12 Days Spiritual Retreat in South India – Yoga, Ayurveda & Temple Journey

Begin a transformative 12 Days Spiritual Retreat in South India, a sacred journey that blends yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, and temple pilgrimages across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This immersive retreat invites you to explore the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya at Kalady, rejuvenate at Cherai Ayurveda Retreat, and meditate in the powerful stillness of the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore. Travel further through the divine corridors of Tanjore, Chidambaram, Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram, and Mahabalipuram, experiencing Vedic rituals, chanting, and temple ceremonies.

More than just a spiritual retreat, this journey is a holistic wellness pilgrimage—offering yoga practices, sacred rituals, Ayurvedic healing therapies, and cultural immersion. Perfect for seekers of inner peace, spiritual awakening, and authentic Indian traditions, this retreat combines the timeless wisdom of South India with the serene energy of its sacred landscapes.

Day 1 – Arrive Cochin → Cherai (Akanta Retreat)

Arrive at Cochin International Airport and transfer to an airport hotel for brief rest. In the afternoon, begin your pilgrimage with a visit to Kalady – the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya. Participate in puja, mantra chanting, and meditation at the Adi Shankara Temple, invoking the blessings of Advaita philosophy. Later, drive to Cherai Beach Akanta Retreat, nestled between the backwaters and the Arabian Sea. Evening sunset meditation and purification ritual on the beach, followed by a Mohiniyattam performance .

Day 2 – Cherai (Akanta Retreat)

Begin with sunrise yoga, pranayama, and mantra chanting guided by retreat teachers. After breakfast, receive a personal Ayurveda consultation with the in-house doctor and start a healing program aligned with your body’s constitution. Participate in Ayurvedic therapies, wellness workshops, and meditation sessions. Lunch and dinner are sattvic meals offered in silence, promoting mindfulness. Evening women’s devotional kirtan—sacred songs offered by a local bhakti group, uplifting the spirit into collective devotion.

Day 3 – Cherai (Akanta Retreat)

Morning guided yoga nidra and Vedic chanting practice. Mid-morning workshop on Ayurvedic lifestyle and spiritual nutrition. Afternoon mauna (silence practice) for deep inner reflection. At dusk, join a guided gratitude walk along the beach,

Day 5 – Cherai → Cochin → Alleppey (Houseboat Stay)

After breakfast, proceed to Cochin for a short spiritual sightseeing tour: visit Ernakulam Shiva Temple, Chottanikkara Devi Temple, and St. Francis Church where prayer and silence are observed. Later, continue to Alleppey to board a traditional Kerala houseboat. Glide through tranquil backwaters, participate in sunset meditation on deck, and enjoy a cultural devotional performance in the evening. Overnight stay on the houseboat.

Day 6 – Alleppey → Coimbatore (Isha Yoga Center)

0700 AM Disembark and transfer to Isha Yoga Center (6 hrs), Coimbatore. On arrival, take a sacred dip in the energized Theerthakunds (Surya Kund for men, Chandrakund for women).

Follow the ashram’s sacred schedule: 

• 06:00–08:00 – Silent immersion in Dhyanalinga meditation dome.
• 11:50 & 17:50 – Nada Aradhana, an offering of sound.
• 07:40, 12:40 & 19:40 – Linga Bhairavi Devi Abhishekam.
• Klesha Nashana ritual – karmic cleansing.
• OM chanting sessions near Devi temple.
• 18:20 – Naga Arati (serpent energy offering).
• 19:00 – Adiyogi Divya Darshanam, light & sound meditation at the 112-ft Adiyogi statue.

Day 7 – Isha Yoga Center

Spend a full day immersed in the Isha spiritual field. Participate in guided yoga sessions, Isha kriyas, silent meditation, and satsangs. Offer prayers at the Linga Bhairavi Devi temple, sit in stillness at Dhyanalinga, and walk through the consecrated grounds in mindful silence. Evening meditative fire circle and chanting near Adiyogi under the open sky.

Day 8 – Isha → Trichy → Tanjore

Drive to Trichy to visit the sacred Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, one of India’s largest temple complexes and a major Vaishnavite pilgrimage site. Participate in archana and darshan. Continue to Tanjore to experience the majestic Brihadeeswarar Temple (UNESCO site) dedicated to Lord Shiva. Join evening deepa aradhana (lamp ceremony) and meditation in the temple courtyard. Later, meet local artisans creating sacred bronze idols, understanding their link with temple rituals. Overnight in Tanjore.

Day 9 – Tanjore → Chidambaram → Pondicherry

Morning drive to Chidambaram, home to the Nataraja Temple where Lord Shiva is worshipped as the Cosmic Dancer. Participate in the abhisheka or arati and meditate on the symbolism of Shiva’s eternal dance of creation and dissolution. Later, continue to Pondicherry, the serene coastal town. Visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram for evening meditation and readings on spiritual evolution. Overnight in Pondicherry.

Day 10 – Pondicherry → Tiruvannamalai → Pondicherry

Take a day pilgrimage to Tiruvannamalai, the abode of Lord Shiva as Arunachaleswara. Visit Sri Ramanashram, Virupaksha Cave and Skandashramam, where Ramana Maharshi meditated. Perform Girivalam (circumambulation) of Arunachala Hill – a sacred practice believed to grant liberation. Return to Pondicherry in the evening for overnight stay.

Day 11 – Pondicherry → Mahabalipuram → Kanchipuram → Chennai

Drive along the Coromandel Coast to Mahabalipuram, exploring its rock-cut sanctuaries and the Shore Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Continue to Kanchipuram, one of India’s seven moksha-puris. Visit sacred shrines such as Ekambareswarar Temple, Kailasanathar Temple, and Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, founded by Adi Shankaracharya. Optional visit to Kanchipuram silk weaving units, where silk sarees are woven as temple offerings. Evening transfer to Chennai.

Day 12 – Chennai (Departure)

Morning optional visit to Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, dedicated to Lord Shiva, where daily rituals are performed with traditional Vedic chanting. Quiet time for reflection and journaling before transferring to Chennai International Airport for onward departure—carrying the divine blessings of South India’s sacred spaces.

A Sacred 12 Days Spiritual Retreat in South India

This 12 Days Spiritual Retreat in South India is more than an itinerary—it is a sacred pilgrimage and holistic wellness journey that unites yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, and temple experiences. From the spiritual vibrations of Adi Shankaracharya’s Kalady, the rejuvenating therapies at Cherai Retreat in Kerala, and the meditative silence of the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, to the divine temple pilgrimages of Tanjore, Chidambaram, Tiruvannamalai, Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram, and Kanchipuram, every step awakens inner peace and spiritual clarity.

Designed for seekers of authentic Indian spiritual traditions, this retreat combines the healing power of Ayurveda Panchakarma, the depth of yogic practices, and the devotion of South Indian temple rituals. Offered by India Holistic Retreats, a wellness division of Globes Travel, this program is an invitation to continue your path with more spiritual retreats in India, each tailored to restore balance, energy, and transformation.