Autobiography of a yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda India Tour

Re-living the spirit of “Autobiography of a Yogi”: A Pilgrimage to sites hallowed by Sri Paramahansa Yogananda in India

This pilgrimage takes us one by one to some of the most memorable places mentioned in Paramhansa Yoganandaji’s autobiography. We try to re-live those moments and absorb as much love and bliss from each of its chapters, nay words. Whether its “Two Peeniless boys in Brindavan” , “The Caulifolwer Robbery”, “The Heart of a Stone Image”, “Materializing a Palace in the Himalayas”, “An Idyll in South India” or “The Resurrection of Sri Yukteswar”. These trips are much about internalizing the eternal message of Yogis of India, as much as about visiting spiritually charged. Deep within these “normal” seeming physical boundaries lie the memories and energies of enlightenment. Each destination is unique, with its language, history, culture and cuisine. We offer Paramahansa Yogananda lovers inspiring, well-organized, and lovingly guided pilgrimages in the land of saints, sages and mystics.

ITINERARY

“ I had been premeditating this moment. Selecting the appropriate spot on Jitendra’s body, I gave him a pinch as painful as the one he had given me on the train. Doubting Thomas, the Lord works- in a hurry too!” – Two Penniless Boys in Brindavan

DAY 1
Drive from Delhi to Vrindavan, the place hallowed by Lord Krishna and Radha. Visit main temples, Neem Karoli Baba Samadhi and Swami Keshabanada’s ashram. Where Yoganandaji had visited in 1935, on his return from America along with Mr. C. R. Wright and a Ford car. Swami Vidyananda Maharaj, who is the current leader of the ashram will bless the devotees with a Satsang, meditation and readings from Autobiography of a Yogi. Night stay at Vrindavan.

“In India (nowhere else, alas!) a well padded swami is considered a delightful sight.”- Last Days with My Guru

DAY 2
Drive from Vrindavan to Agra. Visit Taj Mahal, and organize a group reading of excerpts from Autobiography of a Yogi. Drive to Delhi the same day and catch night train to Haridwar. Night travel by comfortable sleeper train class.

“Be it so. The divine wish has been expressed through you. Give Kriya to all who humbly ask you for help”- Mahavatar Babaji to Lahiri Mahasaya, in Himalayas

DAY 3 to DAY 5
Group will visit Kriya Yoga Temple at Rishikesh dedicated by Swami Shankarananda Giri, Lahiri Mahasaya Samidhi , take holy dip in Ganges waters and take part at the evening Ganga Arty at Ram Jula at Rishikesh. Visit Har-ki-Piari evening Gangaji Aththi, Swami Rama Ashram, Neem Karoli Baba Ashram and Mata Ananadamayi Samadhi Mandir. Night stay on 3rd and 4th night at Rishikesh. 5th day post-lunch time we take a train to Allahabad. Group and individuals wanting to visiting Babaji’s cave near Ranikhet will have different programme from 5th day (optional)

“Those on whom I am divinely directed to bestow the title of swami never cast it off”- Mahavatar Babaji to Yukteshwarji at the Kumbha Mela

DAY 6
Arrive at Allahabad, visit the site of Babaji’s first meeting with Sri Yukteswar during the Kumbha Mela. Satsang, meditation and readings from Autobiography of a Yogi at Kriya Yoga Research Institute. Night train to Gorakhpur.

“In Gorakhpur, Abinash Babu instructed my young ears with engrossing tales of many Indian saints” – My Parents and Early life

DAY 7
Arrive at the ancient city of Gorakhpur. Visit the birth place of Yoganandaji, the holy Gorakhnath Temple and 12th Century A.D. Vishu Temple. Gorakhpur and areas around it are also know as the “Cradle of Buddhism' as many of the main sites blessed by Lord Buddha lie in this region. Leave for Varanasi by 17.00 by Road or Train.

“Be it so, I shall never leave my physical body. It will always remain visible to at least a small number of people on this earth. The lord has spoken his own wish through your lips”-Babaji, the Yogi –Christ of Modern India.

