Get An Indian Vacation And A Yoga Tour

There are different reasons why people embark into an Indian vacation, some for a romantic getaway, others for a cultural and heritage visit, while others for a spiritual journey through a yoga tour.  Yoga is a physical and mental practice which originated in India three thousand years ago.  In Sanskrit, it would mean “union” which would refer to the unity of the spiritual and the supreme which would create a balance and useful life.

In the United States alone, there are about 12 to 20 million Americans who are practicing yoga.  Global numbers are even bigger.  What is it about yoga that numbers of people practicing it are increasing worldwide?

Aside from developing spirituality, yoga also has health and fitness benefits.  Those who practice yoga would testify better flexibility, lubrication of joints, ligaments and tendons, detoxifying effects, muscle toning, and improvement in balance.  Yoga also uses meditative practices which would bring calmness, positive outlook and enlightenment.

Yoga tours are yoga retreats, but other than that it improves how yogis and a person would be able to relate to the inner-self and the supreme entity. In a yoga tour, there would be activities, workshops, expeditions and different kinds of entertainment which would enrich your experience with yoga and its benefits.

Some yoga enthusiasts would find that it is a great opportunity to travel and experience a different culture while on a weight loss program.  Yoga tours in India would allow you to enjoy food even if you are on a weight-loss trip.  Those who participate on yoga tours would also be able to enhance their own and learn new techniques.  There are yoga tours which would make certain that the experience remains to be personal or family oriented.

India would have popular spots for yoga tours. Aside from visiting, these places are alos venues where you could enrol for advanced yoga classes which usually last one month and more.  They are the following:

• The Iyangar School located in Pune is a great place to visit.  They would also offer month-long courses but would require a fee and at the same time would undergo a selection process.  This school teaches advanced yoga and would teach students to adapt their exercises on the environment.

• Another school which offers classes would be the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore. The program can last for one to six months.  The yoga practices used here would require fast paced movements and coordinated breathing.  This institute is also known among foreigners who are seriously into yoga.

• The Krisknamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai is another popular spot for those yoga practitioners who do the gentle yoga.  Classes would usually last for  two to four weeks and would also require  a fee.

• Another yoga school which is situated in a near the woods and forests outside Kerala would be Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram.  They would often offer yoga vacations which lasts for two weeks to a month.  There are special fees that would also have to be paid to gain acceptance in the school.

• The institute in Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh can be found near the Ganges river.  There are many foreigners who are visiting this school to learn about  yoga courses in English.   The same with other schools there is a corresponding fee, but it would cover the room you’ll be staying in.

Indian vacation does not only have to be about getting the postcard-like photos, but it can also be spiritual and at the same time for the betterment of your inner-self.

Cuisine to Explore On Your Indian Vacation

As you explore different parts of India in your Indian vacation, you will also come to know how rich and diverse Indian cuisine is. Pat Chapman says that “Indian food is as complex as all its other attributes.” They are classified into different categories: cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruits, spices, milk products, animal meats, and alcoholic beverages. Religion and geography play major roles in the food habits of Indians.

Spices are the heart and soul of Indian cooking. The spices used in Indian cooking are dried seeds, berries, bark, rhizomes, flowers, leaves, and chilies. These may be dried or fresh, pods or seeds, roasted, ground or put into hot oil to expel their flavors. A combination of spices is called as masala. All Indian food is served with either rice or bread, or a combination of two.

Food is served on a banana leaf or a stainless steel. South Indian early settlers began the use of banana leaves as serving plates. During feasts, only the end section is used with its narrow part facing left.

"Indian food has always been eaten with the right hand. In the south all parts of the fingers can be used, like a scoop. In the north this is considered vulgar and only the tips of the fingers are used, with bread used as the scoop." (Source: India: Food and Cooking, page 23). The first mouthfuls of rice are eaten with chutney and spicy additives while the Indian end to a meal is the betel leaf. The leaf is chewed along with a slice of areca nut, a dab of slaked lime and a smear of katha paste. Washing the hands before meals is an important ritual since most Indians use their fingers in eating.

In Kashmir, among the most popular dishes are lamb marinated in yogurt, mutton simmered in milk and scented with nutmeg, and rich meat curries. Kashmiran foods has subtle blend of spices, richness and pungency. Goa, a tiny state on the Arabian Sea is known for their use of vinegar and kokum fruit and love of chilies. Bengali cuisine is the only region in India where food is served in individual courses - elaborate and refined. This way of serving food is based on the ancient belief of eating that promotes healthy digestive process.

