Yogini Yatra
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YOGINI YATRA Journey into the Sacred Himalayan Abode Note that the Yogini Yatra was completed and we are peparing a future event. You can examine the previous Yogini Yatra information below. Our second Yogini Yatra from March 16-24, 2011 is now accepting applicants, featuring special tours and classes at important temples in Ranikhet, Dunagiri, Jageshwar and Mahavatar Babaji's cave. The retreat is led by Yogini Shambhavi and Dr. David Frawley and will take you to special sacred sites where westerners seldom go. It will provide a special opportunity to connect with these two great teachers. For further information and signing up for Yogini Yatra please contact : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Nainital  Our sacred journey into the Himalayas begins on an overnight train journey from New Delhi to Kathgodam. An early morning drive takes us to Nainital in Uttarakhand, the Himalayan lake district. Nainital holds the abundance and sweet bliss of Mother Nature with her lakes, scenic beauty, lush hillside and Hindu temples.
Mythology explains Naini ’the eyes’ of Goddess Sati fell here, making this a sacred Devi sight. Naini is a natural lake mirroring the lush hillsides with two powerful temples on the western banks – Naina Devi and Pashan Devi. There is the temple to Anjaneya,the monkey god by the lakeside. Evenings rent the air with temple bells when the lights add a jewel-like glitter to the lake. Silent walks and treks take one into the pristine wonder of Mother Nature, viewing the Himalayan peaks and lakesides. Nainital opens the doorway to seven smaller lakes of Saat tal (seven) and Bhimtal. Driving through Bhowali onto Almora one views the fruit belt of Himalayan abundance in plums, peaches, apples and khurmani (apricots). Binsar  A three hour drive from Nainital along the Kosi river takes us to the beautiful wild life sanctuary of Binsar at 8000 feet. Enroute we visit Kakrighat temple and Chatai Devi temple. Chatai Devi is revered as the goddess of justice. Pilgrims seek her blessings by tying a bell along with a note of injustice done to them in writing. Her divine grace ensures justice to everyone. Once the problems are taken care of we return to tie a bell at the temple in gratitude.
 
Jageshwar Beyond Binsar is Jageshwar, the Hindu pilgrimage town dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to mythology Lord Shiva came to this place to meditate, drawing all the village women for his darshan ‘sacred blessing’. The village men were duly perturbed with the women folk leaving their household chores to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. To appease the men folk Shiva took the form of a young child and is ever since worshipped here as Batuk Bhairva.   The ancient stone temples dating 9th to 13th century AD are encircled with deep blue deodar forests. Intricate stone carving decorate the temples of Dandeshwar, Jageshwar, Mahamrityunjaya and the Navagraha (nine planets). Sacred rituals and fire ceremonies done here help ward off obstacles, accidents and negativity in our lives. The pilgrimage here is considered as auspicious as Badrinathji and Kedarnathji as it is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Ranikhet
 Ranikhet at 6000 feet translates as “Queen of the hills”, an ancient town with powerful Devi ‘Mother Goddess ‘temples to Ma Kali and Durga. Jhoola Devi ,an 8th century Durga temple displays a zillion metal bells of varying sizes tied with red cloth ,a tribute to one’s fulfilled wishes. Kalika is the famous Kali temple.
From Ranikhet one has a beautiful panoramic view of all the Himalayan snowbound peaks – Trushul, Nanda Devi and Bandarpoonch. The Ranikhet golf course renders one a meditative bliss of silently taking in the mountain of well manicured grass, spotting families of wild fox basking on full moon nights. The pristine forests of deodar, pine, oak and various firs are home to the Himalayan leopards, spotted frequently at dawn and dusk, sometimes sitting by the roadside on dark nights. Nesting off the golf course in tall pine trees is the great Himalayan Buzzard, the owl and the hawk. Ranikhet market still holds the charm of ancient times, laden with colorful chunris ‘red with golden edged stoles’ as offerings for the Goddess. Shops with colored glass bangles, metal vessels, silver traditional jewellery, locally printed wedding outfits, fresh vegetables and fruit are a delight for every local shopper.  An hour’s drive takes one to the sacred place of Dunagiri, the mountain temple of Shailputri and Brahmacharini. In the Kumaon area every young maiden as well as newly wedded couple seeks the Goddess’s divine blessing. A steep climb of 365 steps leads one atop the mountain with a beautiful vista of the Trishula peak. Beyond Dunagiri is the mystic cave of Maha Avtar Babaji and the Yogananda ashram. For further information and signing up, Please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it +91 9899890659
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