Ayurvedic Wellness Holiday with Daily Meditation in Rishikesh

This 7-day Ayurveda and wellness holiday in Rishikesh, India, with daily meditation is hosted by Real Happiness Vedic School, an established ashram and yoga school in the Tapovan area above the river. The program is structured to give you a working knowledge of Ayurveda even if you've never studied it—covering the fundamentals of Ayurvedic medicine, the role of herbs and spices in health, and the theory behind cleansing practices like Panchakarma and rejuvenation therapies like Rasayana. Each day includes dedicated Ayurveda classes alongside pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation sessions, with one-on-one guidance from the teaching team throughout.

The course manual and class content cover the core concepts: the Tridosha system (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), understanding your own constitution or Prakriti, the importance of Ojas (vital energy), digestion and metabolism, and Ayurvedic herbology. This is not just theory—you'll do practice, research, and observation, and you'll be encouraged to apply what you learn to your daily routines. The retreat also includes a cooking class, where you can learn to prepare sattvic food, and group sightseeing excursions to sacred places around Rishikesh.

The days are framed by traditional ashram practices: morning mantra chanting, a daily Vedic wellness pooja (offerings), karma yoga (selfless service), and a weekly Satsang (gathering for spiritual discussion and singing). The lead teacher, Sanjay Raturi, was born in a Brahmin family near the source of the Ganges and has practiced mantra and meditation since childhood. He teaches mindfulness, Vedic, Kundalini, and chakra meditation. Uttam, who has a master's degree in Yoga from Sanskrit University, leads Hatha yoga classes tailored to each student's body type and level. Vikas, a pandit raised in the Himalayas, leads mantra chanting and pooja. The mix of teachers means you get different perspectives on the same practices.

Guests consistently highlight two things in reviews: the quality of the food and the depth of the meditation teaching. The sattvic meals—vegetarian, often organic, and made with Ayurvedic spices—are described as some of the best Indian food people have had. And the location, quiet and surrounded by green hills, is peaceful enough for real introspection. That said, it's not a luxury retreat; it's an authentic ashram experience, which is exactly what many people coming to Rishikesh are looking for.

What's included

- Wifi connection - Daily pranayama classes - Water, tea, coffee served throughout the day - 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals - Cooking class - Group excursions/activities - Accommodation (private room) - Daily meditation classes - Pre and post retreat support from our team - Course manual and stationary - Daily mantra chanting session - Daily Vedic wellness pooja - Satsang once a week - Sightseeing

What's not included

- Flights costs - Travel insurance - Visa fee - Additional treatments - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Airport pickup (available at extra cost)