Join myself, John Ogilvie, on a journey to the sacred city of Rishikesh, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas and on the banks of the holy Ganges River. Known as the Yoga Capital of the World, Rishikesh offers the perfect environment for spiritual growth, rejuvenation, and personal transformation.

Whether you’re seeking deeper practice, time to reset, or a meaningful travel experience, our 10-day yoga retreat is designed to nourish your body, mind, and spirit.

A Sacred Journey into Rishikesh

This isn’t just a holiday. It’s a chance to step out of the noise and into a rhythm that nourishes your soul.

You’ll have time to unwind, to feel held by nature, and to connect with a practice that meets you exactly where you are. Experienced yogis will find space to go deeper, while those newer to yoga can gently build their foundations in a warm, encouraging environment.

Surrounded by sacred rivers, temples, forests and the quiet hum of prayer, you’ll experience yoga not just on the mat — but as a way of being. One that’s grounded in presence, simplicity, and joy.

10 Day Rishikesh Retreat Dates

Dates to be announced.

This retreat will be running in March 2026. To be the first to know, join our waitlist below.

Dates Register
October 1 - 12, 2025 Register Now
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Retreat Inclusions

  • 9 nights accommodation in a peaceful retreat centre in Rishikesh — with private or shared rooms to suit your comfort

  • Daily yoga and meditation — gentle, grounding and expansive practices to support your journey

  • Workshops on yoga philosophy and Ayurveda

  • Evening Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan — a sacred ritual of light and devotion

  • Sunrise trek to the Kunjapuri Devi Temple — watch the Himalayas awaken

  • Excursion to Chaurasi Kutia (The Beatles Ashram) — a soulful meeting of silence and creativity

  • Optional white-water rafting or a meditative nature walk

  • Two nourishing Indian meals daily at the retreat centre, with the third meal free for you to explore local cuisine

  • Airport transfers from Dehradun (DED)

Why Rishikesh?

Rishikesh isn’t just a place you visit — it’s a place that stays with you.

Cradled between the mountains and blessed by the sacred Ganga, this ancient pilgrimage town holds a magnetic energy that has drawn sages and seekers for centuries. Here, every breath feels a little deeper, and every step becomes part of a sacred dance.

You can meditate where saints once sat in silence, take part in the glow of the evening Ganga Aarti, or sip chai as the river rushes by. This is where yoga began — and where you can feel its pulse alive in every stone, chant, and moment of stillness.

Despite its spiritual depth, Rishikesh is vibrant and welcoming. Riverside cafes, colourful markets, and kind-hearted locals create a town that feels both ancient and alive. Whether you’re here to explore, heal, or simply come home to yourself, Rishikesh has something deeply personal to offer.

Highlights

Each moment of this retreat is thoughtfully curated to inspire connection — to the land, to the practice, and to yourself.

From sunrise treks to sacred temples, to heartfelt rituals on the banks of the Ganges, these experiences offer more than just sightseeing — they are soul-touching moments designed to deepen your journey, spark insight, and leave lasting impressions.

Parmarth Niketan

A haven on the banks of the Ganges, Parmarth Niketan is the largest ashram in Rishikesh and a sanctuary for spiritual seekers. Peaceful gardens, sacred rituals, and a deep sense of devotion invite you to simply slow down and breathe.

Kunjapuri Devi Temple

Perched high above Rishikesh, this sacred temple offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Himalayas and the Ganges River valley. Arriving at sunrise, you’ll feel the quiet power of this revered space — a perfect moment to reflect, meditate, and welcome the day.

Chaurasi Kutia – The Beatles Ashram

Once a silent centre for deep meditation, Chaurasi Kutia became famous after The Beatles spent time here in 1968. Now filled with colourful murals and quiet echoes of the past, walking through this abandoned ashram is like entering a sacred dream — poetic, nostalgic, and alive with energy.

John Betty and Pujan delivered a great program. The amount of yoga vs spiritual activities was well balanced. Pujan and Betty worked tirelessly to deliver whatever we wanted using their contacts and resources. Enjoyed the mandala drawing and Kieran singing and fire ceremony. John used his expertise to ensure the program was full and interesting.
Pam C. Attended India Yoga Retreat 2023.

The guest house was comfortable and the yoga space was perfect. You all did a great job of listening to everyone’s needs, thoughts and suggestions. I felt very held, safe and listened to.

Michelle B. Attended India Yoga Retreat 2023.

The accommodation was so very clean, new and comfortably laid out. It was great to have ceiling fans; and air for night sleeping. What a bonus to have a pool! Rooftop was such a special location for yoga, discussions or just alone quiet time. I loved everything about this place. The meals were delicious. My gratitude for the very generous and relevant gluten free catering. I loved it all and look forward to doing again for continuing exploration and deepening practice, knowledge, experiences and commitment.

Enid G. Attended India Yoga Retreat 2023.

