India Retreat FAQs

You may pay for the retreat in one instalment, or spread the fee out over five monthly instalments.

• For those paying in GBP in the UK, this will be via Direct Debit.
• If you are in the US, you may arrange in USD via credit card (USD credit card payments incur a card charge).
• We will send you the options to arrange when you apply for the retreat.

To confirm your booking on the retreat, you will need to either pay the retreat fee in full, or set up your payment plan.

Extended payment plan option:

If you register for the retreat before September 2025, you may pay over ten monthly instalments.

Arriving in India

The retreat begins on Sunday 15th March with an evening meal in Delhi.

• Flights arriving on Sunday 15th March
  • You can arrive any time during the day on Sunday. Plan for your flight to arrive by 4pm so you can arrive at the hotel before our first evening meal together at 7pm.
  • Our team will pick you up from New Delhi airport and take you to the hotel. You will be able to check-in anytime on that day.
  • We’ll be staying in a hotel in Delhi the night of Sunday 15^th March; this is included in your retreat fee. This will be either a shared or private room depending upon which package you’ve selected.
  • Our first meeting will be dinner on Sunday evening, where we’ll give you an orientation talk.

• Flights arriving before Sunday 15th March
  • You may wish to spend one or more extra nights in Delhi before the retreat begins. You’ll be able to stay in the same hotel that we’ll be in for the Sunday night, or you may wish to stay somewhere else and meet us there on Sunday.
  • Our travel agent in India can help you arrange either option. You will need to pay for this option separately.

• On Monday 16th March, we’ll be taking an early morning train to Varanasi.
  • This is a fascinating journey on the best high-speed train in India— approximately 7.5 hours southwest to Varanasi.
  • When we arrive, we’ll be driven to our hotel in Varanasi, where we will stay for two nights.
  • We take care of all these domestic travel arrangements and the costs are included in your retreat fee.

Departing India

The retreat ends on Friday 27^th March after breakfast at the ashram in Rishikesh.

• Returning to Delhi by train on Friday 27^th March
  • We’ll organise your train for you from Rishikesh to New Delhi. This ticket is included in your retreat fee.
  • Train timings for Friday 27th March: Departure from Haridwar at 18:15 // Arrival New Delhi 22:55.

• Returning to Delhi by plane on Friday 27^th March

• • It is also possible to take a domestic flight back to Delhi from Dehradun airport (close to Rishikesh).
  • We can help you organise this option through our travel agent when you are on the retreat in India (we do not need to arrange these flights ahead of time).
  • You’ll need to pay for this option separately.

• Flights home on Saturday 28th March
  • If you’re travelling by train on Friday 27^th March back to Delhi, we recommend booking your flight home on Saturday 28^th March.
  • Most students choose to stay on Friday night at an airport hotel in Delhi. You can relax and regroup, ready for your flight the next day. Our travel agent in India can arrange this for you (we have several hotels we recommend). You’ll need to pay for this separately.
  • It is possible to go direct from the train station on Friday 27^th March straight to the airport, and catch an early morning flight on Saturday 28^th March. The earliest your flight could be is 4.00am on Saturday 28th March. This allows plenty of time in case of delays and for travel between the train station and the airport terminal. (If your flight is any earlier than 4:00am you will not have time to reach the airport from arriving into the train station at 22:55).

• Additional sight-seeing tour after the retreat
  • Our travel agent can arrange an add-on package for you to visit Jaipur, the Taj Mahal and Delhi after the retreat. If you’re interested in this option, please email us.

We’ll be staying in a hotel in Delhi the night of Sunday 15th March; this is included in your retreat fee. This will be either a shared or private room depending upon which package you’ve selected.

Yes, you need a tourist visa to visit India.

• You need to apply for an “eTourist-visa”, using this link: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in
• It is reasonably straightforward to complete. It should take about 3-4 days to process.
• IMPORTANT: Check your passport has at least 180 days left before it expires (this is required when getting your tourist visa).
• If you need any assistance with your application, we recommend contacting Ross Alexander at Scotts Visas:
  • https://www.scottsvisas.co.uk
  • [email protected]

India Reference:

Mr Pankaj Mishra
Director, Heartman Travel Services Pvt. Ltd.
Office No. 306, DDA Local Shopping Complex, C Block, Vikaspuri
New Delhi  110018, India
Ph: + 91 9811993875
Email: [email protected]

Address of where we stay: 

Parmarth Niketan Ashram
P.O. Swargashram Rishikesh (Himalayas)
Uttarakhand 249304, India
Ph: +91 (0135) 2440088
Email: [email protected]

Select tourism (not yoga programme).

• You may wish to check with your doctor regarding recommended inoculations and anti-malaria medications.
• It is not our personal experience that this is necessary. However, you should consult your doctor if you have any questions.
• There may be some mosquitoes when we’re there. We recommend bringing a mosquito repellent.

Our travel agent, Pankaj Mishra, will be offering an add-on tour at the end of the retreat to visit Jaipur, the Taj Mahal and explore Delhi. If you’re interested in this or other travel options, please contact Pankaj here:

Mr Pankaj Mishra
Director, Heartman Travel Services Pvt. Ltd

Mobile: + 91 9811993875
Email: [email protected]