DAY 8 to DAY 10
Arrive at Varanasi, visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Durga and Tulse Temple. Evening visits to various Ghats including Manikarnika Ghat which was blessed by Trailanga Swami, Dasasamedh Ghat where Babaji made the immortal promise, in the presence of Mataji, Lahiri Mahasaya and Ram Gopal, to remain in form and appear to at least some people on earth till the end of this world cycle. Following days we will visit swami Dyananda Ashram, where Yogannandaji stayed before meeting his guru Sri Yukteskwar, Lahiri Mahasaya’s house in Garudeshwar section, Lahiri shrine in the Bengali section, Sri Yukteswar’s house and possible meeting place of Yoganandaji and Yukestwarji. Early morning walks along the Ganges , satsang , mediattions,reading of excerpts from Autobiography of a Yogi and Ganga boat ride would be part of the itinerary. Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon can also be visited. Night train to Ranchi, the headquarters of Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) know as Self Realization Fellowship (SRF) outside India.

“Yes! I am going forth to discover America, like Columbus. He thought he had found India; surely there is a karmic link between those two lands!”- I go to America

DAY 11 to DAY 13
Arrive at Ranchi Ashram of Guruji and enjoy being there for next three days. Leave for Kolkotta on 13th day night by train.

“ I wondered at Gods intricate play with his devotees, Serampore is but twelve miles from Calcutta, yet in those regions I had never caught a glimpse of my guru. We had had to travel for our meeting to the ancient city of Kashi, hallowed by the memories of Lahiri Mahasaya.”- I Meet My Master , Sri Yukteswar

DAY 14 to DAY 16
Arrive at Kokotta, visit YSS ashram at Dakshinerwar, Visit Mother Kali temple hallowed by Ramakrishna Paramahansa and revisit Guruji’s sojourns to this holy place. Visit Yoganandaji’s family house in Kolkotta, Yoganandaji’s attic room, Mater Mahasaya’s house and ashram of the “levitation saint” who aided Yoganandaji to attain Anubhava. We will also visiting Aryya Mission established in 1886 by Panchoanon Bhattacharay , an advanced disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya. Holy Kali Mandir, Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, South Park Street Cemetery and famous markets. On the third Day, we will travel to Sri Yukteswar’s ashram and memorial site in Serampore. We will also visit Rai Ghat, where Babaji visited Sri Yukteswar for the second time and Serampore College and site of Panthi Boarding House, where Yoganandaji stayed while enrolled in the college.We leave for Puri on 16th night by train.

“Your six cauliflowers will soon be only five”- The Cauliflower Robbery

DAY 17
Arrive at Puri, visit Lord Jaganath temple, Sri Yukteswarji’s sea-side hermitage and samadhi mandir. Walk along the beach as did Sri Yukteswarji , Yoganandaji and students from the hermitage. Get a sense of the route taken for the annual religious procession. We will also meditate at Lahiri Mahasaya’s shrine, where Lahiriji had materialized for one of his advanced disciple Swami Satyananda. On the way to airport we will visit the famed Sun temple at Konark. Take a flight to Chennai.

“During my married life I often yearned for a son, to train in the yogic path. But when you came into my life, I was content; in you I have found my son. Yogananda. I love you always.”- Last days with My Guru

DAY 18 and DAY 19th
Arrive at Chennai, leave for pondicherry. Night stay at pondicherry. In the morning we will visit Sri Aurobindo’s and Mother’s samadhi and meditate in Mother sitting room. Post break-fast we will visit Aoruville, the universal city in making and enjoy the serenity of Matri Mandir. Post-lunch we will head for Tiruvannamalai by road. The abode of lord Shiva and Ramana Maharish.

“Do not do what you want, and then you may do what you like”- Sadasiva Brahman , An Idyll in South India

DAY 20
Arriving at Tiruvannamalai, we will visit Arunachala Siva temple, followed by mediation, satsanga and reading from Autobiography of a Yogi at Ramana Maharishi Ashram. Morning walk to holy hill of Arunacahala.Night stay at Tiruvannamalai.

