About this tour
A 10-Day Himalayan Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Neem Karoli Baba & Mahavatar Babaji
Duration: 10 Days / 9 Nights
Have you ever felt pulled toward the quiet part of the Himalayas, not the peaks people climb, but the valleys where saints simply sat? This 10-day journey through Kumaon follows that quieter thread, moving slowly from lake to ashram to forest rather than rushing between sights.
You'll begin among the still waters of Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal before travelling deeper into the mountains to Kainchi Dham, the riverside ashram of Neem Karoli Baba, whose teachings of unconditional love reached the West through Ram Dass's Be Here Now and later shaped Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg during their own uncertain moments. From there, a forest walk leads to Mahavatar Babaji's Cave at Kukuchina, the very spot where Kriya Yoga is said to have begun in 1861, a lineage every Kriya Yogi in the world still traces back to this mountainside.
The journey continues through Bageshwar, where two sacred rivers meet beneath the Bagnath Temple, and down nearly a hundred feet by torchlight into Patal Bhuvaneshwar, an underground cave temple described in the Skanda Purana. You'll meditate among the hundred ancient Shiva temples hidden in the deodar forests of Jageshwar, and sit at sunset on Kasar Devi's Crank's Ridge, the same hillside where Swami Vivekananda once meditated for over 70hours, and where seekers and artists including Timothy Leary, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Allen Ginsberg later gathered, drawn by the same silence.
Throughout, your Smukti Dhost walks beside you — sharing Kumaoni meals with local families, translating temple rituals and mountain legends, and giving you the space to sit still when sitting still is exactly what the moment calls for. You will not return with a checklist of monuments. You will return with a little of the Himalayan stillness itself, carried quietly home.
Drive from Delhi into Kumaon, arrival at lakeside retreat, sunset walk by Bhimtal Lake, welcome circle, Kumaoni dinner
Arrive in the Himalayan foothills of Kumaon after a scenic drive from Delhi. Check into your peaceful lakeside retreat in Bhimtal, walk beside the still lake as the sun sets, and share a warm Kumaoni dinner with your Smukti Dhost. A gentle welcome circle sets the tone for your ten-day Himalayan spiritual journey — slow, simple, and open-hearted.
Boat ride on Bhimtal Lake, Bhimeshwar Mahadev Temple, Naukuchiatal Lake of Nine Corners, free time by the water
Row across Bhimtal Lake at sunrise and visit the centuries-old Bhimeshwar Mahadev Temple on its bank. Drive to nearby Naukuchiatal, the Lake of Nine Corners, where legend says the one who sees all nine corners finds enlightenment. Spend a free, unhurried afternoon by the water, letting the slow rhythm of Kumaon's lake district settle in before the deeper journey ahead.
Drive to Kainchi Dham, check into riverside retreat, evening aarti at Neem Karoli Baba's ashram
Travel deeper into the Himalayas to Kainchi Dham, the riverside ashram of the beloved saint Neem Karoli Baba. Check into your retreat beside the mountain stream and join the evening aarti, as temple bells and lamp light mark your true arrival into Kumaon's spirit of unconditional love and simple devotion.
Morning darshan, stories of Steve Jobs, Ram Dass & Mark Zuckerberg, Kakrighat meditation spot, Hanuman Garhi sunset
Begin with quiet morning darshan at Kainchi Dham before the crowds arrive. Hear the remarkable story of how Neem Karoli Baba's teachings reached the West through Ram Dass, and how they later shaped Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Visit Kakrighat, where Swami Vivekananda once meditated, and close the day at Hanuman Garhi, watching sunset light spread across the Himalayan ridgeline.
Forest walk to Mahavatar Babaji's Cave, Kriya Yoga origin story, drive to Bageshwar, Bagnath Temple at the river confluence
Walk through pine forest to Mahavatar Babaji's Cave at Kukuchina — the sacred spot where Kriya Yoga began in 1861. Sit in silent meditation where this Himalayan yogi first passed his teaching to Lahiri Mahasaya. In the afternoon, drive to the temple town of Bageshwar and visit Bagnath Temple, built where two sacred rivers, the Saryu and Gomti, meet.
Torchlit descent into Patal Bhuvaneshwar cave temple, drive to Chaukori, sunset over Nanda Devi & Panchachuli peaks
Descend by torchlight into Patal Bhuvaneshwar, an ancient limestone cave temple believed to hold all thirty-three koti of Hindu deities. Walk past natural rock formations shaped like Shiva's locks and the coiled serpent Sheshnag. Continue to Chaukori, a high Himalayan ridge, and watch the sun set over the snow peaks of Nanda Devi and Panchachuli.
Jageshwar Dham's ancient Shiva temples, forest meditation, drive to Kasar Devi eco-retreat
Walk through deodar forest to Jageshwar Dham, a cluster of more than one hundred ancient stone temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Sit in meditation beside the sacred Jata Ganga stream as temple bells echo through the trees. In the afternoon, continue to Kasar Devi, arriving at your Himalayan eco-retreat in time for golden hour over the valley.
Kasar Devi Temple meditation, Crank's Ridge history, Vivekananda, Timothy Leary, Bob Dylan & George Harrison, sunset tea
Meditate at Kasar Devi Temple, a hillside long known for silence rather than spectacle. Walk to Crank's Ridge, once home to Swami Vivekananda, and later a gathering point for seekers and artists including Timothy Leary, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Allen Ginsberg. Share warm mountain tea as the Himalayan light changes colour over the valley below.
Katarmal Sun Temple, Almora heritage walk, Lal Bazaar artisans, Bal Mithai tasting, closing circle
Visit Katarmal Sun Temple, one of India's oldest surviving temples dedicated to the sun god Surya. Walk through Almora's historic Lal Bazaar, meeting local artisans and tasting the town's beloved Bal Mithai sweet. In the evening, gather with your Smukti family for a closing circle and farewell dinner, reflecting on your Himalayan journey.
Leisurely breakfast, scenic drive to Kathgodam, onward journey to Delhi
After a final Himalayan breakfast, descend slowly from the mountains to Kathgodam for your onward journey to Delhi. The forests give way to open plains, but the stillness of Kainchi Dham, the lineage of Kriya Yoga, and the silence of Kasar Devi travel home with you.