WITH SWAMI SHARADA. MAHAVATAR BABAJI CAVE – BADRINATH – VALLEY OF FLOWERS – RISHIKESH
- June 19-29, 2025
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ЧИТАТЬ НА РУССКОМThis is a trip to the Himalayan Mountains, a trip to the Holy of Holies of Hinduism. If you want to see with your own eyes the amazing sacred Himalayas, which still keep the secrets of the hermit-sadhus living in caves, if you want to see life with new eyes – go on this journey with us!
The places we will visit have been known since ancient times as Dev Bhumi, the land of the gods. This is the only place on the planet where the incredible beauty of snow-capped mountains, forests and stunningly beautiful valleys are inextricably linked with many sacred temples, rivers and ancient temples.
Located high in the mountains, these places are the abode of Divine energy on earth, where His invisible presence is felt everywhere.
‘Amongst the great sages, I am Bhrigu. Among words, I am the single syllable ‘Om’. Among sacrifices, I am the sacrifice of japa. Among immovable things, I am Himalayas’.
Verse 25, Chapter 10
Bhagavad Gita
GUIDES
Swami Vishwasharadaananda
He was born and raised in Perm Krai, Russia. He received his first higher education at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow, studied languages, culture, history and economics of South Asia. During his studies, he became interested in both Christianity and Hinduism at the same time. The teachings of Jesus Christ and Krishna are very similar, they both talk about unconditional love. This deep interest in God led him to Paramahamsa Vishwananda, Whom he met and accepted as his Satguru in 2011. Already in 2013, during the Kumbh Mela festival in India, he was initiated into Swami. His way of life consists of serving people, teaching them to follow the path of devotion to the Divine through daily prayer, Atma Kriya Yoga, sacred rituals, life in modern society and spiritual community. He is the Swami of the Bhakti Marga of Latvia and other countries.
Mahashraya dasi
Resident of Shree Giridhar Dham Ashram in Vrindavan. In 2011, she met Paramahamsa Vishwananda. In 2015, she became a brahmacharini, having received initiation in Vrindavan from Swamini Vishwamohini. A teacher of rituals, she began helping with the organization of journeys in India in 2017. ‘From the very first time I was in India in 2014, this country touched my heart so much, I felt at home, it was something very native, familiar and so real… and Vrindavan immediately stole my heart completely and irrevocably. Since then, I have visited different places in India, discovering this amazing culture, learned a lot of hidden holy places in Vraj, ancient stories and legends, and I really want to share what I know and love with other people.’
INCLUDED IN COST
NOT INCLUDED IN COST
HOW IT WAS
The journey began, and something shifted inside us... being together again in the sacred mountains with Swami Sharada has already become an experience we’ll never forget
Day 1: Our hearts opened as we sang Hanuman Chalisa together and listened to Swamiji share stories of saints while winding through the mountain roads. Half the group had been with us before, while for others, it’s their first time in India!
We visited Kainchi Dham—where Neem Karoli Baba’s joyful, playful spirit is still so tangible—and Kakri Ghat, home of the peaceful and miraculous Sombari Baba. The love here is undeniable.
Day 2: A day of the Divine Mother We greeted the dawn at Kasar Devi with Atma Kriya and OM Chanting overlooking a panoramic mountain view.
The vibrations of this ancient Devi temple—aligned with the Van Allen Belt—were truly powerful. Later at Dunagiri Devi, we bowed before two naturally formed shaligrams representing Her hands, each with five fingers visible. Being in the place where Babaji initiated Lahiri Mahasaya left us speechless.
Day 3: Dedicated to Mahavatar Babaji and the Pandavas, we took our first steep mountain trek to Pandukholi Ashram. The climb was intense, but the silence at the top was even more powerful.
We meditated above the valley cliffs, near black murtis of Babaji and His sister Mataji, and stone symbols of the Pandavas. Then we visited the famous Babaji Cave, where Babaji appeared to His disciple, Lahiri Mahasaya.