“ I give you a message for Yogananda. He will pay you a visit on his return to India. Many matters connected with his guru and with surviving disciples of Lahiri will keep Yogananda fully occupied . Tell him, then, that I won’t see him this time, as he is eagerly hoping; but I shall see him on some other occasion” – Mahavatar Babaji to Swami Keshabananda- Last Days with my Guru

DAY 21 and DAY 22
Post-break-fast we leave for Mysore and Banglore, visiting various sites blessed by Yoganandaji during there idyll in South India. Catch a flight to Mumbai.

“I am in truth resurrected- not on earth but on astral planet. There you and your exalted loved ones shall someday come to be with me”- Sri Yukteswar to Yoganandaji

DAY 23
Arrive at Mumbai, we will visit the place where Yoganandji had vision of Lord Krishna and a week later at the same spot where Sri Yukteshwarji resurrected and, appeared before Yoganandji in flesh and blood. Post mediation and reading from Autobiography of a Yogi, we will have lunch and visit Mumbai ‘s two most popular hot spots, the Chawpatty Beach and Crawford market.

23rd night/ 24th day early morning departures to various national or international

Logistics and Other Information
	TRANSPORTATION Majority of the travel during the pilgrimage would be on land i.e. by train and by vehicles. Where ever the distances are less, we would take night train journeys. Places where distances are substantial we would take flights. And places which are not far and do not have a good rail link, we would take vehicles to travel. All land transportation will be by air-conditioned carriages. Train journeys will be covered in clean and comfortable Second Class A/C class. Air travel will be through low –cost airline. Travel by road will be by comfortable and air-conditioned Jeeps and Vans.

	ACCOMMODATION Our partners offer a range of accommodation facilities ranging from Luxury to Budget rooms ,ashram and camp site accommodation. All the partners’ accommodation facilities are clean, spacious, airy and value for money propositions. All rooms have attached bathrooms, with hot water facilities.

	FOOD Food plays an important part in making our travel an enjoyable and memorable experience. Many of the partner accommodation facilities have in-house restaurants/kitchens, which provide clean, healthy and homely food(for in the case of Guest House and Ashrams)ideal for travelers. The staff members are polite and well – mannered. Facilities, which do not offer kitchen/restaurants services are located adjacent or near to good places to dine.

	FITNESS and HEALTH The trip requires decent levels of physical fitness as majority of the travel would be by land i.e. by train or by cars. Some places covered in this pilgrimages are at height of 6000 to 9000 feet above sea level. Elder or people with health issues can cover the distance over longer durations of time and may be keep some reserve days, over and above suggested by us. YOGA,SATSANG and READING Once a day there would be group yoga, mediation and satsang. For Kriyavans special sessions would be organized. The group will read excerpts from Autobiography of a Yogi from time to time and various intervals during the day, especially while visiting sacred spots brief reading will be followed by contemplation and silence. PILGRIMAGE FEES OPTIONS (all Travel + accommodation + two meals a day) Per person All travel + Double Occupancy Budget Rooms + Break fast and Dinner Per person All travel + Single Occupancy Budget Rooms + Break fast and Dinner Per person All travel + Ashram Accommodation + Break fast and Dinner Per person All travel + Luxury/Mid Range Hotels + Break fast and Dinner *All quotes are from Autobiography of a Yogi,by Paramahansa Yogananda, JAICO Publishing House & SFR/YSS ,and front cover of the first edition is from Ananda.*

About the Pilgrimage
	Duration: 23 days

	Destinations Covered Delhi, Vrindavan, Agra, Hardiwar, Rishikesh, Gorakhpur, Allahabad,Varanasi, Ranchi, Calcutta, Puri, Chennai, Pondicherry, Thirivananmailia, Mysore, Bangalore and Mumbai

Addon/Other Trips
	South India - 12 days (Tamilnadu, Kerela, Andra Pradesh and Karnataka) Babaji’s Cave and Himalayas trip –8 days Kriya Yoga Pilgrimage (North, south and west )- 18 Days Himalayas Retreat – 7 days

	TIMING From September to March / April. These pilgrimages have been scheduled to coincide with the time of year when the monsoon rains are either over or yet to start in other regions, and the weather is most pleasant in India. It is also the period when the domestic-tourist season is at its ending phase and hence these places are less crowded and offer good bargains.