Presented by ChakraTribe: Spiritual Journeys through South India

Tamil Nadu in southern India is one of the oldest living temple lands in the world. Here, rituals have been lived day after day for centuries: at dawn in the temples, on the Girivalam around the sacred mountain Arunachala or with the dancing Shiva in Chidambaram.

These three retreats and pilgrimages guide you step by step into this world. Gain an insight into the ancient knowledge of the Vedas and how it is still lived today.

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Vedic knowledge that is still lived today

The Vedas are among the oldest surviving scriptures of humankind. Yoga, Ayurveda, mantra and Jyotish, Vedic astrology, all have their roots in them. In South India, this knowledge is no museum piece: priests recite the same mantras as they did many centuries ago, temples are built according to sacred geometry and dedicated to the elements or the planetary forces, and the calendar of festivals still follows the course of the moon and the sun.

What makes these journeys special is the depth with which you encounter this knowledge. You take part in rituals such as Abhishekam and Puja, meditate in places where saints like Ramana Maharshi lived, and connect what you experience with your own practice of yoga, meditation and mantra. Local guides rooted in the temple tradition explain the meaning of the deities, rituals and symbols wherever you go.

You don't need any prior knowledge – just an open heart.

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Journeys into the Vedic world

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Discovering Shiva – a spiritual journey through South India (10 days)

Do you feel drawn to Shiva without quite knowing why? This journey takes you to three of the five Pancha Bhoota temples, each dedicated to an element: earth in Kanchipuram, fire at the sacred mountain Arunachala and space in the Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram, where Shiva is worshipped as the cosmic dancer. You meditate in Ramana Maharshi's cave, experience an exclusive fire ritual in Darasuram and hear teachings on the body of light at the sites of the saint Vallalar. The guides Santhosh and Abirami come from Tamil Nadu and are rooted in the temple tradition – ideal if you are traveling to India for the first time.

From 19 February 2027 · EUR 1,950 · To the Shiva journey through South India →

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Sacred Sites – Women's Retreat in South India (8 days)

In the Shakta tradition, the divine feminine is at the center. Shakti is the creative primal force, worshipped in India in 108 forms of the Goddess. This retreat takes you to her sacred sites for eight days – and it is open to women only. In a group of no more than eleven participants, a protected space emerges for silence, sharing and experiencing together in a way that is hardly possible on mixed trips.

In the Kamakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram, you witness an Abhishekam, the ritual bathing of the Goddess. In Kanchipuram, Trichy and Kumbakonam, private rituals and Pujas take place, often with access to the inner sanctums and encounters with the priests. You will also experience a root chakra meditation, meditations at sunrise and sunset in powerful places, sharing circles in the evening and visits to a silk weaving studio and a bronze casting workshop.

The retreat is led by Nea, an Australian yoga teacher with 18 years of teaching experience. She studied Ashtanga Yoga in Mysore and has been guiding women on journeys through India since 2015. She combines yoga, Ayurveda, Tantra and Vedic wisdom with the vibrancy that such a journey brings.

28 November to 5 December 2026 · EUR 2,220 · To the Women's Retreat in India →

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Sacred Temples & Vedic Astrology – Pilgrimage (12 days)

Jyotish, Vedic astrology, is one of the six sciences of the Vedas and is known as the "science of light". On this pilgrimage, you get to know the nine Grahas, the planetary forces, not as theory but in the nine Navagraha temples around Kumbakonam that are dedicated to them – with a shared ritual and a Jyotish workshop.

The journey falls in the brightest time of the Vedic year: in mid-January the sun begins its path northward, celebrated in the villages with the harvest festival Pongal. You will also experience an Abhishekam in Kanchipuram, the Girivalam around Arunachala, a whole day of silence in a single temple and the UNESCO temples of Mahabalipuram. Each day is carried by Kriya, meditation and mantra. The pilgrimage is led by Lydia, a yoga teacher and Jyotishi with more than twenty years of experience in the Yoga Vedanta tradition.

8 to 19 January 2027 · EUR 3,350 · To the Vedic Astrology Pilgrimage →

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Which retreat suits you?

• Discovering Shiva: if you are traveling to India for the first time and want to understand the Shiva tradition from the ground up
• Women's Retreat: if you want to encounter the divine feminine in a protected circle of women
• Vedic Astrology Pilgrimage: if you are interested in Jyotish and the nine planetary forces and are looking for the longest and deepest journey

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The most important details at a glance

• Location: Tamil Nadu, India – start and end in Chennai
• Duration: 8, 10 or 12 days
• Dates: November 2026, January 2027 and February 2027
• Group: maximum 11 or 12 participants, for all levels
• Language: English
• Meals: all meals included, purely Indian vegetarian
• Prices: EUR 1,950 to EUR 3,350 per person
• Included: accommodation, meals, program, guides, transfers from Chennai airport and temple entrance fees
• Not included: international flights, visa, travel insurance, temple donations and personal expenses

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Note: For most European passports, you can apply for the Indian e-Visa online – ideally at least two weeks before departure. Travel and health insurance including repatriation is recommended.

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Book directly, commission-free

On ChakraTribe, you book your retreat directly with the organizer, with no booking fees or commissions. You can find all the details on the daily schedule, meals and cancellation policy on the individual retreat pages.

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