Skills For Awakening

Your India visa processing site depends on where in the United States you currently reside, also known as jurisdiction. You can find a listing of the states in each jurisdiction (“application centers”), in addition to the hours, addresses and contact information for each site by using the following links within the Cox & Kings website: Washington D.C., New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta. This is the only authorized agency in the US to issue Indian visas. We suggest not use any other.

Those residing outside of the continental U.S., check with your local Indian consulate for details and visa requirements in your country of residence/citizenship.

For your reference in India, please use the hotel in Kainchi. This is a link to get the information. Click Here!

A Passport valid at least 6 months after your return date and India visa are required. It is recommended that there be at least 3 blank pages in the back of your passport. Each individual is responsible for obtaining their passport and visa. Beginning May 21, 2014, Cox & Kings Global Services Pvt. Limited is the only authorized Service Provider for the Embassy of India and its Consulates across the USA for Visa support services. NOTE: According to the Consulate of India website, the Embassy of India and its Consulates in the USA do not recognize any other agency to provide Visa services. If you would like to look into the process for obtaining an India visa, information can be found at Cox & Kings website. Those residing outside of the continental U.S., check with your local Indian consulate for visa requirements in your country of residence.

We experience that changing from a hectic daily routine to a quiet, meditative lifestyle takes time and energy. To enhance that process, it is best to have fewer distractions. To help maintain inner focus, it is suggested that a participant remain in Kainchi for the first week of an Immersion. Thereafter, it is helpful to limit off-campus trips for necessities to once per week, or as scheduled for group activities. This gives you the opportunity to participate more fully in the Immersion so you will gain the maximum benefit.

Part of the Immersion activities are pilgrimages to 3 sacred places near Kainchi. These will be a whole-day experience in the context of your Immersion into sacredness.

For your safety when going away on your own or in small groups, those on Immersion are asked to return back no later than 6:30 pm.

We’ve decided to change the option from private bus/coach to a train ride. The train will take you to Kathgodam, a nearby city to Kainchi. Then the ride from Kathgodam to Kainchi is via taxi (available outside the railway station). 

TRAIN DELHI TO KATHGODAM
Station: New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) — main station in Delhi to Kathgodam (KGM) — only station
Train: Shatabdi Express | Platform # 11 | AC Chair
Departure time: 6AM estimated
Arrival: 11:40AM estimated
Food: available in the train and included in the ticket price. Mostly chai and packed food… safe to eat!

TRAIN KATHGODAM TO DELHI
Train: Uttarakhand Sampark Kranti Express – AC chair
Departure: 8:50am – platform 3
Arrival: 3:20pm at Old Delhi Junction Railway Station (DLI) — platform 5

NOTE: Please be at least 1/2 hour at the train platform. At the station, you may want to hire a coolie (porter) to carry your bags — aprox. Rs. 100 per bag (they do not accepted other currency). Usually they have a red turban or their head. Show him your train ticket. He’ll take you to the right platform. We will purchase the train tickets and email them to you. You’ll need to print a copy and bring it with you. It will be requested by the train conductor.

NOTE: If for any reason (foreseen or unforeseen) you cannot be at the designated hotel in Delhi on time before the bus leaves, you will need to get to Kainchi on your own. Although the retreat package does not cover the expenses of a different transportation than the one we are providing, we will be happy to suggest alternatives. If you know this might be the case, please reach out to us in advance and let us know.

NOTE: The train tickets DELHI-KATHGODAM and the taxi fare from KATHGODAM to KAINCHI are covered in your Immersion package. Any other mode of transportation you may prefer, will not be covered.

Arrival in Delhi is on your own. Metered taxis and Prepaid taxis are available at the international arrivals area of Indira Gandhi International Airport. One-way fares range from INR 275 to INR 800 depending on the taxi hired and hotel location. Some Delhi hotels may offer transfers at no charge or for a fee; inquire when you make your room reservation. Please check for WHERE WOULD I STAY IN DELHI? question for our lodging suggestions.

HOW?

Each participant is responsible for getting to India. Many U.S. and international airlines have flights to Delhi, India. On the east coast of the U.S., flights depart from New York (JFK or EWR at Newark, NJ) to Delhi. Other major airports throughout the U.S. offer flights to India. Numerous flight options to Delhi from other countries around the globe are also available. Check with one of the online providers, airlines, or your local travel agent for the flights most convenient for you.

WHEN?

It is important and necessary to rest after this long flight. A full day and night for this is the minimum. If your time is flexible, we suggest that you arrive in Delhi a day or more prior to the dates below. This will help your body overcome jet-lag and will give you time to explore the city and do some shopping if necessary.

The following are the road-trip Delhi-Kainchi – and day one – of each Immersion dates. We will leave Delhi early morning, after breakfast:

• September 3rd (for participants on the Immersion 1 and month-long Immersions 1 & 2).
• September 17th (for participants on the Immersion 2 and month-long Immersions 2 & 3).
• October 2nd (for participants on the Immersion 3).

NOTE: If for any reason you cannot be there (at the suggested hotel in Delhi where we are leaving from) on time, please reach out to us in advance and let us know, we will be happy to help in suggesting transportation alternatives. Also, you will need to get to Kainchi on your own and cover the expenses of the trip from Delhi to Kainchi.

NOTE: If you are interested in joining Durga for some shopping to get the appropriate attire for the ashram, this will happen the afternoon prior to the dates mentioned above. She will guide you to a shop or two. Any other shopping or Delhi sightseeing is up to you. So depending on the flight you are taking to get to Delhi, consider giving yourself a full day before our road-trip dates above.

NOTE: Tickets tend to get harder to acquire and more expensive the closer one is to the travel date. Aside from purchasing airplane tickets several months in advance, find about HeartSourcing groups & fellow travelers/participants (mainly Miami, FL) and choose to work with a travel agent to buy tickets together as a group, a measure which can significantly decrease the price of each individual ticket.

When you do buy your ticket, your destination will be New Delhi (DEL), which recently finished a major infrastructure upgrade and is now a first class airport.