With Jaipreet (Joy) ChandnaAugust 12–30, 2027 · 18 nights / 19 days
When12–30 August 2027
Your journeyAmritsar to Srinagar
Your spacePrivate accommodation
Investment$6,450 CAD per person
The lotus is our guide
Rooted in the mud. Reaching toward the light.
This 18-night journey is a spiritual pilgrimage. You do not need to belong to a particular faith—only to feel that something in you is ready to return.
We plant seeds of intention in the heart in Amritsar. We nourish them through practice, rest and the monsoon rains of Dharamshala. In Kashmir, on the waters of Dal Lake, we make room for the lotus to bloom.
The lotus does not rush. It does not force. It blooms when it is ready.
This is the invitation we carry through our journey: to honour our own unfolding.
Your 18-night journey
Opening. Clearing. Dissolving. Becoming.
These lands move you in a sequence—opening · clearing · dissolving · becoming. The lotus carries our intention through each stage, from the seeds we plant to the space we make for blooming.
01 · August 12–15 · 3 nights
Amritsar · Planting the seeds
Our journey begins at the Taj Hotel in Amritsar. Beside the sacred waters of Sri Harmandir Sahib—the Golden Temple—we sit, walk, listen and begin to plant seeds of intention in the heart.
Between our outings, return to your room and rest. There is space to let the journey begin gently.
02 · August 15–22 · 7 nights
Dharamshala · Nourishing our roots
A week at Araam, our Himalayan home, during the monsoon. Rain, mist and earth become the setting for deeper practice. Like the lotus taking root in muddy water, we give ourselves time to be with what is still becoming clear.
Our time includes two Tibetan healing massages, reflection and opportunities to explore McLeod Ganj and Dharamshala. Rest is part of the programme.
August 22–23 · 1 night
A restful return to Amritsar
We return to the Taj Hotel for one night before our flight to Srinagar. All four Amritsar nights are at the Taj.
03 · August 23–30 · 7 nights
Kashmir · Blooming
We arrive in Kashmir during lotus season, when pink blooms rise above the waters of Dal Lake. The lotus that has guided our journey becomes part of the landscape around us—a living reflection of planting, nourishing and blooming.
Seven nights aboard a houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar. Here, the lotus becomes a living image of our journey: rooted in the mud, rising through the water, blooming in the light. Morning meditation, shikara rides and quiet time invite us to soften and simply be.
Planned outings include Srinagar, the Mughal gardens and Sonamarg, balanced with time for practice and rest. We close our journey in Kashmir, with a transfer to Srinagar Airport on August 30.
The daily order of practices and excursions may adapt to weather, local conditions and the needs of the group.
A sacred journey · A Pilgrimage Home
Water is our guide.
From the waters of the Golden Temple, to the rains of the Himalayas, to the stillness of Dal Lake— water is our guide. The heart is our home. The divine is our destination.
Amritsar
The sacred waters. Planting seeds in the heart.
Dharamshala
The monsoon rains. Nourishing what is taking root.
Kashmir
The stillness of the lake. Space for the lotus to bloom.
Kundalini Yoga, meditation and sound healing are at the heart of our pilgrimage, alongside personal time to walk, journal, sleep or sit quietly.
01
Move & breathe
Kundalini Yoga, meditation, breathwork and gentle movement. An invitation to participate at a pace that respects your body.
02
Listen & reflect
Sound healing, guided journaling, rebirthing kriyas and ceremony, woven through our time together.
03
Rest & discover
Sacred places, mountain landscapes and life on the lake, with spacious afternoons for your own rest and integration.
Breath
to release
Heart
to open
Awareness
to expand
Water
to flow
Dal Lake, Kashmir · Shikara rides and moments of stillness
On the waters of Dal Lake
Stillness. Surrender. Return to You.
Early morning sadhana on the shikara. The quiet movement of water. Time to sit, listen and be.
Our seven nights in Kashmir bring together life on a houseboat, shikara rides, Rebirthing Kriyas and ceremonies, with outings around Srinagar and to Sonamarg.
After the seeds of Amritsar and the monsoon rains of Dharamshala, we carry our practice onto the lake.
Places to settle
A room of your own.
Private accommodation throughout: the Taj Hotel in Amritsar, Araam in Dharamshala and a traditional houseboat in Srinagar. Shared meals and gathering spaces bring us together.
Amritsar · Taj Hotel 3 opening nights + 1 return nightDharamshala · Araam 7 nights in the Himalayan foothillsSrinagar · Houseboat 7 nights on Dal Lake
Care in the little things.
Nourishing meals, a familiar daily rhythm and a private space to return to. At Araam, rest is at the heart of our hospitality.
Photographs are from our previous journey and Araam. Individual room layouts may vary.
My why · Jaipreet (Joy) Chandna
A Pilgrimage Home
“I’m bringing you here because this journey has shaped and held me.”
Jaipreet (Joy) Chandna · The Rested Human™
The joy of coming home
I was born in Calgary, Canada. Every year, my parents would take us back to India. And I loved it.
The excitement of packing, getting ready for the airport, the feeling of getting on the plane—it felt like an adventure every single time. There was so much joy in it.
Life in Canada was busy, structured and stressful. My parents were building a life from the ground up as immigrants. When we travelled to India, something would change.
I remember how happy my dad became as soon as the pilot announced, “We have begun our descent into New Delhi.” I would look at my mom and dad—the smiles, the tears in their eyes, the sheer joy of knowing they would soon see the people they loved, who lived oceans away.
A love that felt open and abundant
This was a kind of love I had never experienced anywhere else. The love from my grandparents and extended family. From strangers who would celebrate our arrival with dancing and music in the small street lanes. My grandparents crying as they held my mom and dad after so many months apart.
