Exotic India

In a way, all travel changes your life a little, simply by exposing you to new ideas, places and cultures. However, traveling to India and its spiritual holiday set out to change a major part of you, a transformation and deep understanding of multifarious cultural connotation that includes spiritual and religious retreat. If you’ve got a desire to change more than just your socks while you’re traveling to Indian subcontinent, here a few ideas to help you on your way.

If the words spiritual retreats summon up images of crystals and hippies, think again. More and more everyday Westerners are coming to India for spiritual aspiration (meditation, yoga etc.) because of its ancient and eternal spiritual treasures amidst poverty, cultural diversity and conservatism. It’s not often that you get to spend time with just yourself away from mobile phones, computers and a mountain of paper work, and you might just find that a visit to a retreat is the start of a great personal and life-changing journey. At the very least, you’re going to come out feeling a lot more calm and relaxed than when you went in!


Ashrams, the majority of which are in India, have long been popular places for Westerners of all ages to head when they’re in need of spiritual enlightenment, to heal, trying to find out the meaning of life or simply curious to live in a completely different culture.

There are hundreds of different types of Ashrams in India, but overall their aim is to teach residents the art of living, by being spiritually aware and contributing to the social good. Some Ashrams have a live-in guru, while others continue to teach the work of a guru that’s passed away.

Most Ashrams are reliant on volunteer work and donations, and charge very little money for food and accommodation, which is usually in a same-sex shared room. Don’t go expecting to be living in a hotel; it’s not. Accommodation is pretty basic in most places, with shared bathrooms and dining. However, this shouldn’t be viewed simply as a cheap way to travel around India’ most people that go are intent on finding out more about Indian philosophy and the art of living, and you’ll quickly tire of classes and volunteer work if your heart’s not in it. You’ll be expected to cover up in loose clothing, although each Ashram has its own dress code.

Travel Tip – Perhaps the most famous Ashram among Westerners is Amritapuri in Kerala, where live-in guru Amma is known for hugging during a darshan (meeting her devotees), sometimes up to a thousand in a day!


Buddhism, a set of beliefs and practices based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha, is popular throughout Asia and the world, with an estimated 250 million plus devotees. There are Buddhist retreats around India, and the best part is you don’t have to be a Buddhist to spend time at them. The reason a trip to a retreat can be life changing is that as well as learning about the philosophy, you’re encouraged to find be, but it’s a really fantastic, and healing, travel experience particularly if you’re stressed, burnt out or just need a new way of looking at the world.

This isn’t a spa-like experience. Much like an Ashram, you’ll often be expected to pull your weight while you’re there, taking part in everyday chores and sharing a room. If you’re staying in a Buddhist monastery, it’s also likely that you’ll have to take part in the rituals, which can be before dawn; this is hardcore stuff, and not for those that just fancy a bit of a relaxing breaks.

Assam enjoys a predominant place in the Indian map for its variegated landscapes, lush tea plantations, large petroleum resources, indigenous silk industries and rich biodiversity. Home to a wide variety of animals and birds, Assam has successfully conserved the one-horned Indian rhinoceros and Asian elephant amidst her green lap. Though Assam still remains unexplored as far as international tourism is concerned, the state boasts of two World Heritage Sites in the form of Kaziranga and Manas wildlife sanctuaries.


The history of Assam finds mention in Vedic literature, Tantric literature, Assamese folklore, epics, religious legends, monolithic inscriptions and Buddhist literature. Known as 'Kamarupa' or 'Pragjyotish' in the period of the Epics, existence of human civilization in Assam dates back to 2000 BC. Conjoining Indo-Aryan, Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman cultures, the history of Assam goes a long way in showcasing the cultural diaspora of the state.

The inhabitants of Assam comprises of the migrants from Burma and China who lend the unique Mongol-Aryan culture to the state. Its early history is believed to be of the Varman dynasty that extended from 400 AD to 13th century, followed by a succession of other Hindu dynasties. The 15th century saw the establishment of the Ahom Kingdom. Ahom gallantry finds exemplification in the celebrated battle of Saraighat, where Ahom general Lachit Borphukan vanquished the Mughal forces in 1671. However, in the early 19th century, the Ahoms faced invasion from the Burmese, who were defeated by the British resulting in the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826. The British then converted the Ahom kingdom into a principality that eventually led to its collapse.

With the advent of the British regime, railways, tea plantation, coal and oil mines came into being. In 1874, Assam was separated from Bengal, and was declared a separate province with its capital in Shillong. In the post Independence period, Assam witnessed several separation of tribal territories. In 1948, Arunachal Pradesh was separated from Assam, followed by Nagaland in 1963, Meghalaya in 1972, and Mizoram in 1987.


Assam enjoys a unique topography characterized by a string of mountainous terrains and plain lands. Its principal geographical regions include the Brahmaputra Valley in the north, the Barak Plain in the south, and the Mikir and Cachar Hills that divide the two regions.

Owing to the ring of blue mountains that surround the state, it enjoys a very salubrious climate with humid summers and misty winters. The average temperature during summers is between 35 and 38 degree Celsius, and in winters it falls between 6 to 8 degree Celsius. The monsoon season envelops the entire state with a verdant cloak and herald the popular thunderstorm called “Bordoisila”.


Assam has a population of 26.66 million (2001 census). As per the records, 63.13% of the population is Hindu while 32.43% are Muslims. Other religions like Buddhism, Animism and Sikhism form 4.44% of the total population. Barpeta, Cachar, Kamrup, Dhubri, Nagaon, Sonitpur, and Darang are the most thickly populated districts of Assam. The literacy rate is 63.30 %, with the male literacy rate recorded at 71.30 % and the female literacy rate at 54.60 %. The various communities of Assam speak forty-five different languages, an offshoot of three major language families: Austroasiatic, Indo-European and Sino-Tibetan.


Colorful Tribes: Assam acts as a melting pot of different cultures and customs in the form of its tribes. Apart from the Aryan population, the state has a colorful tribal mosaic comprising of Bodo, Rabha, Karbi, Mishing, Lakher, Khamti, Santhals, etc, that imparts it a rich traditional outlook. Dominance of different tribes also lead to production of a variety of tribal handicrafts, handlooms and pottery works that are popular nationwide.

Bihu Dance: Bihu epitomizes Assamese tradition. It is the most popular folk dance of Assam characterized by brisk and rhythmic dance movements. Young people don colorful traditional costumes like Dhoti, Gamocha and Chadar, Mekhala and joyously dance to the tune of 'Dhol' and 'Pepa'.

Tea Gardens: The tea gardens are the silent witnesses of the colonial era of Assam. Introduced by the British, there are more than 850 tea estates and 2500 tea gardens in Assam that majestically sprawls across acres of land and contribute to the vegetative wealth of the state. Assam tea, distinguished for its malty flavor, rich aroma and strong color, is formulated specifically from the plant Camellia sinensis var. assamica that is planted in abundance at these estates.

Temples: Assam nestles temples dedicated to Tantrik Shaktism, Shivaism and Vaishnavism. Most of these inventive specimens date back to the medieval era and testifies the architectural legacy of the Koch, Kachari and Ahom kingdoms. The most famous is the Shakti Temple of mother Goddess Kamakhya situated atop the Nilachal Hills. Some other important shrines include Nabagraha Temple, Xeebo Dol, Joi Dol, etc.