Frequently Asked Questions

A- Generally we recommend you to apply for a tourist visa as it is a quick and easy process. You may reference your purpose of visit as Yoga retreat or Ayurvedic retreat. If required, students may use our school`s address and contact number as their Indian reference on the visa form. It generally takes 2-3 weeks for your Indian visa to be processed, accepted and sent back to you. Now a days, the Indian government issues an e-visa for 60-90 days. Please check again with the nearest Indian consulate for any recent changes or updates.

A- Like other towns, Rishikesh has many of the important and useful services like, police station, post office, Western Union, money exchange, ATM’s, medical clinics, grocery shops, pharmacies, Ayurvedic doctors, electronics shops, mobile shops, pre-paid taxi services, scooter rentals, and travel agents, all within walking distance from the school.

A- Yes, They are available but the brands and variety may not be what you`re used to. If you require a particular brand it is best to bring it with you from home. The variety of female personal hygiene products available is limited, therefore we suggest you to carry extras from home in case the brand you are used to is not available.

A- Yes. The school will be closed on some Indian national and bank holidays of which details will be given at the beginning of your course. Days missed will be covered.

A- No, we do not accept any applications or admissions under the legal age of 18.

Taxi from Delhi to Rishikesh: They usually charge 75 USD approx. for one way trip to Rishikesh and takes 6-7 hours. We suggest you use the taxis with yellow color license plates with black numbers and vice versa as they both are government registered private operators. For your safety, all taxis have their address and driver’s details visible on the vehicle as per regulations.

Bus: Is fairly cheap with bumpy ride in sub-standard buses costing about 08 USD to Rishikesh. Recently Volvo A/C coach buses have been getting good feedback. Volvo buses are a bit more expensive than the regular buses and are safer too. Known as Volvo coaches, they will cost you around 15 USD. They run from Inter State bus terminal (AKA Kashmiri Gate), New Delhi. Bus will take 6-7 hours to get to Rishikesh. Just be ware of the sub standard A/C buses and a Volvo A/C bus difference. And from the Bus Station in Rishikesh you need to get a tuk-tuk for about 2 USD to Laxman Jhula.

Train: You can take a train to Haridwar from New Delhi railway station and then a taxi from Haridwar to Rishikesh. It will cost you about 8 USD in train and about 10 USD in a Taxi to Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh.

Flight: Flights are well connected to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, Uttarakhand from New Delhi Airport. It will cost you about 70-80 USD for the flight from Delhi. From Dehradun airport, it is 20 km and 45 minute drive to Rishikesh in a taxi which will cost another 20 USD. We can arrange a taxi to pick you up and drop you off from Delhi Airport at a fixed cost of 150 USD, which will be paid upfront. Please give minimum 24 hours’ notice for cancelation of this service otherwise you will be charged in full without any refund. Note: The bus station (Kashmiri Gate/ISBT) and New Delhi train station are connected with the airport metro express starting from 5:30am until 11pm. The cost is approximately 2 USD from the airport.

There are many hotels in Mahipal Pur in Delhi, which is quite close to the airport. Another option is Pahar Ganj in Delhi, which is quite close to the New Delhi train station. Hotels will cost you about 10-20 USD to 100 USD per night depending on hotel standards and what you prefer. Delhi is well connected to all major attractions by airport metro express, which is a 5 minute walk from Indira Gandhi International Delhi Airport – Terminal 3. (IGI Airport).

In case you arrive a couple of days early or plan to stay longer than the course, there are many guest houses and hotels within walking distance to each other. Prices may vary according to accommodation standards and the season. It is best to book these before your trip as certain times of the year rooms can be difficult to find.

A- Yes. It is very safe to travel and stay in Rishikesh. Locals are very helpful to tourists and will go out of their way to assist you if needed. Other parts of India can be more challenging and you will need to exercise more caution and attention.

A – It is very easy to find us when you reach Rishikesh. For more directions and landmarks you may call or email us well in advance. You may also ask the taxi driver or the tuk-tuk driver about the directions to Laxman Jhula Bridge. Google tag is on our website and you may save it for directions.

A- Your fees cover your food and accommodation for the duration of the course. You can check into your room one day before the course starts and stay up to the day after your graduation ceremony.

A- No. As the fees are being paid only by those who are attending the course, extra people are not allowed to stay with you. Also, living with someone who is not attending the course can be a distraction and disrupt your learning.

A- Our meals are vegetarian and sattvic. If you have any special dietary requirements, please inform us well in advance so we can try to find an alternative for you.

A- Students are expected to follow the dress code regularly. You are required to dress in modesty while on the school premises. Female students, please ensure that your shoulders, knees and midriff are covered as well as avoiding low-cut or draping tops. Please dress in white clothes for all classes.

A- We keep our class sizes to maximum 20 students and provide two teachers per asana class in order to provide you with the best individualized attention.

