HIMALAYAS – A great cultural expedition to Himachal Pradesh - Lahaul, Spiti, Kinnaur, Aug.-Sept. 2019

Data: 
10/08/2019 to 10/09/2019

HIMALAYA  – AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2019

A great cultural expedition to Himachal Pradesh with Ashtanga Yoga practice in mountains, with Sanskrit lessons and lectures about the culture of India.

PERIOD:

Full program: from the 10th of August to the 10th of September.
Two-week program: from the 10th to the 24th of August.
Three-week program: (24 days) from the 18th of August to the 10th of September.   

TEACHERS:

Filip Ruciński - Sanskrit teacher, author of the program.
Ewa Makowska – Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher.
Mahendra Nath - Art historian.

ROUTE:

Full program (32 days):  Arrival to Delhi – Shimla – Manali – Rohtang Pass – Keylong – Kunzum Pass – one-day trekking to the Moon Lake, Chandra Tal (alternative version: travel by a car to the lake area) – Kaza – Ki Gompa – Kibber –Hikkim – Komic Gompa – Giu – Dhankar Gompa – Nako – Sangla – Chitkul – Flowers Holiday or Phulaich in the village of Sangla (common Kayang dance together with the inhabitants of Sangla village) – tree-day trekking to the Rupin Pass or stay in Chitkul – Sangla – Tapri – Jeori (hot springs) – Rampur – Shimla – Kalka – Delhi – back home.

Two-week program (14 days, arrival on August 10): Arrival to Delhi – Shimla – Manali – Rohtang Pass – Keylong – Naggar – Kullu, flight to Delhi over the Himalayas – back home.

Three-week program (24 days, arrival on August 18): Arrival to Delhi – flight from Delhi over the Himalayas to Kullu – Naggar – Rohtang Pass – Keylong – Kunzum Pass – one-day trekking to the Moon Lake, Chandra Tal (alternative version: travel by a car to the lake area) – Kaza – Ki Gompa – Kibber –Hikkim – Komic Gompa – Giu – Dhankar Gompa – Nako – Sangla – Chitkul – Flowers Holiday or Phulaich in the village of Sangla (common Kayang dance together with the inhabitants of Sangla village) – tree-day trekking to the Rupin Pass or stay in Chitkul – Sangla – Tapri – Jeori (hot springs) – Rampur – Shimla – Kalka – Delhi – back home.

ABOUT THE EXPEDITION:

- Very diverse program. Essential places will set the route for the spiritual tradition and culture of India.
- In the expedition participates the expert of Indian fine arts, Mahendra Nath, to teach about India, Indian cuture and arts. 

- Daily Yoga practice for health and keeping good condition.
- Introduction to Sanskrit and its important role in Indian culture.
-We will visit Delhi – the capital of India and Shimla – the capital of Himachal Pradesh.
-Accommodation in an ashram, hotels, guesthouses, home stays, a Buddhist monastery and in tents.
-In the beginning of the expedition there will be a possibility to have ayurvedic consultations (medical) and treatments.
-We will take many longer and shorter hikes.
-Well organized plan to gradually acclimatize to the high altitude – at the end we should feel at home even at an altitude of 4500 m.
-During the trekking, we will also sleep in tents at an altitude higher than 4000 m and camp on uninhabited areas.
-We will ride over the sunrise by a mountain-historic, narrow-gauge railway that has been in operation since 1903 and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
-Along with sightseeing, we will also learn the context of the visited places thanks to lectures and classes.
-We will visit the largest library in India at the Institute of Advanced Studies and the National Museum depicting the culture of Himachal Pradesh
-We will get to know the history of India’s independence.
-We will participate in celebrations of the 72nd anniversary of India’s independence in Shimla, the city in which this independence was signed.
-We will participate in a full-day outdoor performances and folk dances.
-We will take an all-day trek from the high-mountain pass through the Tibetan Plateau to the Moon Lake (Chandra Tal, 4,300 meters above sea level) and the sources of the Chandra River.
-We will visit the highest situated Buddhist monasteries (at 4520 m above sea level) and we will spend the night in a monastery at an altitude of 4166 m.
-We will learn about the monastic life of monks. We will learn from them the practices of Tibetan Buddhism and also take part in prayers.
-We will reach the highest human settlements in India and spend the night in the highest village in India (Hikkim, 4330-4400 meters above sea level).
-We will reach the border with China (Tibet) and visit there a mummified lama in meditation while doing Japa.
-We will visit a village, until recently closed to tourist traffic, whose inhabitants speak their own language.
-We will walk around Lake Nako.
-As the first foreigners and people from outside the Province of Kinnaur, we will learn a Kinnaurian folk dance called kayag.
-As the first foreigners and people in history from outside of Kinnauruwe will perform the kayang dance in Kinnaurian dresses during the most important holiday – Flowers Fesival – Phulaich, together with all the inhabitants of the village of Sangla (Sangla in the local language means Valley (La) of the rising Sun (Sang).
-The conducts prevailed in the province will be very precisely explained to us by a local friends of ours along with their spiritual and social meaning and importance.
-For a short time, we will be able to feel like residents of Kinnaur.
-We will get to know the Kinnaur Gods and their temples.
-We will visit Chitkul – the last village of India with the best potatoes in the world.
-We will take a 3-day trek to the Rupin Pass (Rupin Pass, 4650 m above sea level) to the Saraswati glacier.
-On the trekking to Rupin Pass we will be able to eat tasty vegan and vegetarian food from mountain agreculture (naturally organic) cooked on Primus stove.
-We will get to know from our guide how the Kinnauris used to eat on long and difficult trips to the highest mountains, where it is difficult to survive. We will also be able to taste their food.
-We will be able to bathe in hot springs under the sacred mountain of Manimahesh.
-We will come back to Poland with beautiful presents and memories from Himachal Pradesh.

