South India Retreat- Frequently Asked Questions
South India 2020
February 17 – March 2
$2800 plus airfare
First, a note about travel and timing:
The pilgrimage will begin in with an opening circle in Auroville at 5:30pm on February 17th. You can arrive at the Verite retreat center any time after 4pm on February 17th. To be there for the opening of the pilgrimage, please ensure that your flight arrives no later than noon on February 17th. Most flights from the west arrive in the very early morning, so you will probably want to book a hotel near the airport in Chennai to sleep for a few hours before coming to Auroville. We recommend the Hablis Hotel – click this link for their website. They will arrange to pick you up at the airport.
On Thursday February 27th we will travel as a group via private bus to Tiruvanamalai, about a 2.5 hour drive. We will stay for four nights at the Arunadri Retreat, and the pilgrimage will end with a closing circle at 4pm on March 2nd. Most flights from Chennai to the west depart between 1 and 3am, and Tiruvanamalai is about 3.5 hours from the airport. We will arrange a shared ride for people who are departing directly, or you can choose to stay in Tiru for an additional night, or depart on your own. In order to be present until the end of the pilgrimage, please ensure your departing flight leaves no earlier than 11:30pm on March 2nd. Let us know if you have any questions about travel and timing.
How much does it cost?
The total cost is $2800 plus airfare. You can pay in installments or as a lump sum any time before November 15, 2019. Full payment must be received by November 15 to guarantee your spot. Your initial $500 deposit is not refundable, but if you do cancel, $300 may be applied to any future trip through Yoga Center Amherst.
Is this trip only for advanced yoga practitioners?
No – this trip is for anyone who wants to experience the many dimensions of South India and Auroville, and has an interest in the rich weave that is yoga. All levels of experience with yoga asanas are welcome.
What is kirtan and how will it fit into the retreat?
Kirtan is a yoga practice in which we sing sacred mantras together, usually in a ‘call and response’ format. Brenda McMorrow will lead us in kirtan most days of the retreat, including some short and some longer kirtans. We will chant in the yoga hall at Verite, and also when we visit temples and other sacred sites. Kirtan practice is an all-inclusive invitation – no experience necessary and no expectation to sing “right” or “well”.
How much yoga asana will we be doing?
We will offer an asana practice on most mornings, plus some longer experiences of embodiment that may use yoga asanas as templates for movement. We will also include meditation and pranayama in our group practices.
How much physical activity will the trip involve?
There will be some opportunities that will involve moderate physical activity, like walking the 8 mile pilgrimage route around Arunachala, bicycling around Auroville, swimming in the Bay of Bengal, and yoga asana practices. All of these opportunities are opt-in, meaning that you can choose to participate or not based on your level of fitness and how you’re feeling that day. Verite provides us with bicycles, which is the easiest way to get around locally in Auroville. If you can’t ride a bike, we will arrange local transport for you via taxi for an additional fee of $100. If you have questions/concerns about your specific situation, please contact us.
What’s the weather like?
The part of Tamil Nadu that we’ll be in is at about the same latitude as Costa Rica. During February, the days average in the upper 80s and into the low 90s, and the nights can get down into the lower 60s. Rain is very rare in February. The equatorial sun is quite hot, so the difference between the sun and shade can be significant.
What are the accommodations like?
All nights in Auroville will be spent in Verite, which offers a unique setting for groups that are searching for living, working examples of positive alternatives to the conventional approaches to life on this planet. There are two yoga halls with props, a communal dining hall, a lounge with wifi and facilities to brew coffee, a library, and a fish pedicure pond. The entire campus runs on solar power, so no hair dryers please, and showers do not have hot water, but hot water is available by bucket from a solar hot water dispenser. Laundry service is also provided 3x/week, excluding undergarments, which you will need to wash by hand. The mattresses are on the thin side, so you may want to bring an inflatable pad if this is an issue for you. The accommodations at Arunadri Retreat Center in Tiruvanamalai are new and quite comfortable. There is a rooftop yoga and meditation space overlooking Arunachala Hill, comfortable beds, and hot showers.
What’s the food like?
