PHOTO: PRITAM DAS BISWAS/UNSPLASHOPPOSITE (TOP TO BOTTOM): SAI KIRAN ANAGANI/UNSPLASH, SHAIL SHARMA/UNSPLASH, ATHARVA TULSI/UNSPLASHFiguring out where to go, what to see, and how long to stay
can be a daunting process. We asked Carol Dimopoulos,
president of Perillo’s Learning Journeys—which helps yoga
and meditation teachers lead retreats in India and other
destinations around the world—for her best advice on
where to start.8
TIPS TO
CONSIDER
WHEN
PLANNING
A TRIP
TIP NO. 1
DECIDE WHEN TO GO.
Most experts say the best time to visit India is in winter (from
November to March), when cooler temperatures make travel more
pleasant, but Dimopoulos says the only time she avoids is late
June through mid-August. “After that, you can get great value,”
she says. “For example, mid-to-end of September is just after
monsoon season and rates are fantastic. And, I always love visiting
India during festivals—whether Diwali, Holi, or another—as it’s
an incredible way to really immerse yourself in the culture.”TIP NO. 2
DECIDE WHERE TO GO.
India is vast. It’s also a country where you can find everything
from snow-capped mountains to tropical beaches. If it’s your first
visit, Dimopoulos suggests focusing your trip in the north. “From
a yogic perspective, this is where you’ll find the places that are
most important to your understanding of the practice,” she says.TIP NO. 3
GET A TOURIST VISA.
At least one month before you take off, log on to the government
website (indianvisaonline.gov.in), where you can pay for a visa
that’s good for six months of travel. If you think you might
return to India or want to stay longer, Dimopoulos recommends
applying for a 10-year visa: “It’s a better value for the money if
you’re like many yogis and India calls you back.” If you’ve left
applying for a visa to the last minute, you can use a private
company such as iVisa, which will help you save time but will
likely cost you more.TIP NO. 4
GET VACCINATED.
While this is a personal choice, and you aren’t required to
show proof of vaccinations to get through customs in India,
Dimopoulos recommends checking the Centers for Disease
and Control and Prevention (CDC) website for vaccination
recommendations. “Depending on where you’re traveling, the
CDC’s recommendations will be different,” she says. “Talk to your
doctor or a travel health specialist about what’s right for you.”TIP NO. 5
BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE.
This is a must, Dimopoulos says: “Not only does travel insurance
cover medical issues that might arise when you’re far away from
home, including extreme situations where you might need to be
air-evacuated from a location, but it also covers expenses you
might encounter due to flight delays and lost baggage.” There
are many options when it comes to travel insurance companies.
Leave time to do research so you can find a plan that works best
for your trip.88 YOGA JOURNAL