Sweet Soul of India – March 2027
March 1st-12th 2027
With Virginia Compton, Adrian Hanks, & Uschi Gibson
Rituals, Goddess Worship, Self Initiation.
A journey into the Sweet Soul of India, Calcutta, Varanasi and Khajuraho.
Temples, sacred rivers, rituals and divinity.
Experience Mahashivaratri, the most celebrated festival in Varanasi.
Early bird booking offer until 21 June 2026
Join us in this journey into the Sweet soul of India.
Blessings at some of the most powerful Temples and sites in India.
Potent Rituals of Transformation & Connection.
Grounding Ayurvedic treatments and quiet time available.
Workshops, classes and outings to expand your understanding of rituals, and traditions at their source.
Where Do We Visit During The Sweet Soul of India Journey?
KOLKATA
We begin our journey in Kolkata, the ‘City of Joy’, named after the Goddess Kali. Nowhere like West Bengal can one observe the traditions of Shaktism (active Goddess Worship). Steeped in Devotion to the Goddesses Durga and Kali, Kolkata and the Dakshinesar Kali temple will offer an opportunity to surrender all expectations and open to the Divine Mother at the source of her lived traditions.
VARANASI
We then travel to Varanasi, the city of Lord Shiva, the god of transformation, dance, and yoga in Hindu mythology. Varanasi is the holiest city for Hindus, where we will be transported back in time as we make our way around this remarkable city. Varanasi’s mystical origins have built the most beautiful temples of Shaivism and Shaktism on the bank of the holy river Ganges, known here as GANGA MA, the Mother of all. Culminating in the celebration of MAHASHIVRATRI, the holiest night of the year for devotees of Lord Shiva, this will be an expansive immersion into the clockwork of ritual traditions, soaking in blessings at powerful and ancient temples, and connecting with locals at heart level.
KHAJURAHO
Our next stop is the exotic Khajuraho, which means ‘The way of the Palm tree.’ Located in the countryside of Madhya Pradesh state, Khajuraho and its erotic temples were hidden in the jungle for centuries, which protected them from pillagers, invaders, and colonizers. Founded during the glorious Gupta period of Indian history, Khajuraho’s stunning temples unabashedly express the style of sensuality and worship that echo the principles of the Tantric tradition. Set in a rural countryside, we will enjoy days of tranquility and beauty, soaking in yoga practices, satsangs, and Ayurvedic treatments. We will learn about the local tribal cultures, the exquisite arts, and spend time exploring local farmlands with locals, experiencing the Sweet Soul of India.
What Does the Retreat Include?
-Support and loving guidance from our India hostess Uschi throughout the flight booking & India eVisa process, as well as all the trip preparation info.
-Pickup at Kolkata airport by Uschi’s team
-2 night heritage stay in Kolkata
-Breakfast & Dinners in Kolkata, taxis to temples, basic Prasadam (Temple offerings)
-Ticket & transfer to Kolkata Rail station for safe overnight train to Varanasi
-Taxi from rail station to our hotel
-4 nights heritage stay in Varanasi, near the ghats
-All meals in Varanasi
-Transport throughout the time in Varanasi to temples, boats etc.
-Special Goddess Puja for our group in Varanasi
-Road trip to Khajuraho
-Lovely heritage stay in Khajuraho
-All meals in Khajuraho
-All temple entry, and fees at Adivart museum, etc
-Taxi to Khajuraho airport for your trip to Delhi, or onward journey
Exclusions:
-Optional Astrology readings & Ayurvedic treatments along the way
-Any costs related to deviating from the itinerary
-Offerings at Temples (Uschi & Virginia will guide you here)
-Offering for our Goddess Puja to the Brahmin Priest (10-20 GBP per person) Customarily given by you.
-Luncheons in Kolkata (meals are quite heavy so you may not be hungry. Luncheon will be optional)
-Tip to one local travel assistant (40 GBP per person)
Our Sacred Journey (11 nights total)
2 nights Kolkata
1 Overnight train ride to Varanasi
4 nights Varanasi
4 nights Khajuraho
Full Schedule
Mon-Mar 1st-Day 1–To Kolkata: The City of Joy: Abode of Kali, Durga, and Ma Tara
The journey commences with your arrival at Kolkata airport, where our team will pick you up, and bring to our heritage stay at The Astor Grand. Welcome circle, dinner as a group, goodnight.
