borobudur-temple-java-indonesia photo taken by Dandapani

In our upcoming wellness and meditation retreat to the islands of Indonesia in September this year we’ll be visiting the magnificent Borobudur temple in Central Java.

For the adventurers, the pre-dawn excursion to Borobudur temple to witness the sunrise is a surreal and unparalleled experience in south east Asia. As rays of light pierce the misty sky, rolling hills of tropical jungles, plains of paddy fields and swaying palms are revealed and so is Borobudur, Buddhism’s grandest citadel.

Built from over two million stone blocks by the rulers of the Sailendra dynasty sometime between AD 750 and AD 850, the name Borobudur is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Vihara Buddha Uhr’, which mean ‘Buddhist Monastery on the Hill’.

The temple has survived a massive earthquake in 2006, terrorists bombs and ash flows from Mount Merapi. But it stands spectacular today as it must have once did.

In tomorrow’s post we will bring you more photos of Borobudur temple.

Looking out from Borobudur temple into Central Java in the morning

 

lombok-beach-indonesia

Islands of Bali, Lombok, Gilis & Java

11 days, Sept 13-23, 2012

Join our 11-day exploration of some of Indonesia’s most enchanting islands on our meditation and wellness spiritual adventure. This journey is all about discovering you while exploring this diverse and mesmerizing archipelago.

Made up of over 15,000 islands, Indonesia is a living museum of languages, cultures, art, dance and spiritualism; and a bewitching landscape of iridescent rice paddy fields, charming villages, mountains and volcanoes, jungles, spell binding beaches and crowned with one of the most spectacular ancient temples in southeast Asia, Borobudur.

As we journey from island to island, I’ll conduct daily classes on self-discovery, as you get to know who you are from the inside out. The relaxed nature of this journey coupled with the unsurpassed beauty around us lends to a perfect inner and outer spiritual adventure.

So bring along your hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and your spirit for an ineffable journey of exploration and self-discovery.

Please visit this link for more details of our Meditation and Wellness retreat in Indonesia.

bali-paddy-fields at sunset

 

Earlier this year in January, we conducted a spiritual adventure to South India and Malaysia titled “festivals and temples”. The 13-day journey was very much focused on visiting temples, exploring deeply the mysticism of Hinduism, meeting the priests and monks, participating in mystical ceremonies in the sanctums of 1000 year old temples and getting to know the local culture, traditions and people.

This video is a beautiful montage of that spiritual adventure to South India and Malaysia, a humble attempt to capture an ineffable journey of myriad experiences.

Filmed and edited by Jo Tyrrell, friend and independent film maker based in the UK.

Vedic Odyssey Meditation retreat in India

 

kumbha-mela-photography-tour-2013

Announcing one of our upcoming spiritual adventures. This time to the spectacular Kumbha Mela festival and a journey across north India.

The spectacular purna Kumbha Mela festival, celebrated once every 12 years, is the worlds’ largest human gathering.

India comes to life in a swirling concoction of color, song and spirituality at the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamuna. Millions of pilgrims gather to celebrate. Tens of thousands of monks make their way out of seclusion to bathe in the holy Ganges river on the auspicious day of the new moon. It’s a festival of epic proportions and an experience of a lifetime.

Our spiritual adventure will also take us across the great subcontinent of India from the enigmatic city of Kolkata to ancient and magical Varanasi, into the jungles of Panna National Park, then to mysterious Khajuraho, followed by Agra to see the Taj Mahal and finally to the capital of Delhi.

This adventure is ideal for those seeking a spiritual journey and unparalleled photographic opportunities.

Click here for more information on this spiritual and photographic adventure to the Kumbha Mela and North India.

varanasi-sunrise-boat-ride

 

During our spiritual adventure to the Maha Kumbha Mela in February 2013 we plan to also visit Kolkata, Varanasi, Khajuraho and Panna National Park. We’ll probably be adding one more location to the itinerary but that will be finalized in the days to come. The spiritual adventure is expected right now to be about 12 days in duration. Stay tuned for more details.

Please email me if you are interested in joining this spiritual adventure.

One of the sadhus (monks) at the last Kumbha Mela festival held in Haridwar, North India in 2010

 

Kumbha Mela Festival 2013

In the early part of next year the massive Maha Kumbha Mela festival will take place again. Occurring once every four years the last Kumbha Mela took place in the town of Haridwar on the banks of the river Ganges in North India in 2010. Next year the festival will take place at Allahabad in north central India on the banks of the confluence of the holy Ganges and Yamuna rivers. Though the festival takes place every four years, on every 12 year cycle the Maha (great) Kumbha Mela takes place. This happens to be next year.

We’ll be conducting a spiritual adventure to North India during this time and part of itinerary will include the main bathing day, which is the main event, at the festival. More details of this upcoming spiritual adventure, including more information about the Kumbha Mela itself, to come soon but for those are interested here are the dates of the bathing days.

By the way, there are many reports out there that say “An estimated 60 million people attended the previous Maha Kumbh Mela on 24 January (Mauni Amavasya), 2001 at the Ganges River in Allahabad.” For those of you thinking of joining this spiritual adventure…keep in mind there will be a few people there.

Auspicious bathing dates – 2013 Kumbh Mela
14th & 15th Jan – Makar Sankranti
27th Jan – Paush Purnima
06th Feb – Ekadashi Snan
10th Feb – Mauni Amavasya Snan (MAIN BATHING DATE)
15th Feb – Basant Panchami Snan
17th Feb – Rath Saptami Snan
18th Feb – Bhisma Ekadashi Snan
25th Feb – Maghi Purnima Snan
13th Mar – Mahashivratri Snan

For those of you who are interested in joining this spiritual adventure which will include the Maha Kumbha Mela please send me an email so I can let you know as soon as all the details have been finalized.

 

At the end of our Culinary and Spiritual Tour Markley spent 4 days hiking and camping in the Western Ghats, the mountain range that runs down the spine of South India and divides Tamil Nadu from Kerala. After the heat of the plains, the cool mountains and spectacular scenery was a welcome change.

This section of the Western Ghats is covered with montane grassland. Dense tropical forests line the streams that flow through the valleys.

Mesapulimala is the highest peak in Tamil Nadu, rising about 8600 feet above sea level.

The summit is often wreathed in clouds. Just below, the clouds billow over the ridge line.

The Nilgiri Tahr is an endemic mountain goat (actually most closely related to sheep.) They spring nimbly from rock to rock.

Stay tuned for a possible Vedic Odyssey adventure into the wild and scenice Western Ghats next year!