# From Tea Hills to Sacred Cities

> A journey in India. Practice yoga with Anna Taylor explore Kerala tea plantations and backwaters and the holy city of Varanasi.

- URL: https://reclaimyourself.club/our-holidays/india-yoga-retreat/
- Published: 2026-08-14
- Updated: 2026-08-31
- Author: Jools Sampson

---

**Kochi & the tea hills of Munnar**

Our journey begins in Kochi, a laid-back harbour city on India’s southwest coast. We’ll spend the afternoon exploring the old fort before our first night in a beautiful boutique hotel.

The next morning, we leave the coast behind and climb into the hills of Munnar for two nights on a traditional tea and coffee estate. Days here combine yoga with walks through the plantations, a tea tasting and time by the pool overlooking the surrounding hills.

**Lake Vembanad & the Kerala backwaters**

From Munnar, we travel to Lake Vembanad for three nights at an Ayurvedic retreat on the water’s edge.

There’ll be daily yoga and time to book traditional Ayurvedic treatments, alongside exploring Kerala’s backwaters by boat with a local guide. We’ll visit the Kuttanad community and walk through coconut groves to see toddy tapping and everyday village life along the waterways.

**Varanasi during Diwali**

Then India changes completely. We fly north to Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities, arriving during Diwali.

Life and death unfold openly along the ghats of the Ganges, boats fill the river and, as darkness falls, thousands of lamps illuminate the city.

For two nights, we’ll stay at BrijRama Palace, a restored 18th-century palace rising directly above Darbhanga Ghat. We’ll practise yoga overlooking the Ganges, explore the old city with a local guide, witness the evening [Aarti ceremony](https://youtu.be/fm-Z8Ii41AU) and navigate the lanes and markets of Varanasi.

On our final evening, we board one of India’s legendary sleeper trains for the overnight journey to Delhi.

**Old Delhi**

Our final 24 hours are spent in the heart of Old Delhi, staying in a restored heritage haveli.

We’ll explore the narrow lanes on foot and by rickshaw with [Street Connections](https://www.salaambaalaktrust.com/city-walks.php), an initiative supporting the Salaam Baalak Trust, visit Jama Masjid and fly kites from the rooftop as the sun goes down.

Then there’s one last experience before we leave India: a seven-course farewell feast in Old Delhi.

---

Site index for agents: https://reclaimyourself.club/llms.txt