A- Yes, all course material will be provided to you on your first day. We also have yoga mats and props for your use in the class. If you have not brought your own, you can buy a new one at one of the local shops. Cleansing material related to yoga will also be provided and the cost is included in your course fees.

A- Yes. You must have 95% attendance to be able to appear in the exams. Only in case of emergencies and after communicating with the admin department will you be given permission to miss a class and appear in the examination.

A- All yoga aspirants are more than welcome, from beginners to advanced level.

A- Classes run 6 days a week and are approximately 7-8 hours per day. Sundays are free for activities, excursions, studying and relaxing. There will also be free time available in between classes each day for studying and relaxation.

A- No. It will be too intense for them to complete.

A-Yes. Most of our teachers are well educated in the English language having years of experience teaching yoga. Some are also E-Registered Yoga teachers with Yoga Alliance USA.

A- English is the language used at the school by our teachers and students. Even if English is your second language, teachers will do what they can to ensure that you are not left behind.

A- We do understand that many of you are working professionals, students, retired etc. and carry electronics/gadgets with you while travelling to keep in touch with work, business, friends, relatives etc. Unfortunately we do not allow the use of any electronics/gadgets in our classes in order to maintain silence during the class. Please switch them off or keep them in silent mode for the duration of class and meals.

A-Yes, but we highly recommend you take notes on a traditional notepad with a pen or pencil which you can then transfer to your laptop/device later. This will help you re-write and revise course material at the same time.

A-We highly recommend you read some details about yoga if you are a beginner. For example, memorizing a few Sanskrit names of yoga poses before arriving will take some pressure off during exams and teaching practice. For Intermediate and advanced students, continue to practice asanas before your arrival.

A- Yes, India is the birthplace of yoga, therefore it has some fundamental differences from what you may have experienced in your country. For example, yoga in India is considered a way of life and has deep connections with philosophy and Ayurvedic Science. You will feel this difference when you arrive. Otherwise, the yoga you will experience in class will be very familiar to you.

A- We take utmost care while preparing meals daily for our students. It is best to use your judgment when purchasing street food, but even with the best judgement there can still be issues. The same goes for the restaurants. The main reason people get sick is due to change in water, air and eating habits. Local food in Rishikesh can be a bit spicy and greasy which may lead to stomach upset.

A- Yes, big hospital`s standards are similar to the west and are located in bigger towns. Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS are some of the big hospitals in India. We recommend you bring your own medicines as it may be hard to find exactly the same brands and the pharmacy may refuse to serve the same. Pharmacies may have an alternate brand or you will have to get a new prescription from a doctor here.

A- The school will surely be by your side in any case. In emergencies or serious sickness, you will be taken care of medically or by the nearest clinic. We will find an alternative for you to complete your course in such cases.

A- Please check with the Indian consulate when applying for visa if it is one of the conditions. Usually you don’t need any vaccinations to travel to India.

A- Rishikesh has a very low risk of Malaria and Dengue fever. High water consumption is recommended and coconut water too as it reduces chances of getting sick by almost 90%.

A- Yes, we are registered with Yoga Alliance USA (RYS 200). We will provide you with a completion certificate which is internationally recognized and enables you to teach yoga anywhere in the world.

A- Yes, You are allowed to do that only after passing the RYT 200 hour exam. Also you will need to register for your final 100 hours well in advance by filling out a new application form and submitting the booking fee.

A- Exams will be written, verbal and practical. Your attendance, behavior and code of conduct will be also be taken into account for graduation certificate.

A- Please see our refund policy section for more details.

A- Please see our refund policy section for more details.

A-To pay your booking fee, we accept payments by PayPal, Western Union, bank transfer or cash. Amount due is to be paid on arrival in cash. You can use your debit card (Visa/Electron/Master), credit card, travel cash card, to withdraw cash from nearby ATM’s in Indian Rupees.

May and June have relatively high temperature. You need to cover your head and shoulders to avoid a heat stroke and drink a lot of water. Mornings are usually very cool till 9 am and then it can be quite hot until 5 pm in the evening. Rishikesh, being next to the river Ganges keeps the temperature cooler than other parts of India. Rain: July, August, and September are monsoon months with a mix of heavy downpours and sunshine. You will feel the humidity but being located in the mountains we do get some cool breezes in those months. You may carry umbrellas, rain coats and rain boots to be on the safe side.

October and November are drier and more pleasant as the winter approaches. Nights are very cool in these months and you may need to bring some light warm clothes.

December, January and February are quite cold with December being the start of winter and then next two months are quite cold. Bring winter jackets and woolen clothes for day time and sleeping. Accommodations in Rishikesh do not have internal heating, only room heaters are used if available. Most places will provide hot water for showers. You can purchase a kettle or a small immersion rod at one of the local shops for preparing tea and other hot beverages.

March and April have lovely comfortable weather during the day, but the nights are still cool and may require warm clothes for sleeping.