ASHTANGA:

-Whenever possible during trekking days, and days of sightseeing.
-Everyday practice of Ashtanga (Pranayama, Sun Salutations, Trataka, Moon Salutations), and during trekking days and days of sightseeing – if possible.
-Occasionally, Mysore/Led Primary Series classes will be held during calmer days.
-Workshop part of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga during acclimatization to the high altitude which we will spend in one place (Keylong).

LECTURES ON INDIAN CULTURE AND SANSKRIT

-Introduction to Sanskrit – the ancient language of India.
-Recitations and chants of sacred texts in Sanskrit.
-The history of India: the way to independence and other histories.
-Mahabharata motifs and Ramayana reflected in the temples of Himachal Pradesh.
-Sanskrit dramas: “The Middle One” („Madhyama-vyāyoga”) and “Ghatotkaca the Messenger” („Dūta-ghaṭotkaca”). The lecture at the Hidimba temple in Manali in the place of the action of dramas.
-Culture and religion of Himachal Pradesh.
-Vajradhatu mandala: its spiritual meaning (lecture when visiting the monastery in Tabo)
-The meaning of Kinnaurian folk songs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COSTS:

-The expected cost of the full program (32 days): 800 PLN + 1200 PLN + 1800 USD / person.
-The expected cost of the three-week program (24 days): 800 PLN + 1200 PLN + 1500 USD / person.
-The expected cost of the two-week program (14 days): 800 PLN + 1200 PLN +1200 USD / person.

Included
- workshops and classes, full board, transport and drivers in the Himalayas, entry passes, permits
- Vegetarian and vegan meals two times a day (at least).
- There is a possibility of not participating in selected parts of the program so that one can spend some time alone with nature (we will organize and provide the right conditions).

The price does not include the flight cost and a visa, however we provide assistance in all the arrangement. While booking the flight ticket please  keep in mind the timings (contact us to view the detaild program). We assist in buying the flight ticket in India  -  Kullu Delhi or Delhi Kullu - for those who wish to come, accordingly, for 14 or 24 days programs.    

         
The number of places is limited.

Deposit in advance while registration: I. PLN 800 [please mention in the transfer: Yoga Course in India], till May 10: II. PLN 1200 [please mention in the transfer: Sanskrit Course in India]
If paying both together PLN2000 (531 USD) please mention: Yoga and Sanskrit Course in India. 
The remaining amount should be paid only in cash on arrival. 

If you wish to know more detailed information and the exact plan of the trip or have any questions, please contact us.

CONTACT and REGISTRATION:

ashtangavinyasayoga.pl@gmail.com

 

 

Fot. 3 Temple of Mother Bhima Kali, Sarahan (the same as at the title), the family temple of the Bushahr dynasty

Fot. 4. Świątynia jakszy (Jakhu), Shimla

Photo 5. Bhuchan dance - national dance of Spiti

Photo 6. Kothi Devi Temple, Kinnaur

Photo 7. Chitkul, the last village of the Baspa Valley. People of the village uses the the totally different language called Chitkuli

 

Photo 8. On the way to Kothi Devi, Rekong Peo, Kinnaur, women in the traditional Kinnauri dress

Phote 9. Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh

Phote 10. Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh - the monsun view

Photo 11. Sunday assembly with the Deity in Kalpa

Photo 12. Music during the prophecy

Photo 13 Guru Padmasambhava in Nako and the imprint of his foot.

Miejsce: 
India
Kategoria: 
Kursy
Wyjazdy
Organizator: 
Fundacja Vivaswan, Ganapati Sp. z.o.o.