Accommodation was great. The different levels and break out areas was effective. Food excellent. Washing of clothes fantastic. Pool yeh ???? good location to town. Loved how things could change at the groups request. Very appreciative of the time effort and thought that went into the retreat. A great job!

Fiona J. Attended India Yoga Retreat 2023.

Your Hosts

Our facilitators have a combined teaching experience of over 100 years offering a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share with participants. John Ogilvie, the founder and director of Byron Yoga Centre, has been teaching yoga for over thirty-five years. He encourages a light heartedness in our approach to yoga and to ourselves.
Swami Pujan will be leading Meditation sessions and joining with John to deliver the yoga philosophy.
Bettina Kahlert joins John in teaching asana classes, breathing sessions and daily Yoga Nidra relaxation sessions.

John Ogilvie is one of Australia’s most respected and experienced teachers and founder of Byron Yoga Centre. John has been practicing yoga for more than 30 years and teaching for over 28. John developed his signature style of yoga, Purna Yoga after 20 years of disciplined yoga training including practicing both the Iyengar method and Ashtanga. His yoga journey has seen him learn from various yoga masters over the years in Australia and internationally.

The Purna method John teaches focuses on correct alignment. His teaching covers the basics with additional emphasis on refining alignment, corrections and adjustments. John’s teaching style is entertaining and completely accessible. His instructions are clear and simple, always with a focus on keeping his students safe and encouraging them to listen to their own body’s needs and only work at a level appropriate to the individual, at any given time.

John encourages students at all levels to build flexibility, strength and stamina of body, mind and spirit. Many students discover, as a consequence, that yoga becomes a way of life.

Swami Pujan reached self-realization through the studying of the Upanishads and Vedanta with the help of his teacher, James Swartz, after many, many years being involved in Theavana and Mahayana Buddhism. He was a trained psychologist so his teachings bring in the western psychological angle. His wish is to bring the complex teachings of the Upanishads and the Yoga Sutras to a western audience that is relevant to their lives.

“Spirituality is a difficult subject to teach. It is often taught either by Indians that have difficulty connecting to their western audience through their constant use of Sanskrit names and stories that are often pulled out of an Indian contents. And with western teachers the difficulty is often that of too much intellectualising the subject. If it were not for my teacher James Schwartz, I would have maybe never found Advaita.

My wish is to bring the complex teachings of the Upanishads  and the Yoga Sutras to a western audience that is relevant to their lives. Spirituality has to be practical and not only philosophical!

There is a danger of course to oversimply the teaching, but i hope i can avoid this. You don’t need to know Sanskrit, you don’t need to believe in a God , you just have to have an open mind and use your intellect to understand the teachings. I love the logic in Vedanta and I want to bring that across in a non dogmatic fun and engaging way”

Bettina first did yoga more than 30 years ago and became serious during pregnancy 20 years ago. She trained as a fitness instructor 20 years ago and more recently complemented this with Pilates teacher training. Bettina has done 4 different yoga teacher trainings, most recently with John Ogilvie and has recently been studying the use of yoga nidra in rehabilitation, recording a CD in India.

Bettina’s classes emphasise the core, pelvic floor and the bandhas. Bettina has been lucky to meet with and learn from several spiritual masters, including B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabi Jois, T.K.V. Desikachar and Clive Sheridan.

A Typical Day

07:00    Yoga Class

08:00   Breakfast

09:00   Alternate spiritual talks / meditation session / both by Pujan or John

12:30    Lunch (either on site or out)

14:00    Spend the afternoon exploring the town (supervised or independently) or relaxing by the pool

18:00    Dinner (either on site or out)

19:00    Yoga nidra / meditation / spiritual talk

Frequently Asked Questions

You can fly into Dehradun Airport (DED), which is the closest airport (about 35–40 minutes from Rishikesh). We’ll offer complimentary airport transfers from Dehradun. Alternatively, you can fly into Delhi (DEL) and take a scenic 5–6 hour drive or train to Rishikesh.

Accommodation details are being finalised, but expect clean, comfortable, and peaceful lodging close to the Ganges and surrounded by nature. Both private and shared room options will be available, and all rooms will have access to essential amenities and nourishing vegetarian meals.

Vaccinations as recommended by Travel Doctor:

  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella
  • Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis
  • Polio

March is one of the best times to visit Rishikesh. The weather is typically pleasant and comfortable, with warm days and cool evenings. You can expect daytime temperatures around 25–30°C and cooler nights around 12–18°C. It’s mostly dry and sunny — perfect for yoga, outdoor excursions, and river walks without the intense heat or monsoon rains.

To visit India you will need to apply for a visa.

You can do so via indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html 

Bring very little clothing- the shopping in India is amazing.
Other than that bring your usual toiletries and creature comforts.
Comfortable footwear for walking.
Please dress respectably.

We recommend taking out travel insurance before travelling to India.

There is good healthcare (both western and eastern) in the area if needed.