While in Auroville we stay at Verite, and they offer locally grown organic food. Breakfast includes fresh local fruit (papaya, watermalon, pineapple, and bananas), fresh baked bread, nut butters, and ragi porridge (made from a local millet and sweetened with raisins and jaggery). Lunch and dinner always include fresh salad greens and fresh baked bread, plus a variety of main and side dishes that combine western and local flavors. There are also restaurants in Auroville that serve both western and typical local dishes. While in Tiruvanalamalai we will stay with our friends Saravanan and Jehan at the Arunadri Retreat Center, and the food is also a home-cooked fusion of western and local flavors.
Will there be access to clean water?
While it’s important not to drink tap water, the drinking water in Auroville is better than good. They have invented a process of biodynamization (read more here) that combines four levels of water treatment: extreme purification, dynamisation, information by Light & Sound® as well as saturating water with trace elements. Excellent, reliable filtered water will also be available during the time that we spend in Tiruvanamalai.
What’s the appropriate way to dress in Auroville and South India?
When visiting temples, pants or skirts to the ankle are required. In general, South Indian culture retains traditional values when it comes to dress. I recommend respecting these norms, especially when traveling outside of Auroville:
- For Women this means covering shoulders through the use of a scarf or shawl (can be obtained in Auroville) or by wearing a top with sleeves, wearing shorts that fall below the knee (except while doing farm work or yoga) and not wearing tight shirts, pants or skirts. Women should also not wear clothes that show cleavage.
- For Men this means wearing shirts at all times (other than during physical labor), and although shorts are fairly accepted for travelers, in India only younger boys tend to wear shorts.
Will we see temples and other ancient sites?
Yes – we will have a guided tour of the largest Siva Temple in India – Anamalai Temple in Tiruvanamalai, plus the 8 lingam temples that line the pilgrimage route around Arunachala Hill. We will also have a guided tour of the local Siva Temple in Irumbai, plus additional local temples in the Auroille area, and we’ll visit the local Kali Temple and the Ganesh Temple in Puducherry. In Mahabalipuram, we’ll visit the many ancient, intricate and massive stone carvings, many of which are over 1500 years old.
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What’s the ratio of group time to alone time?
The days will be fairly full, with workshops, tours, and outings scheduled on most days. But many of these activities will include an ‘inner’ component and time to meditate and reflect, and it’s always possible to stay back and rest as needed.
Is airfare included in the cost? Can I arrange my own airfare?
The total cost is $2800 plus airfare. We are often able to recommend flights and arrange for people to connect in Boston or Europe, and arrive in Chennai on the same flight. We can also help you arrange transportation from Chennai to Auroville, either via individual taxi or via a private van or bus if the timing works for a large group.
What kinds of vaccines do I need?
No vaccines are required for travel to India, but the CDC does recommend ensuring that your routine vaccinations are up to date, as well as additional vaccinations for typhoid and Hepatitis A. Consult your doctor for advice on vaccines and any other preparations for travel in South India. From the Auroville website: Malaria is not endemic in our area. Using medication to prevent malaria occurrence is a personal choice. Using long sleeves and trousers along with (natural) mosquito repellents in the evenings already helps to prevent mosquito bites.
What travel documents will I need for this trip?
There are two options for the Visa – one is a multiple entry Visa that will be good for 10 years. The other is an e-Visa that is only good for 30 days. There are lots of website that will try to sell you e_visa services – do not use them. Use only this Government of India website for e-Visas. The office for processing 10 year Visas for US citizens is Cox and Kings Global Services. Canadian citizens will go through BLS International Services.
If you have any questions that are not covered here, please send us an email.
Additional Links
www.auroville.org – Auroville’s main website – info about background, happenings, community dynamics, FAQs, etc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX9iBZGvjlI – short (20 min) video called Auroville – a dream of the divine…good overview
www.sriaurobindoashram.org – All collected works available for download, historical info
www.sriramanamaharshi.org – Ashram main website and info about Ramana Maharishi’s teachings
www.embodyoga.com – information about Embodyoga, which is what we’ll be offering during the retreat
www.brendamcmorrow.com – info about Brenda, including videos, tour schedule, photos, etc
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