Basunti, October 19th- 29th 2010

YOGA RETREAT WITH KERRY MORGAN

Himachal Pradesh India

10 Days £595.00

includes twin bedded accommodation, one nights stay in Amritsar, food, twice daily Yoga tuition

(single supplement @ £195.00 )

“Basunti is a jewel, the kind of magical place that you might spend months looking for if you were travelling independently through India, and still never find.” -Sunday Telegraph

YOGA in India is always a magical experience. Basunti, in the heart of a beautiful wildlife reserve, makes it special. Whether you have been travelling in India or just want to escape the bustle of everyday life, yoga at Basunti is the perfect way to unwind, relax and reclaim yourself. My aim as a teacher is to include rather than exclude, making Yoga suitable for all levels regardless of age, injury or flexibility.

Yoga sessions are designed to suit the time of day, season, inclination and ability. There are at least two Yoga classes per day, leaving plenty of time for swimming, bird watching, and exploring on foot or by canoe.

Classes are held twice a day, either in the circular, shaded yoga shala or on the roof terraces. The shala, directly overlooking the lake, has a thatched roof and a marble floor that keeps it refreshingly cool at all times of the day. The main terrace has a 360° panoramic view of the lake and is perfect for morning and evening yoga sessions. The atmosphere at sunrise and sunset can be magical.
Basunti is a new and idyllic private lakeside retreat in Northern India, surrounded by water and with commanding views of the Himalayas. It sits at the heart of a designated wildlife reserve and has been developed sympathetically in accord with the local environment.

Basunti is also a haven for birds and birdwatchers with David Butterworth, who manages the resort, a keen birdwatcher. He enjoys introducing the many and varied species to birdwatchers to those developing an interest in birdwatching.

Set in beautiful tropical gardens with oranges, mango and papaya trees, Basunti’s spacious residences provide comfort combined with spectacular views.

Getting There

Basunti is in Himachal Pradesh’s kangra valley close to the border with the Punjab. Road transfers times are 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the choice of route. Basunti is accessed best by four wheel drive vehicles. Transfers in and out are arranged by our hosts.

The nearest international airport is Amritsar which has direct flights from London plus internal flights from Delhi. Both routes offer an opportunity to spend a night in Amritsar and for us to visit its famous Golden temple. I will arrange hotel accommodation in Amritsar for one night before transferring to Basunti. I will supply details of your hotel in Amritsar nearer to the time of travel.

Flight details to be confirmed.

The next morning you can indulge in a little shopping in Amritsar which will be a very memorable experience. The market places , the lanes, the bazaars, the squares, the plazas-hum with activity. The main shopping areas are the Hall Bazaar, Katra Jaimal Singh and Lawrence Road. The city offers traditional souvenirs along with modern brandwear at all locations. The main attraction however is the woolens, carpets and blankets, besides juttis and embroidered stuff. The bazaars of Amritsar offer a colourful range of traditional and modern wares from carpets, durries, kites, fireworks, bangles, shawls to cut-glass and woollen textiles. At Guru bazaar, near the Golden Temple, each lane sells a different commodity. We will transfer to Basunti in the late afternoon.

Excursions

For most of us our Yoga will be the main focus of the holiday in India. However I can arrange bespoke trips for groups or individuals if required, It is my intention to travel with the group to the Mcleod Ganj the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan community in exile. There are plenty of other excursions and day trips, take a boat trip and picnic across the lake to Ranseer Island a beautiful island inhabited only by large numbers of bird species and various native animals. I will also arrange for an Ayurvedic practitioner to visit the retreat for a day for Ayurvedic consultations and massage. Ayurvedic treatments are really rather special and unlike any other type of treatment you may have already experienced.

Environment

It is very important to me that the retreats I use have a strong environmental policy and support the local community. Basunti operates an environmental policy keeping any disturbance to the area to a minimum. NO chemicals or pesticides are used in the vegetable garden and all efforts are directed to minimise any adverse effects on the environment or local people. All staff are recruited locally paid fairly with a percentage of the profits designated to projects that benefit the local communities directly.

Booking

Regarding booking you can register at http://clients.basunti.com.  You need to register then fill in the booking form  Remember the email address and password you provide at the time of registration.  The first step is to Select Add New holiday. The next page that appears is the booking form. Under Holiday choice you need to select Yoga with Kerry Morgan October 2010 and then provide basis information about yourself including passport details.  Once this has been done then click the Save button at the end of there Booking form.  A deposit of £150.00 is required to secure your place.

Visa Information

You will need a valid tourist visa to enter India. To obtain this you will need to contact your local Indian High commission, fill in the application form which is usually available to download online, and send it to them along with the required fee. This can take up to 10 days and your visa is activated from the day you get it rather than upon entry into the country. When stating your purpose for visiting the country its best to state tourism rather than Yoga.

Not included:

Flights,Travel Insurance, Ayurvedic treatments,Transfers (group transfers charged at £20.00 per person each way) and Excursions. You will need to book a flight. Please refer to the getting there section before you do so, Southall travel are very competitive www.southalltravel.com please try and book flights early to obtain the best prices. I will try to arrange that lone travellers have the option to travel with other participants if required. Ideally we will all travel together please contact me with regards to getting there if choosing an alternative route, I can then provide you with information on Direct flights with Air India if required.

Accommodation and Food

The new lodge has four twin-bedded terraced rooms each with its own bathroom, private entrance and balcony. The main house with its large shaded verandah is divided into two distinctive self-contained maisonettes each suitable for three people. The kitchen at Basunti, under the direction of Dave Butterworth (a founder member of Neal’s Yard bakery) produces a mouth-watering array of both European and local vegetarian dishes, whole wheat breads and pastries, fresh juices from its fruit trees and the option of fresh line caught fish from the lake for non-vegetarians. Basunti combines the best of modern Indian design with European plumbing. With day time temperatures usually in the high 70s and above for 10 months of the year, Basunti’s accommodation is built for outdoor living with large, wide thatched verandahs on three sides.