And oh, the food. Even the simplest meals were so flavourful, and my mom was so happy cooking with my grandma. My grandparents lived in very simple homes, but love and abundance filled those spaces.
I felt that I belonged in this land. My body felt safe, held in the arms of Mother India. I continued travelling back whenever I could throughout my adult life.
Recognising rest
From the age of 21 to 42, I lived with panic attacks and anxiety. And yet, when I was in India, I experienced something different. My body felt calmer, softer, more at ease.
Years later, after pushing myself into complete burnout—living in constant movement, doing, achieving and working—my body finally asked me to stop.
That was when the feeling I had known in India began to make sense: being held, not needing to try so hard. For me, that was rest. The rest that brings you back to yourself.
“I know what it feels like to be disconnected. And I know what it feels like to come back.”
The places that have held me
We begin at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab. Every time I come here, I feel it immediately: the chanting, the beauty, the atmosphere of devotion. You sit, walk, listen and be. For me, something begins to open in a very subtle way.
From there, we move into the Himalayas, into Dharamshala. This is where things deepen. The mountains slow you down. They don’t ask anything from you, but they don’t let you hide either.
During monsoon, everything feels alive: the rain, the mist, the earth. To me, it feels as though the land is helping us make room for what we have been holding.
And then, Kashmir. Srinagar. The waters of Dal Lake. There is a stillness here that is hard to describe. You wake up on the water, with the mountains reflected around you. Everything slows down. Something in you may begin to surrender.
The lotus of the heart
The seeds we plant in our heart centre in Amritsar, and nourish in the monsoon rains in Dharamshala, become our invitation to rise in Kashmir.
The lotus is rooted in the mud, moving slowly toward the light. It does not rush. It does not force. It blooms when it is ready.
Amritsar invites the heart to open. Dharamshala gives us space to be with what we carry. Kashmir invites us to soften and simply be. Somewhere in that process, something within us may begin to rise.
The practice we share
I will guide you through Kundalini Yoga and meditation, practices I have lived with for most of my life and have taught for over 11 years. This will be my 14th retreat in India.
We will work specifically with Rebirthing Kriyas, alongside meditation and sound healing. Through breath, movement and stillness, we make time to notice the patterns, reactions and tensions that can pass unnoticed in everyday life.
As something comes into awareness, we practise meeting it with compassion. There is no need to force an experience or reach a particular outcome. We make space to listen to the body and choose our own pace.
I’m not bringing you here as someone who has it all figured out. I am always learning, always a student myself. I’m bringing you here because this journey has shaped and held me.
And somewhere along the way, you may begin to recognise yourself again. To return home to yourself.
If you’ve been moving too fast, carrying too much or feeling like something is missing, this journey might be for you.
18 nights in private accommodation: 4 at the Taj Hotel, 7 at Araam and 7 on a Srinagar houseboat
All scheduled retreat meals
Amritsar airport pickup and Srinagar airport drop-off
Road transfers between Amritsar and Dharamshala, including the return night at the Taj
The group flight from Amritsar to Srinagar
Transportation for scheduled retreat outings
Visits to Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar
Guided outings around Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj
Planned Kashmir excursions: Srinagar, Mughal gardens and Sonamarg
Shikara rides and time for meditation on the lake
Kundalini Yoga, meditation, breathwork, sound healing, journaling and ceremony
Two Tibetan healing massages at the Dharamshala stage
A 40-day meditation practice before we gather
Begin before you arrive
40 days of intentional preparation.
Registration closes July 3, 2027—40 days before our journey begins.
From July 3 through August 11, we prepare with a 40-day meditation practice. This gives us time to begin with intention before meeting in Amritsar on August 12.
Practice guidance and preparation details will be shared with registered participants.
Planning your journey
A few practical details.
Booking & cancellation policy
A $1,000 CAD non-refundable deposit secures your place. The remaining $5,450 CAD is due July 12, 2027. Payment plans are available—please enquire.
If you need to cancel:
60 days or more before the retreat: All payments above the deposit will be refunded.
15–59 days before the retreat: 50% of payments above the deposit will be refunded.
14 days or fewer before the retreat, or after it begins: No refunds.
The $1,000 CAD deposit remains non-refundable when you cancel. Please send cancellation requests by email to therestedhuman@gmail.com. The refund is determined by the date your email is received.
If we cancel the retreat, all retreat payments, including your deposit, will be refunded. Flights and other independently booked travel expenses are not covered.
We encourage you to arrange travel insurance that includes cancellation coverage.
What is not included?
International flights and travel to Amritsar before the retreat
Your onward flight from Srinagar after the retreat
Visa, passport, travel and medical insurance costs
Additional nights before August 12 or after August 30
Optional excursions, extra treatments and personal purchases
Tips, gratuities and transport outside the scheduled itinerary
The group flight from Amritsar to Srinagar is included.
Where do I arrive and depart?
Arrive in Amritsar for the start on August 12. The retreat finishes in Srinagar on August 30, with an airport transfer included. Please coordinate your flight times with Jaipreet (Joy) Chandna before booking.
What is the pace of the journey?
This is a travelling retreat with road journeys, a domestic flight and stays in three destinations. Outings can involve walking, steps and getting in and out of boats. Araam is reached by a village path of approximately 300 metres from the road.
Please share any mobility or access needs before booking so we can discuss whether the journey is a good fit. Participation in practices is invitational, with time set aside for personal rest.
Can we speak before I book?
Yes. Email or WhatsApp Jaipreet (Joy) Chandna to ask questions or arrange a Zoom conversation about the journey, accommodation and payment plans.