2017 Retreat & Logistics
OBTAINING A VISA
You need to obtain a Tourist Visa
to enter India. See Timelines in my Guide section for more information.
FLIGHTS TO & FROM INDIA
Each person needs to make their own flight arrangments to and from India. Skyscanner can track airline prices and notify you of cheapest deals.
If you are flying through Dubai or Hong Kong and have a long stop over, there are transit hotels conveniently located adjacent to the airport. In Hong Kong, a $195 day rate from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM is available; email the hotel for reservations. Hong Kong also has transit lounges/rooms available within the airport. Many other cities have transit rooms and transit hotels but these are the ones I am familiar with.
Arrival Airport
The best airport to fly into is Mumbai (Bombay) .
Departure Airport
If you are just on the Ganeshpuri retreat and/or Goa retreat, and not taking part in the tour after the Goa retreat, book your return flight out of Mumbai (those on the Goa retreat are responsible for booking their round trip ticket from Mumbai to Goa. See below for suggested flights)
If you are on to the tour to Nityananda's ashram in Kanhangad, you may be able to book your return flight directly from Mangalore. Check your airlines routing. Otherwise you'll need to fly from Mangalore back to Mumbai then home from there. See below for date and time tour ends.
If you're on the full tour, make your return flight arrangments directly from Chennai (Madras). See below for date and time tour ends.
MUMBAI (Bombay)
AIRPORT ARRIVAL INFORMATION
You can arrange with your hotel for an airport pickup (recommended). Look for a sign with your name as you exit customs. Alternately, look for the prepaid taxi booth just as you exit customs and give the agent the name and address of your hotel.
HOTELS
We recommend arriving in Mumbai at least 1 day before the retreat begins.
Please make your own arrangements with a hotel. Agoda is a good booking engine. You can hold your reservation with them without a cancellation fee. It is recommended you book your hotel sooner than later as space is limited. Agoda will send you a confirmation along with a voucher. It is important that you print out the voucher and give it to your hotel upon arrival.
We recommend staying at the Emerald Hotel at Juhu Beach which is a fun area close to the airport. The cost is approximately $80-95 for a double room. You can book at Agoda (or any preferred sight).
If you want something more pricey, we recommend the Novotel at Juhu Beach. Cost is approximately $156 and can be booked at Agoda (or any preferred sight).
A good budget choice is the ISKCON Guesthouse (run by Hare Krishnas) at Juhu Beach. Cost is approximately $65 for a double. You need to book directly through them. Located there and open to the public is an excellent vegetarian restaurants called Govindas.
GANESHPURI
GETTING TO GANESHPURI ON JANUARY 8
Sacred Space will provide transportation from Mumbai to Ganeshpuri on Sunday January 8. Everyone wanting transportation must meet at the Emerald Hotel at Juhu Beach at 10:00 AM. Address: Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Bombay. No matter what hotel you are staying in, you must be at Hotel Emerald at 10:00 AM. Ellen Jefferds will be there to coordinate.
If you are not able to make this pick-up time, you can make your own private arrangements through Fire Mountain Retreat in Ganeshpuri or though Rosie's if you’re staying there. See contact info below for details.
TRANPORT BACK TO MUMBAI ON JANUARY 22
Sacred Space will provide transportation back to Mumbai on January 22. The van will leave Ganeshpuri at approximately 8:00 AM.
The van will stop at the Emerald Hotel at 11:00 AM to pick up newly arriving people who are flying on to Goa as well as drop of those staying in Mumbai. No matter where you are staying, if you want transport to the airport, you must be at the Emerald Hotel at 11:00 AM. The van will then proceed to the airport and arrive around 12:00 noon.
You can be dropped off at either location depending on when you fly out. You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations if you plan to stay in Mumbai. Note you need to be at the airport at least three hours before international departures.
GANESHPURI CONTACTS
FIRE MOUNTAIN RETREAT CENTER
Website: http://firemountainretreat.com
Email: info@firemountainretreat.com
Phone and Contact: Jeanetta Haley: +91 963.787.0587
Contact them to help you arrange car transportation in Mumbai. Do not try to get a Mumbai taxi to bring you to Ganeshpuri. They are not familiar with directions and you may be charged too much.
ROSIES GUEST HOUSE
Website: http://www.ganeshpuri-bed-and-breakfast.com/index.htm
Email: rosyv7@yahoo.com
Phone: Home: +91 2522 261322; Mobile: +91 9422 679672
Rosie has a large air-conditioned car which can pick you up or drop you off at Mumbai's airport or any other location.
GOA
TRANSPORT TO MUMBAI AIRPORT ON JANUARY 22
Sacred Space will be providing transport to the airport. Pick-up location is the Emerald Hotel at 11:00 AM on Sunday January 22. No matter where you are staying, if you want a ride to the airport, you need to be at this location at this time. Otherwise you will need to make your own arrangements.
FLIGHTS FROM MUMBAI TO GOA
Those attending the Goa retreat need to make their own plane reservation from Mumbai to Goa.We recommend you book the following flight as most of us will be on it:
Indigo Flight # 711
Departs Mumbai Jan 22 at 1:50 PM. Arrives Goa: 3:15 PM
Approximate cost: $50.
You should book this reservation as soon as possible to assure confirmation.
A good site to book through is Skyscanner. The airport code for Mumbai is: BOM. The airport code for Goa is: GOI. If the above Indigo flight is sold out, Jet Airways, India Air, and GoAir have flights around the same time.
Note there is a 33 pound limit for checked luggage. Indigo will charge you approximately $20 for each additional 7 pounds. You prepay for this on their website. For more information, see the Indigo website.
TRANSPORT FROM GOA AIRPORT TO RETREAT ON JANUARY 22
Sacred Space will provide transportation from the the Goa Airport to the retreat center. Those arriving on the above Indigo flight as well as those who have previously arrived in Goa should meet at the Indigo arrival area at 3:30 PM.
If you are not able to make this pick-up location, please make your own arrangements. Taxis cost about $25 and take about 45 minutes. You can contact the retreat center for help with this.
RETREAT ENDS ON FEBRUARY 5
Sacred Space will provide you with transportion to the train staion or airport. Those on the tour will take a 8:00 AM train to Mangalore. Those flying out of Goa on February 5 or beyond need to make their own return flight reservations.
GOA CONTACT
Retreat will be held at Ashiyana Yoga Retreat Center in Mandrem Beach, Goa.
Website: http://www.ashiyana-yoga-goa.com/index.shtml
Email: contact@ashiyana-yoga-goa.com
Contact & Phone:
Mukesh Kumar, +91-985 040 1714
Address: Ashiyana Tropical Retreat Centre, Junas Waddo, Mandrem Beach, Goa
Email them with any questions or alternative transportation needs.
Also see their FAQ page.
CONTINUING ON THE TOUR
THOSE ON THE MANGALORE/KANHANGAD TOUR
Sacred Space will provide transportation to the train station, van services to Kanhangad, and overnight hotel accommodations in Mangalore. See itinerary for more details.
The Kanhangad Tour will end at 7:00 PM on Monday February 6 when our van will return to our hotel. A hotel room has been reserved that evening for everyone on this and the ensuing tour. You should plan your return flight arrangements based on this information. For more information, see the tour itinerary.
THOSE ON THE FULL TOUR
The tour will end on Wednesday February 15 at 7:00 PM when our van will drop us off at our hotel in Chennai. A hotel room has been reserved that evening for everyone. You should make your return flight arrangements based on this information. For more information, see the tour itinerary.
