Pune Edition

All participants should have innate śraddhā (reverence) in the Hindu tradition and be open and willing to experience it. Trust and respect for the guru śiṣya paramparā, kṣetra vidhis (temple rules), other traditional practices etc. is of utmost importance to undertake this yātrā. Also, as this is an in-person retreat, prepare in advance to be fully present with all your faculties. Participants should be medically fit to endure a wide range of experiences.

In our culture, there is no age restriction as to when one can embark on a tīrtha yātrā. However, from our experience of such yātrās, we have learnt that the below guidelines have been helpful:
• Participants must be between 18 and 60 years of age.
• Participants below the age of 18 must either be accompanied by a parent/guardian or submit a letter of parental consent.
• Participants above the age of 60 must be in good fitness that enables joyful participation, as the yātrā is designed to optimise our presence in a kṣetra as a group and therefore disallows any special attention to individuals.
Please ensure all regular medicines/aids are also packed for personal well-being.

This is not a regular holiday or temple hopping programme. Our focus is always on the devatā, on the darśana and on the understanding of the history, rituals, lore and traditions of the temples. Hence, daily travel can span anywhere between 8-12 hours in a day, with brief recesses. It’s also important to remember that the itinerary is subject to changes based on local contexts such as weather, pilgrimage crowds/queues, temple festivals, rituals, schedules, etc.

We ensure clean and comfortable hotel stay with basic amenities (usually 3 star and above standard). The rooms provided will be on a twin-sharing basis. Special requests for single rooms will be charged on twin room tariffs, payable additionally (not included in Tour fees) on a strict availability and first-come-first-serve basis. Some regions have highly limited options for comfortable hotel stays for large groups, hence please remember we do our best to secure the best options for you.

Cost varies between editions and primarily includes:
• Clean, comfortable accommodation on a twin-sharing basis
• Three vegetarian meals per day throughout the yātrā
• Regular Temple darshan and curated cultural immersions
• Expert guidance with civilizational and contextual insights
• All local transportation as per the itinerary

What is not included in the cost?
• Travel to and from the yātrā’s starting and concluding locations
• Special/Private darśanas or abhiṣekas, entry fees, donations to temple authorities etc.
• Mid meal snacks/beverages, special dietary requirements, and other personal expenses, shopping, or discretionary purchases/special requests
• Travel or medical insurance

All the tour related expenses are already covered in the travel cost. However, expenses during the trip such as local snacks, shopping, souvenirs that are personal or entry fees, voluntary donations to any temple or cultural experiences etc. are largely additional expenses to expect. Also, participants will bear expenses in case of evacuation due to medical emergencies or natural calamities such as earthquakes, floods, etc. towards travel, boarding, lodging, and medical costs.

In case you are not able to join the yātrā due to any avoidable or unavoidable reason(s), you should notify us at the earliest in writing and over a phone call.
Our Refund Policy:
• Cancellations made 30 days or more before departure - 90% of program fees.
• Cancellations made under 29 days to 21 days before departure - 50% of programme fees.
• Cancellations made 21 days or less before departure - No refund.

Click on the ‘Register Now’ button on the webpage. Proceed to fill and submit the form. Within 5 days of form submission, you can expect an email with all details.

We’re here to assist you at every stage. For any queries, write to renea.george@brhat.in.
To ensure a smooth registration process, please avoid:
• Incomplete or incorrect details (Name, Email ID, Phone Number)
• Uploading unclear or black-and-white photographs or ID proofs
Please note, that submitting your basic details is only the first step. Your registration is complete only after payment acknowledgement and receipt of the enrollment completion form via email by us, so do keep an eye on your inbox.
Kindly also plan your last-mile travel to the hotel on Day 0 and your return only post check out. We recommend you to coordinate with fellow yātrīs in the WhatsApp group.

Please drop us an email at contact@brhat.in or at +91 8886358533 for further assistance.

Your health is of utmost importance to us and while we will strive to get you assistance for any emergency situations, we recommend that you take sufficient stock of your regular medications/aids for regular and or special ailments as we cannot guarantee that these would be readily available during travel.

We recommend you to take required precautions and preparations as you would during your own travel plans, while undertaking these yātrās as some chapters may have trekking, prolonged queues, walking etc. We recommend anyone with asthma and any special conditions to have a chat with us before you plan enrollment.

We intend to primarily visit religious institutions and local communities. Prepare to dress modestly, keeping the religious sentiments and local culture in mind. Please strictly avoid sleeveless and short clothes for temple visits.
• Male Participants: Please carry a pair of dhotis along with you as some temples only allow men in dhotis without shirt/tees.
• Female Participants: Please carry traditional Bhāratīya attire like a saree or a long kurti with dupatta/stole to cover the torso, as some temples only permit females in traditional Indian wear.

We recommend you check edition specific weather and forecast to be well-prepared for a hassle free yātrā. In case of additional questions, you can email or call us and closer to dates, use the WhatsApp group we create.