JOURNEY TO THE SACRED HEART OF INDIA
With Dayal Gauranga & Dhanya Rico
February 15th - 28th, 2026
India has a way of invoking the deep yearnings of the soul for truth, connection and devotion. More than your typical vacation or retreat, this pilgrimage will provide you the opportunity to experience an ancient spiritual culture in such a way that can reawaken the inherent spiritual spark within you. When we approach this journey as pilgrims, in a mood of humility and devotion, we prepare our hearts to receive the divine gift of spiritual transformation and lasting inner fulfillment.
What makes this trip special?
We welcome you and eagerly await your presence on this pilgrimage.
We will share this experience together and form deep personal bonds along the way with like-minded travelers, creating friendships that last a lifetime. Every morning we will begin our day with sacred songs (kirtan) and spiritual discussion. We will dive deep into the study of spiritual texts like the Bhagavad Gita, connecting to ancient wisdom as we visit various temples, hike across beautiful landscapes, and meet sages and yogis who imbibe the mood of Bhakti, divine spiritual love, in such a way that will inspire and uplift our lives in ways never before.
Get to spend exclusive time with spiritual teacher Radhanath Swami!
At the Govardhan Ecovillage our group will have the incredible opportunity for private sangas with Radhanath Swami as well as be able to get very rare personal association throughout the day.
Itinerary
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We will fly into Mumbai International Airport (BOM) and travel to Govardhan Eco Village, just a few hours drive outside of the city.
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We will spend 5 nights at Govardhan Ecovillage, a self-sustainable, spiritual oasis with a vibrant spiritual community and a dedication to preserving principles of harmony between God, nature and all living beings. We will also have the rare opportunity to spend exclusive time with HH Radhanath Swami, the spiritual visionary behind the project
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We will travel back to Mumbai and fly to Rishikesh, the land of sages. There we will stay for 4 nights and connect with the sacred river Ganges, on the banks of which yogis and spiritual pilgrims have meditated for thousands of years. Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh is a place of deep spiritual heritage.
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We will travel to Vrindavan and spend our last few days in this most sacred of places. Vrindavan is a village with over 5,000 temples celebrating the source of divine love, Sri Radha and Krishna. Here we will visit temples and holy sites, hear stories, meet saintly people, and partake in pilgrimage around the sacred town.
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We will drive just a fews hours to Dehli International Airport (DEL) to fly home.
14 days / 13 nights accommodation
Three vegetarian meals daily
All internal transportation (buses, taxis and domestic flight within India during the pilgrimage)
All airport arrival and departure pick-ups / drop offs
All monuments entrance tickets as per retreat itinerary
Daily philosophy, yoga and meditation classes
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
Any flight to or from India
Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, etc.
VISA fee
Any services which are not mentioned in above
Join us for a life-changing spiritual experience!
Pricing
$3,400 Regular rate
$3,100 Early bird (sign up by Sept 1st)
$2,900 Super early bird (sign up by May 15th)
(All accommodations are shared between two people in a room, with a private bathroom in each room. Limited amount of private rooms are available upon request at extra cost)
Meet Your Guides
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Dayal has been on a spiritual journey his entire life, seeking truth from a young age. At the age of 18, he became a monk and dedicated himself to a life of spiritual study, reflection and service. One year later he made his first trip to India and has since traveled back numerous times visiting holy places throughout the subcontinent.
Having lived in ashrams across the United States, he made his way to New York City in 2008 to participate in the formative years of the Bhakti Center. After 10 years of monastic life, he transitioned out of monk-hood. In 2013 he met his wife and is now married, continuing to live and serve in New York City.
In 2017 Dayal completed his 200 hour Yoga Teacher certification from Supersoul Academy and holds a degree in clinical psychology from Hunter College. He and his wife co-founded the Conscious Earth Institute, a spiritually based counseling, education, and training organization that combines universal spiritual principles with the evidence-based model of Internal Family Systems.
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Dhanya is a musician, traveling kirtan artist, and world-renowned educator on topics of personal and relationship wellness. She holds a Master’s degree in Counselor Education and a Specialist’s degree in Couples and Family Therapy.
For over a decade, Dhanya has helped empower individuals and relationships to thrive with deep spiritual principles at the core of transformational experiences.
She co-facilitates pilgrimages around the world, allowing participants to immerse themselves in the culture, practices and mysticism of the path of devotion.
FAQs
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Please contact us BEFORE booking your flights. We will give you specific flight details as well as visa information.
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Yes, there is a non-refundable $500 deposit required to hold your spot for the 2025 India Pilgrimage.
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Expect a lot of adventure! India is a colorful and diverse land with lots of culture, warm hospitality, and spontaneity. Our trip will be focused on diving deep into the spiritual heritage of India, which means that our places of interest will be ancient temples, sacred rivers, and lots of prayer, meditation, kirtan, discussion of spiritual literatures, and meeting saintly people to hear from them and be inspired.
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India requires most non-Indian citizens to obtain a visa. We recommend getting a tourist e-visa from the Indian Consulate. You can do that easily online. You will need a valid passport.
Each country has its own requirements for entry into India though. Please check with your local consulate or Indian embassy or look online regarding visa requirements and any other requirements for entering the country of India.
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India will mostly be very warm at this time. Early mornings and evenings can be slightly cool, so bring a sweater or shawl as well as socks. Sandals are great for most of the trip, but it will good to pack a pair of sneakers for hiking as well. Bring comfortable clothes as well as clothes for doing yoga, and a bathing suit (there’s a pool at GEV and we will also visit the River Ganges in Rishikesh). A more thorough guide for packing will be sent to all participants upon registration.
Photo Gallery of Past Pilgrimages
