Mandali Sacred Journeys: The Whispers of India (retreat in India)

There are places in the world that do not simply welcome you – they mirror something essential within you. India is one of those places.

Mandali Sacred Journeys is a new chapter in our life as a community – a long-term project born from a deep commitment to these traditions. We begin in India, and from here, over the years, we will travel together to other sacred lands, tracing the living roots of what we practice and share.

The Journey

This 12-day journey is a gentle immersion into India’s magic, unfolding between Delhi, Rishikesh, Agra, and Bharatpur.

We begin in Delhi, gathering as a group before travelling north toward Rishikesh, at the foothills of the Himalayas, where the Ganges flows revered as Mother Ganga, a living symbol of purification and renewal.

Our home for the majority of the journey is a quiet hillside retreat above the river, where days are shaped by a natural rhythm: practice, rest, exploration, and time simply to be.

From this base, we explore the surrounding region: sacred sites, temples, riverbanks, and the vibrant spiritual atmosphere of Rishikesh itself.

The journey then continues toward Agra and the Taj Mahal, before moving through Fatehpur Sikri and the natural sanctuary of Bharatpur, each place offering a different window into India’s vast cultural and spiritual landscape.

On our return to Delhi, we may pause in Vrindavan, a living center of religious devotion which can still be felt in daily life.

A Journey Held by Practice

These journeys are an invitation to travel differently. To move in an intimate, held group. To approach sacred places with respect, curiosity, and openness. And to experience India not as something to “see,” but as a place to meet yourself – through daily practice, teachings, insights shared along the way, and, whenever possible – encounters with local teachers who carry these traditions in their living form.

Guided by long-standing relationships, deep experience, and a shared love for these traditions, we travel together into the living heart of this culture: supported, accompanied, and immersed.

A Living Retreat Experience

This is not only a retreat, it’s a living journey. Each day unfolds in response to the place, the climate, and the moment, allowing space for spontaneity, celebration, and integration.

Yoga and meditation practices will weave through the experience, held by a Mandali teacher accompanying the group, and enriched where possible by collaborations with local teachers. There will be time to walk, to sit by the river, to visit temples, to witness rituals such as the Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh. We will also get the chance to visit a well-known tiger reserve outside of the city.

The Place We Stay

Our home in Rishikesh is Vileen, a peaceful retreat nestled high above the Ganges, 35 kilometers north of town. Surrounded by forest and overlooking the river, it offers a rare sense of quiet and space. From here, it’s possible to walk down to a secluded beach, to sit close to the water, and to experience the Ganga in a more intimate way.

The architecture follows the natural slope of the land, opening onto expansive views and a feeling of being held within the landscape itself.

Guidance Along the Way

This retreat is held by Daniele Rabozzi, who has been traveling, and at times living, in India for over 40 years, and teaching yoga for more than 35. A teacher at Mandali since its very beginning, Daniele brings not only experience, but a deep, personal relationship with the places we will visit. He will accompany the group throughout the entire journey, offering daily practices, as well as insights that come from decades of returning, listening, and learning from this land. 

This tour is organized by Amitaba Viaggi*, a Milan-based operator, whose local representative will accompany the group throughout the entire journey.

Why This Journey

For many, India lives as an important calling – a place felt from afar, yet not always easy to approach. This journey is created for those who feel that call, but wish to enter it in a supported and smooth way.

It is an opportunity to:

• Connect with the origins of the practices we share at Mandali
• Experience sacred places with context and care
• Travel in a way that is both immersive and grounded
• Meet India – and oneself – with openness

In this sense, Mandali Sacred Journeys is not separate from Mandali, but an extension of it – a movement from the space we hold here, back to the source from which it was born.

Download the full itinerary PDF with pricing information.

*A cultural and educational initiative curated by Stichting Mandali. All travel arrangements are professionally operated by Amitaba S.r.l., licensed tour operator.