Mar 2nd-Day 2-Kolkata: Kali Ma Darshan Day
Morning Yoga. Breakfast buffet in hotel. Depart by van to Dakshnieswar Kali Temple on the banks of the Ganga. Special blessings with Mother Kali in the Bhava of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Back to the hotel for lunch/rest. Optional outing for electric Darshan at Kalighat temple. Shopping in the little Bhakti market around the temple. Back to the hotel for dinner & rest. Goodnight.
Mar 3rd-Day 3-Kolkata: Divine Mother, Mother Teresa Mission, Train to Varanasi.
Morning yoga. Breakfast in the hotel. Packing and grounding time before check out. Stow our bags in the hotel while we go to visit the Missionaries of Charity Mother Teresa Ashram. Come back to the hotel for dinner. Transition to Howrah train station for overnight train to Varanasi.
Mar 4th-Day 4-Varanasi: Varanasi Arrival, Kashi The Luminous
Arrive at Mughal Sarai Station, Transition to hotels, check in. Breakfast. Relaxing and landing. Afternoon welcome ritual boat ride. Return to the hotel, dinner, goodnight.
Mar 5th-Day 5-Varanasi: Sweet Village love, beauty along Ma Ganga (for the women only)
Morning yoga. Breakfast in the hotel. Drive out to Sarai Mohana village for a beautiful morning interacting with local women, henna and vermillion foot painting, learning to tie saris, snacks and chai. Walk through Sarai Mohana to see the local life of boatmen and silk weavers, goats, cows and children. Boat ride along the northern ghats see the stunning views from the river. Lunch at Shree Cafe. Shopping for some silks and more. Private classical Indian music concert, return to the hotel, dinner, goodnight.
Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple visit (for the men only), and visit the Akharas, the traditional wrestling gyms that are unique to Varanasi, all located in Hanuman temples close to the ghats. Since Hanuman is how Shiva appears in the Ramayana, this is a beautiful way to embody the strength and devotion of the masculine and see it in physical devotion and ritual.
Mar 6th-Day 6-MAHASHIVRATRI– Weave the threads together with the union of Shiva-Shakti and our Arati at Gauri Kedareshwar. Maha Shivratri or the great night of Shiva is Varanasi’s most celebrated night of the year. It is celebrated on the moonless night of the new moon and is one of the most important Hindu festivals. The city is decorated with lights and flowers, and the temples are adorned with special decorations. According to Hindu mythology, Maha Shivaratri is the night when Lord Shiva performed the cosmic dance of creation and destruction, Tandava. It is also the night when Lord Shiva married his consort, Goddess Parvati.
Mar 7th-Day 7-Varanasi-Group Puja at Tripura Sundari temple.
Mar 8th-Day 8-Varanasi-Transition to Khajuraho
Morning yoga. Breakfast, hotel check out. Drive to Khajuraho, stopping along the way for chai. Arrive in evening, check into rooms, dinner, and goodnight. **Pack some snacks for the road trip.
Mar 9th-Day 9-Khajuraho
Morning Yoga. Breakfast buffet. Guided tour of the magnificent Khajuraho western temples, with a local Yogacharya, Ganshyam. Uschi & Ganshyam will share details of the temples, and will have some time to meditate in one of the temples. Glorious photos, exploring in the complex with some free time. Return to the hotel for lunch. Optional Ayurvedic treatments, or visiting a local tailor to have some hand done clothing with local textiles, or just resting on the balcony of your room, or in the hotel gardens. Evening Satsang. Dinner, Goodnight.
Mar 10th-Day 10-Khajuraho
Morning Yoga. Breakfast. Workshop? Lunch in the hotel. Afternoon visit to the village where we walk the farmland and connect with locals. See a beautiful small temple, and enjoy snacks and chai at Vimala’s home. Return to the hotel, optional dinner, goodnight.
Mar 11th-Day 11-Khajuraho
Morning Yoga. Breakfast. Outing to the Ranesh Falls national park. Evening Puja/Satsang, closing circle of retreat.
Mar 12th-Day 12: The Journey Home
Breakfast buffet in hotel. Check out and depart based on your next stop. Our India team will transport you to the Khajuraho airport, or connect you to the trains to Delhi. Just let us know your plans, and we can make a recommendation and support you.
Cost and booking
Booking –
Please contact Virginia (button below) to book and pay your deposit.
Our travel/India hostess Uschi will then connect with you, and support booking your flight to India, and your transition to Kolkata. Uschi will be sharing all of the details you need to prepare for the experience.
Cost –
Total Investment: £2950 GBP | $3800 USD
Non refundable deposit of £750 GBP | $1000 USD
Early bird booking offer until 21 June 2026 – £2600 GBP | $2650 USD (with a reduced deposit of £500)
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