Yes, all travelers must get an online visa before arrival to India. India no longer provides a visa on arrival. You can apply for an electronic travel authorization at-least 4 days prior to your arrival in India. To apply for an Indian e-visa for a stay period not any longer than 60 days online, go to https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/Registration and for USA citizens go here https://travelvisabookings.com/india-e-tourist-visa-for-us-citizens.
Our retreats take place at the beautiful holy village of Bhagsu Nag just 45 minutes from Kangra Airport (DHM), Himachal Pradesh. The best way to get there is to fly from Delhi to Dharamshala (DHM Kangra Airport). To reach this village the alternative most economical way is for one to board a bus from Delhi to McLeod Ganj which is a 12-hour ride.
The group will meet at Kangra Airport (DHM) in Dharamshala on the first day of the retreats and from there we will travel together to our lodge in Bhagsu Nag. It should take about 45 min to 1 hour (depending on road traffic) to get there.
Yes, we do. We will meet the group on the first day of the retreat or day before and we will travel together to our lodge in Bhagsu Nug.
On average, about 90% of the people in our groups come alone, so don’t worry about coming alone, you’ll be in good company. Also, India is a stable and predominantly safe country to travel in.
We recommend that you arrive in Dharamshala at least 1 day before the retreat begins and spend 1 night in a lodge room accommodated by us. This will give you time to get over any jet-lag, but most importantly you will have some time to acclimatize to the altitude. Bhagsu Nag’s altitude is 6960 feet (2121 meters) above sea level. If you decide to come to Delhi City one day early before the retreat begins, we will be happy to help you book your hotel in Delhi (in Delhi we will not be able to accommodate a hotel for you. You will have to pay for a hotel yourself.) However, if you must arrive in Dharamshala on the day the retreat begins please let us know and we will meet you at the airport.
The answer is YES. Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj are safe as travel destinations. Not only are they safe but they are exquisite.
We like to keep our groups small and intimate in order to provide very close guidance to every single one of our participants along the journey. We have a maximum allowance of 15 people per retreat. We are a small organization and we like to treat our participants like family.
Yes, it is a safe place for women. There is almost always a lovely gender balance in our groups. We work with Female and Male healers. Our retreats are very balanced in our approach. We balance the dual energies and bring the Feminine and the Masculine together.
YES. Remember, you are traveling to India. Travel Insurance is important and required. Transparency and Safety First. Our retreat, while itself having most modern amenities, is held in a rural village in the Bhagsu Nag, a much safer and more tranquil region than the other cities in India. We ensure that our classes happen in a safe, controlled environment under the guidance of highly experienced masters & facilitators. In the unlikely event of an emergency, access to high-quality urgent medical care exists around the area, but is limited. We have a highly-qualified medical doctor on call in the area, and our nearest clinic is only a 10-minute walking distance away. However, due to the fact that you will be in a developing nation, there is an inevitable element of uncertainty in the availability of these services. This is part of the responsibility and risk that guests necessarily take on by traveling. Should something happen, we will do everything in our power to contact emergency services available in the area and acquire the necessary help. This is why travel insurance is important when traveling to India, not only because in case of emergency, we have a direct contact to reliable help but also because it gives you the choice to have access to a much higher quality of service and care in case of an emergency.
Yes. On the final day of our retreat you can book your flight from Dharamshala at any time. We recommend that, just to be safe, you book your flight out of Dharamshala (DHM) the same day. We cannot be held responsible if flights are missed because of roadblocks or bus cancellations/delays.
Yes, there is electricity available at our lodge at all times.
No. All bedding is provided. A yoga mat can be handy for most classes even healing classes. For the full list of items to bring click here.
We provide bottled water so please bring a water bottle you can re-fill!
Yes, we can help you book your hotel in Delhi if you decide to come one day early before retreat.
Yes! All of our lodge rooms are designed for 2 people only. We do not have private rooms available at this moment.
You can bring your laptop if you wish to. India uses the same type of plug as Asia/Russia however it has a higher voltage so make sure your electrical devices work ok with up to 220 volts.
Yes, you can use your phone throughout your stay. We ask that you do not bring your phone to classes or if you need it for emergency calls to keep it on silence. We ask that you do not talk loud on your phone and that you do not use it after 10:00 pm so that all guests can enjoy quiet and peaceful time.
Yes, you can. We do have Wi-Fi at our retreat venue, however, due to the mountains it sometimes loses signal strength (not 100% stable). If you need a more stable internet connection, please use your data plan, bring an internet card, or a hot spot for your computer. For anything urgent we also can provide our 4g Connection (Hotspot). Otherwise, we strongly suggest you to truly come to this retreat in order to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect within!
Absolutely. In fact, if you play, we insist that you do!!!
There can be some cold nights in the Bhagsu Nag especially between November and beginning of May. See https://www.worldweatheronline.com/lang/en-us/dharamsala-weather/himachal-pradesh/in.aspx for average monthly temperatures. It is necessary that you bring warm clothing.
Of course not! Our fantastic facilitators are fluent in: English, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Russian. Our Healing Masters do speak English but you will have a translator with your group at all times.
Deposits non-refundable but can be credited or transferred for up to 1 year of the original booking date. The amount paid also may be transferred to a friend or family member. This credit will expire within one year. Refunds are not available once the course has started. For more detail information on cancellation policy click here.
Here are some examples of items to bring:
To view a full list of items to bring with you click here.
We provide international vegetarian cuisine. Our fruits and vegetables are fresh and come from local farmers markets.
If you need to cancel your reservation, please let us know as soon as possible by email – info@instituteofspiritualscience.org – or by calling +1(469)238-9537. If you decide to cancel before the retreat, please read our cancellation policy: https://www.instituteofspiritualscience.org/cancellationpolicy
The Namgyal Monastery is well known for being the biggest Tibetan sanctuary outside Tibet. The place is known for its various attractions including the residence of the 14th Dalai Lama. It was established in the 16th century and since then it serves to preserve the Tibetan culture and customs. The place is one of the most frequented spots in Dharamshala and is famous for its Tibetan culture, handicrafts and temples.
Our Ashram is inspired by the pilgrimage powers and is located in the Himalaya Mountains (Jia Village, District Palampur, Himachal Pradesh). We welcome you heartily!