Top 6 Destinations in India for the Older Yogi
Travelling to India, the land of yogic legacy, ayurveda, spirituality, and divinity -- is synonymous to subjugating the mind, body, and spirit into the realm of positive transformations. For the older yogi, India is a land that rewards its visitor with a series of marvellous experiences in various forms.
In India, there is a destination for every soul, there is a choice for every spirit, and there is love for everyone. Older yogis who travel to this country in search of peace, wisdom, and enlightenment should consider visiting these six destinations:
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
The City of Prayers and Light
One of the most ancient and holiest destinations on earth, Varanasi is a place where sacredness and purity are the very foundations. The soul of Lord Shiva (the First Yogi on Earth) is embedded in the very aura of this place. Located about halfway between New Delhi and Kolkata, a completely spell-binding experience awaits here.
Varanasi on the River Ganges attracts many pilgrims. Image: © Uwe Sowinski
The sound of temple bells, glittering oil lamps, people by the holy Ganges paying homage to the river who is worshipped as a goddess in India, and the sound of prayer hymns fill the ambiance of this city. It is believed that the city is the gateway to salvation and also the place to reach complete atonement of any sins committed in the past. Pilgrims from all over the country and globe visit this place in masses.
Close to Varanasi is Sarnath – the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon at the Deer Park. The traces of Lord Buddha are present in the very stones of this place.
Bodhgaya, Bihar
The Land of Nirvana
Less than 200 kilometres to the east of Varanasi lies Bodhgaya where Lord Buddha attained salvation. This place is recognized as the meditation and Buddhist yoga pinnacle where the complete wisdom of the mind, body, and spirit can be attained.
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
The Sacred Place of Yogis
Lying peacefully in the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh is one place which every yogi passionate about gaining authentic and traditional yoga experiences should visit at least once in their lifetime. It is eminent as the yoga capital and the Land of Gods as it is the holy gateway to the Himalayas.
A local yoga practitioner by the river at Rishikesh. Image: Rishi Krishnatre
Make sure you keep the Vashishtha Cave, Munni Baba Cave, Parmarth Niketan, and nature walks through the Himalayas trails on your itinerary here. Attend the most peaceful Ganga Aarti in the evening for a divine escape into purity. This is a town that witnesses the maximum number of yoga travelers and globe-trotting yogis almost every month of the year.
Thiruvananthpuram, Kerala
The Traditional Ayurveda and Yoga Destination
From Thiruvananthpuram, travelers can explore the south of the country around the Malabar Coast. Kerala is where the ayurveda origins lie. Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga and also the most ancient healing science, is still preserved here in this region in its traditional form.
Let go under the soothing hands of the traditional ayurveda experts for a rejuvenating ayurveda spa therapy and feel pampered to the core and body. Indulge in traditional ayurvedic food and heal from within.
A traveller undergoing ayurveda treatment in Kerala. Image: Fabrice Florin
This is where you can procure genuine natural treatment methods for different kinds of ailments. Not only the healing side of it, it is the sheer lush green presence of this region, mesmerising backwaters, traditional lifestyle, and a rich culture that catches the fancy of visitors.
Hampi, Karnataka
The Land of Ancient Heritage
Hampi is a famous UNESCO World Heritage site and also the ancient capital of the Vijaynagar Empire. This a place that proposes a blend of various elements – rich ancient history, inscribed sacred legends, a natural ambiance that offers peace and tranquility, and stories of the purest-bred yogis of the earth including the Great Warrior Yogi ‘Arjuna’.
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
The Most Peaceful Place on Earth
Located only a few hours from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, at the foot of Mount Arunachala lies the Tiruvannamalai. Full of ancient history and sacredness, this place attracts pilgrims and yogis from all over the globe.
Mount Arunachal is acclaimed as the ‘most peaceful place on earth’, ideal for deep meditation practices and interweaving real communication with nature. The place has a very specific aura that immediately calms the mind and opens the brain to embrace spiritual experiences.
Header image: Branislav Ostojic