From darkness to light

A new way to discover Varanasi

The first impact with Varanasi can be very strong, even the most skeptical traveler feels overwhelmed by a different energy

Varanasi immediately affects all the senses, and it is undoubtedly the city that more than any other lays us bare, here we find ourselves in front of ourselves and our shadows.

A tour of Varanasi cannot be just a journey of external discovery, Varanasi requires us to look inside, not to look around.

It does it on a deep level, sometimes not even understandable but, once you get home, you feel that something has changed in us

I took a cue from the process of inner change that many of you had during the weeks you spent here and I tried to deepen this part of the journey and study it in detail, also thanks to personal experiences.

That’s why I thought about the next Varanasi experiences so that they take us even deeper on a journey of inner rediscovery

We will discover ourselves through the discovery of Varanasi, we will do it by getting in touch with Hindu deities and what they represent in terms of emotions

“There can be as many Hindu Gods as there are devotees so as to adapt to their moods, their feelings, their emotions”Sri Ramakrishna,

The extraordinary variety of Gods to choose from allows, when necessary, to draw and embody the symbolic power of a particular God in specific life circumstances

The experience will alternate moments of practice and meditation with playful moments, of life as locals, we will go to touch first-hand what the inhabitants of this city live every day, from their rituals to their food, shopping in typical shops, their music and much more

DURATION : 7 days /6 nightsDATES :Individual departures at any time of the year group departure : 14-20 January 2024 25 February 2 March 202420-26 October 2024STEPS OF THE JOURNEY ; VaranasiQuotas per person in a double room startingfrom euro 530Single supplement euro 220 * Quotas valid throughout 2024 excluding Christmas, New Year, Diwali and other local holidays.For any departures in these periods you can request the fees from our Booking

What is Varanasi experience?

It’s a 7-day package to discover the oldest and most sacred city in the world, a journey through its secrets and traditions and at the same time a journey within ourselves

Why spend a whole week right in Varanasi?

As far as I am concerned, Varanasi expresses not only the essence of India but also the essence of the Whole. It is out of space and time, it is true and raw, for almost all the first days spent here are surreal and too often what you can perceive in the classic 2-3 days of most tours is really very little compared to what this city has to offer.

What should I expect from this experience?

This week we will go to discover Varanasi visiting places even outside the classic tourist itineraries. You will be shown Varanasi for what it is, without filters. Sometimes it will also be hard and not easy. It will be a real yatra (pilgrimage) that can also touch deep strings of your being and as such to move emotions.

Is it a spiritual journey?

You can’t visit Varanasi just with a camera. Varanasi is a city that encompasses a little bit all of India. When he sets foot here we already realize that something very deep is happening inside us. Some places that we will visit are among the most energetic in the world, with this tour we want above all to live an intense inner experience. There will also be moments of pure fun.

Who is it aimed at?

Varanasi experience is an experience for individuals, couples or small groups, also ideal for yoga groups. It is aimed at all those who wish to immerse themselves and know more deeply what makes this city unique in the world and those who are ready to leave judgment and our convictions at home. Varanasi is dirty, contradictory and contains the worst and the best of humanity. Only those who are ready to embrace all this are ready to embrace Varanasi .

TRAVEL PROGRAM

DAY 1 – Ganesha and the removal of worries and obstacles

Arrival at the airport / Varanasi train station. Transfer to the hotel by private car. The hotel I chose for you is centrally located, close to the Ghats. You will take all the time you need to settle down and get some rest. We will all meet together to get to know each other and for a short introductory briefing. After that we will go out and walk through the alleys to the temple of Lord Ganesh, the God of new beginnings, of travelers, the first deity to be thanked when we arrive in a new place. Here we will be able to take a few minutes to meditate on the new beginnings and the removal of obstacles From the temple of Lord Ganesha we will reach the Dashashwamed Ghat, where every evening, for centuries, the Ganga Aarti, the ceremony in honor of Maa Ganga has been held. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

DAY 2 – Kaal Bhairav and Kali Beyond Fear , Anger , Attachments , Duality

Yoga at dawn We will be back at the hotel for breakfast after which we will start this very powerful pilgrimage. Kashi is the city of Lord Shiva is said to rise on his trident, but check out this city is Kaal Bhairav, the fiercest representation of Lord Shiva. Kaal Bhairav is also called the Kotwal (the sheriff) of Varanasi. It is said that no one can stay in Varanasi without his permission. Bhairav is the lord of time and goes beyond fear and attachments. This morning we are going to ask Bhairav for permission for our stay here. We will alternate visits to temples of Bhairav and Kali, the Bloody Goddess ready to destroy attachments and egos. Meditation in one of the temples . In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to have a henna and / or a session with a vedic astrologer for a personalized horoscope Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

