Arrive at Mantraalaya mid-morning and settle into your simple, serene cottage overlooking the temple gardens; take a slow walk along the jasmine-lined path to the meditation pavilion to ground yourself after travel. Meet the retreat host and resident acharya in the Sun Room for a gentle orientation — a short introduction to the schedule, house guidelines, and a guided breathwork session to ease into the retreat rhythm.
After a light vegetarian lunch in the dining hall featuring seasonal kitchari and herbal chai, explore the temple complex with a short guided tour that includes the chant library and the herb courtyard where the resident healer grows sacred plants. Participate in an introductory chanting workshop in the Learning Hall, where you will learn basic mantras, hand mudras, and simple call-and-response singing to carry into the next day.
As dusk falls, gather at the riverside ghat for a reflective tea and quiet walking meditation along the water, watching lamps being lit on nearby boats. Conclude your first day with the communal evening aarti in the main prayer hall — an intimate, candlelit ceremony led by the acharya, followed by a brief sharing circle and a calming cup of warm spiced milk before retiring.
Rise with the sun for a gentle guided dhyana in the lotus-scented Meditation Pavilion overlooking the temple pond, deepening the breathwork introduced on arrival and opening the body with soft asana on woven mats. After a silent tea on the pavilion terrace, join the acharya in the Chanting Hall for an extended mantra practice — call-and-response kirtan and melodic tuning that builds on yesterday’s workshop and helps integrate the morning’s stillness.
Share a simple, nourishing vegetarian lunch in the Sun Room, then visit the chant library for a short, intimate study of mantra meanings and the history of each hymn you’ve learned, with time to practice harmonies in small groups in the Learning Hall. Before departure, receive a brief one-on-one blessing or practical guidance from the resident healer in the herb courtyard, where you can collect a small sachet of calming herbs to take home.
Conclude the retreat back at the riverside ghat for a final short walking meditation and offering of gratitude as lamps drift on the water, followed by a closing circle in the main prayer hall where participants share reflections and the acharya offers parting chants. Depart after a warm cup of spiced milk and light refreshments, carrying a printed practice guide and a seed mantra to continue your practice beyond Mantraalaya.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Arrival & cottage check-in (Mantraalaya cottage) | INR 0-500 (typically included with retreat fee; small refundable security or cottage cleaning fee possible) |
| Walk to meditation pavilion / jasmine path | Free |
| Orientation & guided breathwork in the Sun Room | Usually included in retreat program (INR 0) |
| Vegetarian lunch (dining hall: seasonal kitchari & herbal chai) | INR 150-400 per person (often included; otherwise modest cafeteria price) |
| Guided temple complex tour (chant library, herb courtyard) | INR 0-300 (often included; some centres accept small donation INR 50-300) |
| Introductory chanting workshop (Learning Hall) | INR 0-500 (usually included in retreat fee; occasional extra charge for handbook or recordings INR 100-400) |
| Riverside ghat tea & quiet walking meditation | INR 20-100 (tea/refreshment if not provided) |
| Communal evening aarti (main prayer hall) | Free to attend; donations appreciated (INR 50-300 suggested) |
| Warm spiced milk & sharing circle | INR 20-100 (usually included) |
| Sunrise dhyana & soft asana (Meditation Pavilion) | Usually included (INR 0) |
| Extended mantra practice (Chanting Hall / kirtan) | Included in program (INR 0) |
| Silent tea on the pavilion terrace | INR 20-80 (often included) |
| Lunch in the Sun Room (day 2) | INR 150-400 per person (often included) |
| Chant library study & small-group practice | Typically included (INR 0) |
| One-on-one blessing / healer consultation in herb courtyard | INR 0-800 (short blessings often complimentary; private herbal consultation or remedies may cost INR 300-800) |
| Take-home herbal sachet | INR 0-200 (may be complimentary or small purchase/donation) |
| Final riverside walking meditation & lamp offering | Free (donation for lamps if you participate INR 20-200) |
| Closing circle & printed practice guide / seed mantra | INR 0-300 (guide often included; small fee if printed professionally) |
| Departure / check-out (including light refreshments) | INR 0-200 (any final donations or transport to station not included) |
| Transport to/from nearest town or station (not specified in itinerary) | INR 150-2,000 one-way (local auto/tempo INR 150-500; taxi INR 800-2,000; shared van cheaper) |
| Estimated Total (per person) | INR 1,000-8,000 per person (2-day/1-night basic estimate) or INR 3,000-20,000+ per person if retreat fee, private cottage upgrade, specialized healer consultations, private transport, or premium meals are included. |