In Rajasthan, a popular millet porridge called Bhajra Khichadi are often eaten with pure ghee. Raj's food has yielded dishes that pay homage to their ancestors like spiced chutneys and curries. The first Christian is said to have set his foot of Kerala in 52 AD and his converts are known as Syrian Christians. They eat spicy offal, chicken, fish, shellfish, beef and wild boar. Other dishes known to them are Erachi Olathiathu or beef dry-fried with a paste of coconut and spices, Vevichathu Surnai or Keralan soured fish curry.

There is so much gastronomic discovery you will enjoy in your Indian vacation. No other cuisine uses as many spices in so many ways than Indian. For them, it is in the use of spices that they bring out the dormant flavors of a dish. The greatest numbers of spices are used in North India.

Dishes like rogan josh or aromatic meat curry with a creamy gravy with ginger, garlic, onions, red chillies, coriander leaves, saffron, black pepper,  asafetida, black cumin seeds, cumin powder, cardamom leaves, cloves, cinnamon sticks, poppy seeds, turmeric powder, chili powder, paprika, nutmeg powder, mace powder, and more.  

Festive Indian Vacation

There are times when you just feel that the four corners of your office or classroom or anywhere you do your thing just isn’t that good enough to compensate for all the hard works you’ve produces thus you sort of seek to venture into other places that might cheer you up. You decide that it’s time to reward yourself with a little bit of fun and excitement. It’s vacation time and what way to kick off your time off from the high stacks of papers to be completed or the requirements due than by spending time on an adventure via Indian festivities.

India is a place where merry-making is ever present throughout the year. This is because Hinduism, a major religion in the country, encourages time allotment not only for fasting and self-purification but also for enjoying and fun-filled feasts and fairs. These series of events are based in rituals that depict various rites of passage involving life, death, and revitalization. The country comes into life as its people share beyond the limits of social status and religious affiliations. Color and music is found scattered across the streets as people dance their way into love and happiness. Celebrations are usually brought about by the changing seasons, harvest time, and those occasions called for by religious reasons.

The Makar Sankranti is one of the celebrations held in the country particularly when it is time to reap the rewards of hard work in the fields. It is done during the period when the sun rises and greets everyone with a gay smile and summer is all upon the nation. The winter has gone away and now it is time to pay homage and gratitude to the good things each element of nature that has lend a gracious and helping hand to each of man’s predicament. Different rituals are performed all across India. The regions seated by the coasts pay their respect to Indra via festivals in bountiful harvest.

People in the north engage in a bath ritual which is highly regarded and strictly followed. Charitable works and activities spread out through the nation. Khichri is distributed for free as well as rice and lentils so that the unfortunate and less privileged people also may feel the warmth and nourishment of the celebration. Foods are not the only highlights of the event as kite flying is also done in Gujrat. Festivities may occur in different parts of the nation but the celebration always make one point clear that there should always be unity and solidarity among the country’s population.

Now if you plan to spend your night in a mystical yet cleansing fashion the Maha Shivaratri is the way to go. The celebration is tagged as the Night of Shiva and usually takes flight during night time. This festival is inspired by the deeds of the Lord Shiva who was married to Parvati and on the night of their marriage it is stated that Shiva danced the Tandava which depicts preservation, creation, and destruction.

The event is actually highlighted by the chanting of the Panchakshara Mantra Om Namah Shivaya which involves the saying of Shiva’s names with utmost respect and focus. When this is done the person is assured to be cleansed and rid of the bad things that he has committed. He then is able to fine his way to the reins of Shiva where he will prosper and live joyfully.

Indian festivals can really fire up your vacation so when the time comes that you plan to navigate around the globe take a moment to think and consider on participating in this once in a lifetime experiences.

An Indian Vacation with no Beach?

If you think for one second that India offers only its rich cultural heritage, regal monuments, religious pilgrimage and outstanding festivals then you’ve not fully explored the country yet. According to recent surveys and popularity ratings, the beaches of India are fast on becoming the premier beach destination. So an Indian vacation without beaches is quite an incomplete one.

India’s most scenic beaches can be found in the west coast. The beaches in that area offer not only extravagant parties but also a private getaway for people who want a quieter vacation. For so long, the coastline of Goa was the number one beach destination in the country. Since the 1970s, it has and continue to attract both locals and out of town tourists. The beaches in the area have been quite commercialized since then there are still some places in Goa which offer unique experience.

Further down the west costs, in the states of Karnataka and Kerala are where other less commercialized beaches can be found. On the top of the list are Gokarna and Varkala beaches. Varkala is to the north of Trivandrum in Kerala and offers long winding stretches of cliffs, a magnificent view of the Arabian Sea and well known for very dramatic sunsets. Papanasam Beach is the main beach of Varkala. The beaches are dotted with small shacks which allow people to relax while they watch the sun slowly sets on the horizon.

Yoga, Ayurvedic message and therapies abound in the area as well as shops of jewelry, souvenirs and handicrafts. In the southern area of the beach, you’ll find the Janardhana Swamy Temple which the Hindus consider as sacred. Varkala is a holy town, so don’t go expecting lots of alcohol and parties. This is a perfect place to unwind, relax and enjoy nature to its fullest. If you’re a party animal, perhaps the Goa beaches would be better for you.

Gokarna is another small and holy town located in northern Karnataka. It is said that Gokarna has India's most secluded and pristine beaches: Kudle Beach, Om Beach, Halfmoon Beach, and Paradise Beach. One can access Om beach by car or rickshaw but Kudle and Halfmoon beaches can only be reached through a 20 minute hike through hills and rocks. Paradise beach is a small protected cove. During the night, the beaches in Gokarna are alive with singing and dancing around bonfires. Since it is a holy town and a number of Hindu temples are in the area, partying and alcohol are strictly monitored.

Another famous beach a little closer to Goa is the Palolem beach. The beach has a unique semi-circle shape with forests of coconut palms providing shade to the visitors it attract. Vacationers can treat themselves with fishing, dolphin watching, kayaking and even some hiking. The northern part of the beach is quieter and tends to attract families than the southern part which basically is the party area of the beach where dance music, live music can be heard until dawn. There are a couple of 24 hour establishments where one can enjoy coffee or cocktails.

And then there’s Baga Beach where one can enjoy a whole variety of water sports, para sailing, dolphin watching and has a whole stretch of beach shacks, bars, clubs, and fine dining restaurants. It has what most beach goers look for: sand, water and parties.

As you can see, an Indian vacation with no beach is probably not the best plan to have. Incorporating a trip to one of India’s beaches is certainly an activity that is worth your time and expenses.

An Indian Vacation and a Pilgrimage

A rich cultural heritage, varied wildlife, magnificent mountain ranges, picturesque beaches, exquisite temples and monuments, rejuvenating hill stations, that’s India for you, a premier vacation destination. However, aside from these attractions and the varied destinations, India is also famous for one other thing: pilgrimages. Quite an increasing number of visitors have found out that having an Indian vacation and a pilgrimage is quite an interesting and rewarding experience.

India is a practically a country that is very diverse. Almost all places in India offer its own attractions which draws a yearly influx of tourists and pilgrims from around the globe. Some of the more popular and notable pilgrimage destinations include the Golden Temple of Amritsar, the Dilwara temples of Mount Abu and the Palitana in Gujarat, Meenakshi. The Rock Fort in Tamil Nadu, the Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, Sabarimala and Guruvayur in Kerala and not to mention the Badami Caves in Karnataka are also targets of pilgrimage tourism.

Being the land of Gods and Goddess, India is at the very center of spiritual and religious activities. Pilgrims flock to holy towns and temples to have religious enlightenment or experiences may them be absolute believers or just tourists interested in India’s rich culture, heritage and spiritual beliefs. Nowadays, travel agencies and tours are packaging special pilgrimage packages for tourists who are looking at India as their next vacation destination.

Pilgrimages are as varied as the religions in India themselves. For example Christian, Jainism and Sikh pilgrimages are now commonly packaged as tours for vacationers in India. Places of worships, shrines, churches and locations where these religions began, flourished or even saw their demised in India are the prime destinations of such tours. For example, the cities like Calicut, Trivandrum, Madurai, Goa and Mumbai are famous for Christian churches which stand in testament to the unique and magnificent architectural feats of olden times. Similarly, the serene worship halls and shrines of Jainism believers offer yet another look at Indian architectural splendor.

Other pilgrimage destination sites include the revered Badrinath temple which is dedicated to Shri Badrinathji and was said to have been constructed by Adi Guru Shankaracharya. The Kedarnath in the state of Uttarakhand, one of the holiest pilgrimage destination in the country, houses the 12 holy Jyotirlingams. Another revered temple is the Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra. The place is so revered by Hindus that those residing in Northern India would make it a point to visit the temple once in their lifetime.

Tirupti Balaji temple which is situated on the seventh peak of the Tirupati hill is said to be richest temple in the country and perhaps even in the world. It has a rich history behind which spans for centuries. Another temple which perhaps rival the popularity of other pilgrimage sites is the Haridwar Temple which is considered the gateway to other sites in Uttrakhand region.

It is said that Haridwar Temple was blessed by the trinity of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The temple is said to purify the mind, the body and the soul of pilgrims. It has become the center of spirituality in the region and incidentally also of arts, science and culture.

We can go on citing pilgrimage sites in India and we will run out of space before we run out of sites to mention. The richness of India’s spiritual and religious traditions is truly an experience worth trying. An Indian vacation and a pilgrimage is something that should never be set aside.