Yoga Vacation in God's Own Country
(November 1 to 14, 2020)

If you enjoy secluded beaches, palm-fringed backwaters, picturesque hill stations, spectacular waterfalls and tropical forests, you must consider a visit to Kerala, India's cleanest and most peaceful state.  Kerala is truly God's Own Country. A land charming in every detail, Kerala has played host to travelers since time immemorial. In view of rising popularity of Yoga and Ayurveda, it is today one of the most sought-after new age destinations in Asia.

I invite you to join Yoga Vacation in God's Own Country to explore the breathtaking beauty of Kerala, which has been acclaimed as one of the ten paradises of the world.  Following is a brief description of the places that we plan to visit.

Amma's Ashram: Amritapuri is the living example of the ancient Indian ideal "the whole world is one family" (Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam). Here you will find people from all parts of the world - all living under one roof. In their quest for the meaning of life, each has forgotten their differences and become a child of Amma.

Varkala: This beautiful  beach destination has  been ranked as one of the 10 top seasonal beaches in the world by Discovery channel.  Apart from being a  well established Ayurveda & Yoga destination,  It has many historical places, including  a 2000-year old Vishnu temple.

Munnar:  Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days.  It  is such a beautiful place in Kerala, which cannot be portrayed in a single canvas. Everything and anything here will make you excited. The hills, the mist, the valleys, the streams, the waterfalls, tea plantations, rare flora and fauna and much more....  

Alleppey: It is famous for its numerous rivers crisscrossing the Sea and is home to many canals, backwaters, beaches and lagoons. Alleppey is often referred to as the "Venice of the East". 

Thiruvanthapuram: A long shoreline with internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage make this capital city a much sought after tourist destination.

Kochi: A  cluster of islands on the vast expanse of the Vembanad Lake, Kochi, one of the finest natural harbors in the world. It is most popular as the Queen of the Arabian Sea.  From time immemorial, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British and Portuguese visited  Kochi and left their impressions on the town.

Following is a very brief  itinerary of our visit to Kerala.  It is subject to changes.

November 1st:  Arrive any time after 12:00 pm at Thiruvanthapuram International Airport.  Pick up arrangements will be made to take you to a hotel at Varkala. Rest and relax.

November 2nd: Yoga, orientation and visit to Papnasham beach, Cliff and other places. Varkala is the only place in Southern India where one can find laterite cliffs hugging the shores of the Arabian Sea. The imposing laterite cliff coupled with natural mineral springs is considered to cleanse the body and mind.

November 3rd:  Yoga, free time for Ayurvedic massage and treatments and sightseeing in Varkala. Ayurveda, science of life, focuses on prevention of ailments as well as rejuvenation of body, mind and soul.

November 4th: Visit to Trivendrum,  capital of Kerala.

November 5th: Yoga and leave for Amma's Ashram in Kollam by a private bus/car.

November 6th and 7th:  Enjoy the empowering activities of the Ashram that is located on a small island cradled between the backwaters and the Arabian Sea. This place has become the center of a silent spiritual revolution. 
 (More details: https://www.amritapuri.org/ashram)

November 8th: Leave for  Alleppy by a bus, car or ferry.

November 9th: Backwater Tour.  Backwaters means a picturesque network of lagoons, lakes, rivers, and canals that run inland from the coast of Kerala. The lush green palm fringed landscape, diverse wildlife, and houses and villages that line the backwaters make a journey along these waterways seem like a journey through another world.

November 10th: Leave for Munnar Hill Station in a private bus.  

November 11th: Visit to Tea Gardens and Eravikulam National Park. The park offers a magnificent view of the tea plantations and also of the rolling hills caressed by blankets of mist. This park holds the largest viable Nilgiri Tahr, several other spices of rare animals, birds and butterflies. 

November 12th: Sightseeing in Munnar  and leave for Kochi.

November 13th:  Visit a Cultural Center to watch Kerala classical dance performances.

November 14th: Yoga, rest, relax, visit the local bazaar and leave for Kochi airport. 

For registration, more details or questions, please feel absolutely free to contact me at jogibhagat@gmail.com.  Hope you can join us.

Following are  website links for some places that we plan to visit during this India Trip.

(i) Eravikulam National Park: http://www.eravikulam.org/

(ii) Alleppey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxU_bsel_PQ

(iii) Amma's Ashram: https://www.amritapuri.org/ashram
(Please note that the accommodation at the Ashram is basic, simple and without air conditioning.)

Jogi

512-963-8364

PS: Following are some more pictures of Kerala, taken by me in the last few  years.