)
Register Your Place
Bookings open now
👉 email Kellie
A Final Note
India doesn’t meet you where you are.
It meets you where you’re ready to be undone.
And then, quietly,
it teaches you how to stand again. 🧡
Somesha xx