Australian Yoga Journal – July 2019

8

TIPS TO CONSIDER

WHEN PLANNING

A TRIP

Figuringoutwheretogo,whattosee,andhowlongto

staycanbea dauntingprocess.WeaskedCarolDimopoulos,

presidentofPerillo’sLearningJourneys—whichhelps

yogaandmeditationteachersleadretreats.

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.

TIPNO.4

Getvaccinated.

Whilethisis a personalchoice,andyouaren’t

requiredtoshowproofofvaccinationstoget

throughcustomsinIndia,Dimopoulos

recommendscheckingtheCentresfor

DiseaseandControlandPrevention(CDC)

websiteforvaccinationrecommendations.

“Dependingonwhereyou’retravelling,the

CDC’srecommendationswillbedifferent,”

shesays.“Talktoyourdoctorora travel

healthspecialistaboutwhat’sright

66 foryou.”

july

2019

yogajournal.com.au

PHOTO: PRITAM DAS BISWAS\UNSPLASH