DAY 3 -Lord Shiva and the Transformation

If there is one thing that leaves this and the dawn of Varanasi breathless, the sun that mirrors itself in the Ganges and illuminates the Ghats is a unique spectacle. We will wake up before dawn and travel all the Ghats by boat, admiring the rising sun and the city waking up between rituals, ablutions, prayers and mantras. We will dwell on some Ghats to take pictures and see up close how this city greets the Sun every day and celebrates Maa Ganga . We will go back to the hotel for breakfast, then we will begin to discover the oldest part of this city. Lord Shiva is the God of Varanasi, a powerful god and is widely worshipped for his powerful destructive but also protective energy. Shiva is married to Parvarti, also known as Shakti. Shiva is the definitive representation of how great destruction precedes new opportunities. Today we are going to visit some of the most important but also more hidden temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and some places dear to him and his wife Parvati, including the largest crematorium in Manikarnika. Afternoon dedicated to the visit of the Muslim quarter where the artisans are engaged in the processing of sarees and shopping India is the land of colorful fabrics, silks, perfumes, spices, incense. and much more Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

DAY 4 – City of Light – celebration of death

Yoga at dawn In the city where life and death are celebrated in the same way, where they follow each other naturally, we will go to visit the most important places and experience how death is perceived in Hindu culture. We will start the day by visiting a Mukti Bawan (hotel salvation), where the people who are left with a few days of life stay. We will be able to see how they and their families are preparing to face death. People from all over India arrive in these hotels because it is believed that those who die in Varanasi free themselves from the cycle of reincarnations and reach moksha. We will reach the crematorium, we will dwell on the homes of those who were called ‘untouchable’ that is, those who spend their lives burning bodies and therefore in close contact with death. On the cremation ground, we will take all the time to attend the entire funeral. All the rituals will be explained in detail. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

DAY 5 – Lord Ram and Hanuman moral righteousness, the right path to take, perseverance, devotion

After burning and transforming our shadows today we will make one of the most exciting experiences, a Puja for Maa Ganga with pandit. We will pray at dawn the rising sun and Maa Ganga to give joy, serenity to us and our families After breakfast we will visit the most important places for Lord Ram and Hanuman. Lord Ram is the hero of the epic poem Ramayana . The stated purpose of this avatar was to show humans the right path in life. Sri Ram is known as the perfect man, representing courage, moral righteousness, kindness and chivalry. We will also visit the RAM bank, a unique bank of its kind, where no money but wishes are deposited. We will also visit one of the most important traditional gyms ( akhada ) in Varanasi , we will be able to see how the Indians train and prepare for wrestling matches . In the afternoon you will be the protagonists: you will participate in a cooking class, you will discover the recipes of traditional Indian dishes, you will learn their secrets and you can cook 4 courses and then taste them. Overnight at the hotel

DAY 6 – Lord Khrisna love, compassion and joy

Yoga at dawn After lunch we will reach one of the villages that are located near Varanasi. We will leave by boat. We will stop in the village to observe how people live, out of traffic and the sound of the horn. We will have the opportunity to interact with them, especially with the children. We will return at sunset time and watch the spectacle of the sun that disappears behind the city. In the evening, before saying goodbye we will attend a show of classical music and dance Kathak. Dinner and overnight at the hotel

DAY 7 – departure

We are almost at the end of this experience. After breakfast we will stay a little longer in the area of ghat and alleys near the hotel for the latest shopping or to breathe the atmosphere of this city which, despite its contradictions, will remain in your heart forever. Timely transfer to the airport or station

VARANASI EXPERIENCE

Prices per person in a double room

Base 2-3 people	780 euro
Base 4-6 people	670 euros
Base 7-9 people	590 euro
Base 10 people	530 euros

The fee includes:

• 6 overnight stays with breakfast treatment
• 6 dinners
• 3 yoga classes in the morning
• 1 cooking class
• transfers by private car to and from the airport or to and from the train station
• all the boat tours as scheduled
• all transfers in tuk tuk as scheduled
• puja on the Ganges with pandit
• classical music and Kathak dance show
• Me as an escort for the duration of the stay in Varanasi

The fee does not include:

• No plane (possibility of booking domestic flights on request)
• insurance
• seen
• the lunches
• drinks with meals
• mance
• Mehndi application / astrological consultation ( optional )
• all this not expressly mentioned under the heading ‘quotas include’

On request

• Booking of domestic flights, fees to be requested from our booking
• Possibility of extending the tour (in the days before or after) .