Days 4–6
The past few days took us deeper into the Garhwal Himalayas—through quiet mountain towns, ancient temples, and places rich with presence.
Adi Badri was peaceful and nearly empty. The black stone murti stood silent and powerful among smaller shrines.
In Joshimath, we visited the Narasimha temple. The deity is said to be shifting slowly—a quiet sign of change. Its gaze felt calm, almost protective.
At Adi Shankaracharya’s cave, there was no show—just the simplicity of sitting where great minds once meditated.
Vriddha Badri and Yogadhyan Badri carried a gentle stillness. Their stories—of reflection, of the Pandavas—felt close and real.
Badrinath was alive with movement, but the temple still held a deep strength. Just arriving there felt meaningful.
In Mana Village, we explored sacred caves, crossed Bhim Pul, and spoke with locals living at the edge of myth and mountain.
We’ve covered a lot in just a few days—physically and inwardly. The group is settling into the rhythm of the journey, and there’s a quiet sense of reflection growing as we continue on.
Days 7–9
These final days took us deep into the spiritual heart of the Himalayas.
We reached the legendary Valley of Flowers—a UNESCO World Heritage site blooming with over 500 species of wildflowers and home to rare wildlife. At nearly 3,600 meters, we climbed through clouds and mist until we found a space to sit and do Om Chanting and meditate for Mother Earth. Swami Sharada explained this was the very place where the ancient rishis first created and practiced Om Chanting—a sacred moment of reconnecting with that timeless vibration.
Afterward, some trekked higher to Hemkund Sahib, a revered Sikh pilgrimage site, while others stayed to absorb the silence and beauty of the valley.
Evenings were spent in satsang, including a beautiful talk on what it means to be a devotee. And by Guruji's grace, three new devotees took their first steps on the path.
On the final day, the group journeyed to Devprayag, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers merge to form the holy Ganga. Many took a dip at this powerful confluence—a moment of deep inner purification.
We then visited the Vasishta Cave, where we meditated in silence in the same spot where the ancient sage once practiced austerity. And finally, we arrived in Rishikesh, where we visited temples, including the mahasamadhi shrine of Swami Sivananda, absorbing the living energy still present in that sacred space.
As Swami Sharada put it on the last day: “After the Himalayas, we will never be the same.” And it’s true.
WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY
Marina G.
Himalayas with Swami Sharada 2025
Jai Gurudev! I haven’t quite settled back into everyday life yet — I’m doing my work, but my heart is still on that journey. I keep listening to mantras — I close my eyes and I’m back in the Himalayas. My soul longs for that feeling, that state of being we experienced there. Now I understand why so many people from your previous trips came back again. After this trip, it’s hard to imagine moving forward without you. :) I also want to thank Irina. We shared a room throughout the trip, and I saw how she looked after everyone like a mother — always checking in, always making sure we were okay. Someone wasn’t feeling well, someone had a fever… she was there for all of us. I’m so grateful for the kindness and care she showed every single day. And since we lived in the same room, I took the opportunity to ask her so many things about everything. One of the most memorable moments for me was the day we climbed to Narayana’s Footprint and visited Swami Ramdas. After we left his place, I was overwhelmed… I just wanted to sit down and cry. Thank you so much. And thank you to everyone in our group. Truly, thank you
Natalya K.
Himalayas with Swami Sharada 2025
It was something incredible, something amazing. And that meeting with the saint… Tears were streaming down my face. Afterwards, I was messaging my husband and didn’t know how to put it into words — how to convey to him the feelings I was experiencing.
I keep writing and deleting, writing and deleting, because the moment I try to put it into words, it somehow loses its meaning. I have no idea how to translate the essence of those experiences into words.
Kristina A.
Himalayas with Swami Sharada 2025
My friend and I started with Vrindavan a few months ago. It was our first trip. So much happened — for us, the spiritual journey began already back there. It was just something else, and I’m so grateful to everyone. You know, Vrindavan is now my first home, and the Himalayas — my second.
