Below is the proposed itinerary for the 2015 Spirit Guided Journeys trip to southern India. Things could shift and change a bit between now and our departure, but this is a fair idea of the adventures that await us starting November 1, 2015. I hope that you will come along on this sojourn to southern India.
Nandi, Shiva’s Bull
Chamundi Hills
Itinerary
Day One: Friday, October 30, 2015 – Depart for Bangalore, India.
Day Two: Saturday, October 31, 2015 – In transit
Day Three: Sunday, November 1, 2015 – Arrive in Bangalore/Bengaluru. It is important that all travelers plan to arrive in Bangalore on this day. Otherwise you will miss some of the scheduled activities.
You will provide your arrival details and I will arrange for hotel shuttles to be at the Bangalore/Bengaluru Airport to meet and transport you to the Alila Hotel, Whitefield. It is imperative that you tell me your travel plans well in advance so that adequate shuttles can be scheduled to pick up travelers.
After time to rest, we will enjoy breakfast at the hotel and some time to get acquainted with one another and Whitefield. There is not a scheduled itinerary for this day. The group might choose to visit a local shopping area for lunch and to browse. Other members of the group might wish to take the day to rest. There are spa facilities available at the hotel as well as a number of restaurants on the property.
Meals: Breakfast is included in cost of the trip (only available until 10:30 AM). Lunch and dinner will be at your own expense.
Day Four: Monday, November 2, 2015 – Day at Gaia Bangalore with Poonam Illuri. The day starts with yoga with Kelley. Then, we will have an intro to India talk by our hostess, Poonam with questions. Lunch. Temple visit and puja in the afternoon. There will be a catered lunch at Gaia Bangalore.
Meals: Cost of breakfast and lunch included in cost of trip. Dinner will be at your own expense.
Day Five: Tuesday, November 3, 2015 – A circle tour of Bangalore. We will leave early after breakfast and head to the Big Bull Temple and the Ganapthi Temple. From there we will visit the Malleshwaram area for a look at a Goddess Temple and to stop for lunch. Other scheduled stops include the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens for a stroll and visit to the Glass House, and a stop at Russell Market.
Meals: Cost of breakfast is included in the cost of the trip. Lunch and dinner will be at your own expense.
Day Six: Wednesday, November 4, 2015 – After breakfast, our group will head to Mysore, stopping on the way for a dosa break. Upon arrival in Mysore we will check into the Fortune JP Palace Hotel and take some time to shop and sight see. We will spend three nights in Mysore.
Meals: Cost of breakfast is included in the cost of the trip. Lunch and dinner will be at your own expense.
Day Seven: Thursday, November 5, 2015 – Astanga Yoga with Masterji Vishwanath at his yoga shala. After the practice we will return to the hotel for breakfast and sightseeing. Later in the day we will join Masterji for pranayama and chanting.
Meals: Cost of breakfast included in the cost of the trip. Lunch and Dinner will be at your own expense.
Day Eight: Friday, November 6, 2015 – Astanga Yoga with Masterji Viswanath. Sightseeing int the afternoon will include Chamundi Hills and the Mysore Palace. Other sightseeing venues may be visited. More details to follow.
Meals: Cost of breakfast is included in the cost of the trip. Lunch and dinner will be at your own expense.
Day Nine: Saturday, November 7, 2015 – After breakfast we will depart from Mysore and head to Tranquil Resort for a coffee plantation home stay experience. Upon arrival at Tranquil, we will take time for lunch and then have a hike around the property. Later in the afternoon we will take a tour of the plantation. There is a pool where guests can enjoy a relaxing swim and there is the option of booking an Ayurvedic massage in the afternoon or at any time during the stay.
Meals: All meals are included in the cost of the trip.
Day Ten: Sunday, November 8, 2015 – Goddess workshop and yoga with Kelley at Tranquil. After, we will head to Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary for a trek to see the wildlife in the area.
Meals: All meals for the day are covered in the cost of the trip.
Day Eleven: Monday, November 9, 2015 – Leaving Tranquil and heading back to Bangalore to recheck into the Alila.
Meals: Breakfast before check out is included in the cost of the trip. Lunch and dinner will be the cost of each traveler.
Day Twelve: Tuesday, November 10, 2015– Workshop with Swami Devanand of the Bihar School of Yoga at Gaia Bangalore. This will be a morning workshop. Following the workshop we will have break for lunch. After lunch we will have a block printing class with Poonam Illuri of Gaia, Bangalore. In the evening the group will head to the Phoenix Mall for a little retail therapy and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast included in the cost of the trip. Lunch and dinner will be at your own expense.
Day Thirteen: Wednesday, November 11, 2015– Retail therapy India-style. We will spend the day visiting my favorite shopping haunts. Stops will include Commercial Street, a Bangalore favorite, MG Road, Safina Plaza and Brigade Road, with a stop at an amazing little book store right off of Brigade Road. We will end the day with a fire ceremony and chanting at Gaia.
Meals: Breakfast is included in the cost of the trip. Lunch and dinner will be at your own expense.
Antique horse or ox drawn wagon on the grounds, AyurvedaGram
Day Fourteen: Thursday, November 12, 2015 – We will visit AyurvedaGram in Whitefield for the day. Our trip will include a talk about Ayurveda, yoga, pranayama (breathing), meditation, an Ayurvedic body treatment, lunch and dinner. Also included will be a show featuring traditional Indian music and dance that evening (according to availability).
Meals: All meals included in the cost of the trip.
Day Fifteen: Friday, November 13, 2015 – This is our last day in India. This morning we will take our time having breakfast and packing our bags. We will start our day with yoga and meditation practice followed by a Bollywood Dance class to move our bodies before we fly out early on the 14th. After our early pursuits, we will have time to relax at the Alila. This is the day to book a spa treatment and plan to spend time at the pool. If there is any last minute shopping to do, we can head out as a group to the nearby Forum Mall in Whitefield to pick up the final gifts and souvenirs.
We will have dinner as a group at the hotel that evening before flying out the next morning.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included in the cost of the trip. Lunch will be at your own expense.
Day 16: Saturday, November 14, 2015 – Fly out in the early morning from Bengaluru International Airport. Timing depends on airline. Home by Saturday afternoon/evening.
Accommodations in Whitefield, Bengaluru: Alila Hotel Whitefield
Accommodations in Mysore: Fortune JP Palace
Accommodations in Kerala: Tranquil Resort