If you want to go on a spiritual journey, India is definitely the best choice. There are simply so many spiritual destinations in India, and there are excellent spiritual events in India too.
I mean, for a spiritual vacation, India is definitely the place to go, right?
Sure, the pyramids of Egypt are spectacular and deeply spiritual. The Northern Lights are a treat for the eyes (and soul). And Venice’s canals are simply irresistible.
But no.
You can’t get better than a spiritual vacation to India.
There are just so many spiritual vacation destinations in India.
Take a vacation to India and you’ll be in the home of meditation, yoga, Ayurveda, the Ganges River in Rishikesh, the ghats in Varanasi, and oh good lord, the Himalayas.
You can actually feel the spirit of India in the very air. It’s the home of Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Hinduism. And the temples!
India is the place to be.
You grab a travel-bag. Throw-in your:
- Yoga pants
- A mala for meditation
- Sandals
- A travel-worthy meditation chair
- Pure consciousness
- And a ton of excitement.
And you’re off.
But what are the best spiritual vacation destinations in India to visit? Let’s take a look.
5 Best Spiritual Destinations In India For Your Spiritual Travels
These are the top 5 spiritual destinations in India. You seriously need to visit these places if you’re taking a spiritual trip to India. And you might also like to read my guide to the best meditation retreats.
Ananda in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand
The stunning spa and resort known as Ananada in the Himalayas is a dream to behold.
This place is leading the tourist revolution in India.
Here you’ll lose yourself in foothill of the Himalayas. You’ll indulge in all manner of spa treatments.
You’ll get crazy-fit here too, fit in both body and mind.
Weight loss, yoga, spiritual healing, meditation, detoxifying, massage therapy… Ananda is famous for them all.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best spiritual destinations India has to offer.
Soukya International Holistic Health Centre, Bengaluru
Here you will discover the true depth of spiritual healing.
The wellness centre in Bangalore is famous for having a whole ton of different healing methods.
The centre includes Leech Therapy, yoga, meditation, nasal cleansing, a whole ton of different Ayurvedic practices and much more besides.
This is one of the best spiritual destinations in India to heal your body as well as your mind.
The Leela Kovalam in Kerala
We like choices. And spiritualists have a lot of different choices available to them. Especially at Leela Kovalam.
As well as a huge (and gorgeous) yoga studios and meditation spaces, you can choose from different Ayurveda packages—
- “Therapeutic”: With this package holiday, you’ll get to cure many of the most common health problems.
- “Lifestyle”: With this package, you will detoxify, de-stress and restore your spirit.
- “Wellness”: Don’t like getting old or being overweight? No sweat. This package helps you slow down the ageing rate and lose weight.
Devaaya, Ayurveda and Nature Cure Centre, Divar Island, Goa
Situated on the simply sublime Divar Island (which will make your jaw drop) the Devaaya, Ayurveda and Nature Cure Centre offers naturopathy and therapy to restore your spirit and passion as well as boosting your mental, physical, and spiritual health.
This is one of the very best spiritual destinations in India India.
Kalari Kovailakom, Kerala
They call this sublime locale the “Palace For Ayurveda”. And it is without a doubt one of the best spiritual vacation destinations India has to offer.
It is literally an ancient palace that has been restored and converted into an Ayurveda centre.
The interior is laid out like an ancient ashram (monastery) and just as strict. This is the destination spiritualists should go to for big life changes. It prohibits meat, caffeine, leather, and alcohol. But in exchange for that sacrifice, you will get a personalised holistic and Ayurvedic lifestyle that is custom-built for your individual health needs.
Best Spiritual Destination In India For Yoga And Meditation
Yoga in Rishikesh
At the foot of the Himalayas, beside the holy Ganges River, in the northern state of Uttarakhand, lies the beauteous city of Rishikesh. It’s famous for yoga and meditation.
Ashrams and temples bejewel the vegetarian-utopia known as Rishikesh town.
This is the ultimate spiritual travel destination for yoga. No spiritual vacation in India would be complete without a visit to this stunning yogi-heaven.
Be sure to visit Prakash Yoga Ashram, which is Eastern yoga for the Western individual. Perfect.
This is one spiritual destination in India you definitely need to visit.
Yoga in Mysore
In the heart of Mysore in the southwestern state of Karnataka lies the former capital of the Kingdom of Mysore. The heart of the city of the opulent Mysore Palace, a magical blend of Gothic, Hindu, Islamic and Rajput styles.
This city is the epicentre of Ashtanga Yoga and the home of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Centre, founded by Pattabhi Jois in 1948.
Definitely go here if you want a spiritual trip to India that will boost your yoga.
Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune
Osho has inspired millions of people around the world with his beautiful words and wisdom. His philosophy comes to life at the International Meditation Resort in Pune.
As anyone who has practised Osho’s meditations will know, they are not like other meditation techniques. They are more dynamic. So it’s fitting that the Osho International Meditation Resort includes movement meditations like Tai Chi and Qigong, as well as Zen archery. And that’s not even mentioning the Olympic-sized pool.
This is the best spiritual destination in India for Osho fans. And let’s be honest, if you’re taking a spiritual trip to India you want to get some Osho-action in, right?
The Art of Living International Centre, Bengaluru
Bengaluru is capital of Karnataka state in southern India and the centre of the high-tech industry. It’s also famous for its nightlife and parks, and for The Art Of Living International Centre. Without question, this is one of the best spiritual vacation destinations India has to offer.
The Art Of Living International Centre advocates and teaches stress-free, peaceful living based on the teachings of the grand Vishalakshi Mantap.
The meditation hall here is 65 acres in the Panchagiri Hills. Here you’ll be practising yoga and meditation and also doing Seva (voluntary service), which includes cooking, cleaning and office work.
Vipassana International Academy, Igatpuri
Igatpuri is a town and a Hill Station municipal council in Nashik District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. An absolutely stunning spiritual vacation destination for meditation.
Here you’ll find the Vipassana International Academy, where you will learn many meditations, most obviously Vipassana meditation technique.
The philosophy of the academy is to eliminate dukkha to achieve purification.
One of the most amazing things about the Vipassana International Academy is that it demands absolute silence. Even non-verbal communication is disallowed. The only communication permitted at the Vipassana International Academy is infrequent communication with a teacher.
Do not go on a spiritual vacation to India without going here!
My Personal Favorite Spiritual Destination In India: Diwali!
The festival of lights in India is one of the most beautiful events in the world as these photos show.
Around the world (though of course mostly in India) Hindus celebrate the event, which coincides with their new year, and is usually marked by fireworks and by the offering of gifts in the form of fruit and nuts.
But Diwali is far from just an Indian celebration. Seven in ten Indian Americans will celebrate Diwali, including Indian American Hindus and non-Hindus. According to data from the Pew Research Center, 51% of Indian Americans identify as Hindus, 5% as Sikhs ans 2% as Jains. The remainder is Muslims (10%), Christian (18%) and non-religious (10%).
According to the Pew research centre, Hindus are only half of the people who attend the Diwali Festival Of Lights. Indian Hindus are the biggest demographic visiting the Diwali Festival of Lights from America.
In India, Hindus make up 80% of the population but many non-Hindus will also celebrate Diwali, The Festival of Lights.
Pack your bags! We’re going on a spiritual trip in India!
Imagine visiting all these beautiful, magical spiritual destinations in India. It would be a dream come true.
Guess I know where I’m going next year!
I’m surprised you didn’t mention the four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha viz. Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagara.