Retreat Dates
The retreat commences on at 4pm on Thursday 5 November and concludes at 8am on Saturday 14 November, 2026 and will be held at the Mahaavatar Babaji Meditation Centre.

This Ashram is in a serene remote area surrounded by farms and it’s a 10 minute car journey to Palampur, the nearest large town. You don’t go there for café culture, or for massages and ayurveda, you just go there to be with yourself and the powerful energy that has been generated through the presence of Swamiji and the many devotees who have sought him out over time.

The Mahaavatar Babaji Meditation Centre is for deep spiritual seekers and is only accessible by invitation. Shakti Durga Retreats are one of the ways that the hallowed space and Swamiji’s home can be experienced.

Hanuman Seva 
This is a Hanuman retreat and all participants will be on a seva roster for the duration of the retreat.  All participants will be expected to assist the ashram in the Divali preparations.

Dashboard and WhatsApp
Upon registration you will receive a confirmation email with a link to a dashboard which will give you lots of information and a WhatsApp group to join for easy communication.  On the dashboard you will find a link to an online form to let us know your travel arrangements so we can ensure your journey to the ashram is ease and grace  - this is compulsory to complete and should be completed as soon as your have booked your flights.

Although not as common in November there may be occasional early morning fog delaying or cancelling early morning flights. If you are booked on early morning flights leaving the ashram, you should ensure you have sufficient cash to cover car transport to Delhi in the event of flight delay or cancellation.  Also to cover other sundry travel expenses, such as into Palampur. It is recommended to bring your own snacks and water bottle for filtered water which is available at the ashram.

When you arrive at the ashram you will need to complete a form with your details which is required by the government.  It is helpful to have a photocopy of your passport with you to save time.

Accommodation
On this retreat, participants will stay in the comfortable accommodation block called Darpan. Darpan means ‘mirror’. The concept of this name is that in most cases, we use a mirror to check our physical appearance, but in Darpan, when we wake up and prepare for the day, we use the ‘mirror’ to check that our heart is pure and ready to love.

From Darpan, we walk across a bridge over a beautiful flowing stream, and up the hill to ‘Arpan’ the Yagyashala, or fire temple. Arpan means offering. Here, in this place of dawn and dusk fire ceremonies, we have the opportunity to offer to the divine both the good and the bad, to purify ourselves and prepare for blessings and oneness. After we have offered our love and prayers in Arpan, we move to Samarpan, the silent meditation hall. Samarpan means ‘surrender.’ Here, one easily drifts into deep states of connectedness in a space that is maintained in pristine stillness and silence. Meditation in Samarpan is particularly useful for cultivating clarity, confidence, bliss and inner strength.

Travel Information
An India visa is required as well as a mandatory e-Arrival Card: All foreign nationals are required to complete this online form before their arrival in India. See What to Bring for more information.

The airport to fly in and out of is Kangra airport, quite close to Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj, a large Tibetan Buddhist settlement. Some people like to spend a couple of days here either before the retreat starts or after it concludes as it has great shopping, many tourist attractions and temples.  Ashram transport from the airport will be arranged according to participant arrival and departure details.

Weather
November brings cool, dry, and moderately chilly weather. Daytime high temperatures average around 16°C to 20°C (60°F–68°F), while night temperatures drop sharply to a cold 4°C to 9°C (39°F–48°F). Rainfall is very low, making it one of the driest months of the year.  Warm clothing is recommended.
See What to Bring