- Programme One:
The Vedic Fires Tour
- plus the 'Golden triangle' Option: 3-days visiting Delhi, Agra, Jaipur (for the Taj Mahal)

Agnihotra - the ancient ayruvedic science of purification of the atmosphere has been resurrected for the benefit of mankind. The practice of this simple Agnihotra fire will heal the atmosphere, and this purified atmosphere will, in turn, heal you, your family and animals and the plants that grow around you and your home. Feel the stress being lifted as peace, love and tranquillity enter your life as you integrate with local culture in a simple non-touristic environment. Enjoy a deeply spiritual and tranquil stay in rural India (basic accommodation in eco-based community).

Highlights include:
- World Heritage sites of Ellora and Ajanta Buddhist Cave Temples
- Agnihotra Fire ceremonies
- Ayurvedic massage, steam and mud baths
- Daily tuition in the Vedas, mantras and talks on the Vedic Fire tradition
- Maheshwar, with sunset boat ride on the sacred Namada river
- Om Kareshwar - celebrated pilgrimage city

Proposed itinerary:
Day 1: Depart UK for India. Overnight in Mumbai (Bombay).
Day 2: Fly to Indore where the tour proper starts midday. Transfer to Maheshwar, exotic ancient city of temples on the Narmada river. Settle into our hotel near the Fort. Watch the evening sunset.
Day 3: In Maheshwar visit the Agnihotra Centre where the movement’s teacher, Shree Vasant is resident. After lunch, leisure time and evening Agnihotra ceremony on tiny island. Group meditation with mantras at the Shiva temple - a very powerful site!
Day 4: Quiet day with optional boat trip to local waterfalls, temples and weaving looms.
Day 5: Early morning drive alone the Narmada to the temple city of Om Kareshwar. Sight-seeing and early lunch. Drive on to Tapovan for a late supper where we will be staying on full-board, participating on this Homa farm in their daily sunrise/sunset Agnihotra fires, with mantra classes and talks on the Vedic Fire traditions.
Day 6-13: Extended say at Tapovan. Enjoy ayurvedic massage, herbal steambaths and mudbaths. Visit local temples, villages and other ecological enterprises – a rare opportunity to integrate with local culture in a simple non- touristic working environment.
Day 14: Drive to Ajanta Buddhist caves. Sight-seeing, lunch. Overnight at Aurangabad.
Day 15: Full day visit to the nearby Ellora Rock Temples. Option to fly from Aurangabad back to Mumbai and home, or for those continuing with us on to 'Sacred Spiritual India' tour, overnight at the same hotel.
Day 16: Fly Aurangabad to Mumbai and immediate onward connection to Madras.

Optional independent extension: If you are NOT continuing on with our Sacred Spiritual India tour then you may wish to visit the famous 'Golden Triangle' of Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal) & Jaipur. This can be organised for you to continue on from the above itinerary before you return to UK. Please enquire for prices and information.

This main tour above is based on full-board in shared rooms, and includes guiding and transport. All accommodation used is comfortable, tourist standard with en suite facilities.
January is a perfect month to visit this region with warm, dry days and cool nights (air-conditioning unnecessary).
No smoking or alcohol at Tapovan, and the delicious cuisine is strictly vegetarian.
N.B: Younger women guests will have their cycle periods honoured with special facilities, during which time agnihotra fire participation is inappropriate (strictly for energy reasons!) Please ask for further explanations if required.

PRICE of 14 night basic tour £795 approx. (as of Jan. 2008)
£175 single supplement (limited)
Price excludes domestic flights, international airfares and site entrance fees. International flight currently approx £650 - internal domestic flights £150.

Group size limited to 16 and as many have already expressed interest, early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

(N.B: In the current climate of financial instability we may need to surcharge if the relevant exchange rate varies by over 5% at balance payment time.

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- Programme Two:
Sacred Spiritual India

A spiritual tour to visit Arunachala, the Sri Ramana Maharshi ashram, combining sacred power sites at Pondicherry and Auroville, the universal city in the making based on the vision of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.

January 22nd is full moon and participation in the Girivalam, the circumambulation procession around the base of Mt Arunachala at night, is possible.

Proposed itinerary:
Day 1: Fly from the UK to Madras (or connect from earlier tour). Meet at the airport mid-morning. Drive direct to Tiruvannamalai (about 4 hours). Check in at the Anantha Niketan ashram about 10 km out of town and overlooking Mt Arunachala - an extinct volcano. This ‘open’ ashram is on a 5-acre site in a rural setting with fine views of Arunachala about 6 km away (more details available).
Accommodation is in cottages of varying sizes, some with their own bathrooms, while others share a bathroom nearby. Hot water is not automatic but can be arranged with notice. (Tanks are generally warmed by sunshine.) The kitchen prepares vegetarian meals three times a day and the style of food is mild Indian, with salads available. Menus vary and 500 rupees a day would cover two main meals. Drinking water is from the ashram's own well and is also available filtered. Western food cooked Indian style is available at a number of places in town.
Days 2-6: Spent at the Arunachala ashram with opportunity to participate in the Full Moon Girivalam (if tour to take place in Jan/Feb 2009). This timeframe is seen as a quiet and independent opportunity for personal attunement in the very powerful energy of Arunachala and its famous meditation shrines. Synonymous with the fifth element of fire, Tiruvannamalai ranks as one of the five holiest towns of Tamil Nadu (further information available). The town is full of shrines, and paved pilgrim paths scattered around the mountain, but the main focus is undoubtedly the vast Arunachaleswara Temple - 'Temple of the Eternal Sunrise'. Here Sri Ramana Maharshi sat in the state of supreme Awareness.
Day 7: We drive via Gingee to view the famous volcanic mounds, and on to Pondicherry, former capital of French India, with its distinctly Gallic atmosphere! (more information available).
It was here near Auroville that Sri Aurobindo's spiritual successor, 'The Mother' was inspired in 1968 to establish 'The City of Dawn': a community of currently some 1,350 people, which it is forseen will become 'an ideal city' of 50,000 in the dawning new era.
We overnight in Pondicherry at a hotel and visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, there containing his and the Mother’s Samadhi mausoleum - a very powerful experience.
Day 8: We visit Auroville to get an idea of this community of the future, and after a brief tour and lunch in the community hall we return north for an overnight stay on the coast near the World Heritage Centre of Mamallapuram – India’s stone-carving capital, with its famous Shore Temple and some extraordinary rock sculptures. Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Visit the Mamallapuram sites and continue after lunch to Madras to connect with St Thomas. His post-crucifixion mission took him mainly to Kerala in SW India, but he was martyred here and his relics are in San Tome Cathedral on the site of two much earlier churches. Tour finishes here late afternoon/eve.
Optional stay overnight to meet with departing flight.

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PRICE of 8-night tour is £595 approx. (as of Jan. 2008)
B&B accommodation is twin or 3-bed shared rooms. £150 single supplement (limited availability). Accommodation includes six nights at the Ashram as described, two nights at good tourist standard hotels on days 7 & 8. You may wish to take two nights at extra cost in airport hotels if desired).

All ground transport is included but domestic flights and all entrance fees and main meals are extra.

Please note that in these times of fluctuating exchange rates, we will need to surcharge if rates differ more than 5% from those used for budgeting.

Deposit and balance payments only refundable if a replacement is found before departure. Comprehensive insurance is recommended.

* For those joining us for either of the Sri Lanka tours or the Peace Conference there are now 10 days rest and relaxation. (See our Ayurvedic Healing and Infinity Tour of Sri Lanka - here