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Rishikul Yogshala

Welcome To Kerala: God's Own Country

Kerala: God's Own Country Kerala, also known as "God's Own Country," is a captivating destination located on the southwestern coast of India. With its scenic beauty, rich cultural heritage, and tranquil environment, Kerala offers a unique experience for travellers and nature enthusiasts.

Rishikul Yogshala, located in Kerala, is a renowned destination for yoga enthusiasts seeking a transformative experience. Nestled amidst the serene beauty of Kerala's landscapes, Rishikul Yogshala offers a sanctuary for individuals to delve deep into the practice of yoga and start a journey of self-discovery.

Welcome To Kerala
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Best Tourist Places To Visit In Kerala

When going on a journey to Kerala for a Yoga Teacher Training Course with Rishikul Yogshala, you're not just opening yourself up to an enriching experience of self-discovery and wellness, but also to the breathtaking beauty and culture of this incredible state in southern India. Kerala, often referred to as "God's Own Country," is a haven of lush landscapes, serene backwaters, and a rich tapestry of traditions.

As you deepen your practice and explore the yogic wisdom in this picturesque setting, we're excited to share with you the best tourist places to visit in Kerala that will leave you mesmerised.
Beautiful Landscape of Munnar

Munnar

Munnar is like a green paradise surrounded by tall hills. It's a perfect place if you love nature. You can see vast tea gardens and hills that look like waves and enjoy the chill of cool weather. You can walk in the tea gardens, see animals in Eravikulam National Park, and even go for a boat ride on Kundala Lake.

Traditional Houseboats on Alleppey Backwaters

Alleppey

Alleppey is a unique tourist place in Kerala, which is known for its waterways and special boats called houseboats. You can take a peaceful ride on boats through calm canals with lots of palm trees. You will also have the opportunity to taste delicious local food and watch the sunsets here; they're really pretty.

Fort Kochi

Fort Kochi is an old town with buildings from different parts of the world. It's like stepping back in time. You can see big nets used for fishing, which came from China long ago. Also, you'll find lots of art and performances happening here.

Scenic Views of Fort Kochi Coastline

Kovalam

Kovalam has lovely golden beaches and clear blue water. It's a great place to relax in the sun or try fun water sports. And if you want to feel healthy, you can try Ayurvedic treatments, which are good for your body and mind.

Kovalam Kerala – Scenic Beaches and Palm Trees
Scenic Hills and Forests in Thekkady

Thekkady

Thekkady is where you can see wild animals and thick forests. Imagine going on a boat in a lake where you can spot elephants, tigers, and other animals. It's like an adventure! You can also take a walk through spice gardens and learn about different spices.

Lush Green Landscapes in Wayanad

Wayanad

Wayanad is a place with lots of green forests, waterfalls, and places to see animals. You can explore caves with ancient carvings, hike to tall mountains, and relax near a calm lake called Pookode Lake.

Trivandrum

Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala, and it's full of culture and history. There's a grand temple called Padmanabhaswamy Temple, and you can visit museums like Napier Museum. Walking in the city streets is also a nice way to experience Kerala's culture.

Scenic Views of Trivandrum, Kerala

Kappil Beach

Kappil Beach is a peaceful spot by the Arabian Sea. The sound of waves and golden sand make it perfect for relaxing. You can walk along the beach and enjoy beautiful sunsets.

Scenic Kappil Beach, Kerala
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Travel and visa

Indian Visa - Su-Swagatam App

Travelling to India to be trained in Yoga is very exciting. The enthusiasm to study and discover yoga is truly a great experience on the sacred planet. The hallowed earth of India offers many great opportunities to yoga lovers to improve the level of their health and enjoy a hale and hearty lifestyle.

Furthermore, there are many medical treatments such as Ayurveda and spa treatments that draw thousands of travellers to visit and explore yoga. The International Day of Yoga welcomes many people from all over the world. With the growing fame of yoga, the Indian government has made a rule that foreign persons can apply for an e-visa not only for entertainment reasons but also for temporary yoga courses.

1. The Eligibility Criteria for a Visa

The people who want to discover yoga can apply for an “e-Visa.” The visa is suitable for an exact duration of time. The travellers should not buy tickets until their entire visas and passports are cleared of their ownership. All visas are applicable from the date of issue, not from the date of your access to India. The most popular is the tourist visa, which works for six months. Foreign people who want to learn yoga for above six months can apply for a tourist visa. The e-visa service has been increased to 166 countries and 5 Indian ports.

2. Who Needs a Visa to Travel to India?

All people travelling to India, except Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals, require a visa to enter India. Before applying for a visa, it is better to get in touch with your yoga centre and know all the information about the type of visa that is right for them.

3. Tourist Visa

If you want to travel to India for a short period, i.e., six months or less, then you will require a tourist Visa. This visa is only applicable for tourism reasons. The holders of tourist visas are not entitled to any employment within India. It is based on the number of people travelling to India for yoga courses. The tourist visa is categorised into two parts.

  • Single Entry: This visa is designed for single travellers who can visit India for up to 6 months. The tourists need to go to India once the duration ends. They must apply for a new visa to come back to India.
  • Multiple Entry: With this option, tourists can leave and re-enter India without needing a new visa. The extended period that travellers can stay in India at one time is six months.

4. Fees for e-visa

The cost of an e-visa for a country varies from place to place. The bank fees are 2.5%, which is charged in addition to applicable e-visa costs. The payment must be made at least 4 days before the scheduled travel date. In the event of a stoppage, the application will not be processed.

5. The Airports where e-visa holders can visit India

There are around 28 airports in the country from where the e-visa holders can come into India. The list of Indian airports is given below:-

Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Calicut, Chennai, Chandigarh, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Portblair, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum, Varanasi & Vishakhapatnam and 5 selected seaports (i.e. Cochin, Goa Mangalore, Mumbai and Chennai).

But if you are coming to Kerala for a Yoga retreat, here are four major airports available and they are:

There are three functioning international airports in Kerala, situated in the major cities of the state. These are perfectly connected with the rest of the countries all over the world. Furthermore, these Kerala Airports are appropriately located as far as the connectivity of tourist attractions in the city is concerned.

6. Cochin Airport

Cochin Airport is a major and the largest airport in Kerala, offering three terminals that serve both domestic and international flights. The third terminal (T3), which opened in March 2017, is almost 2.5 times larger than the other two terminals at the airport. The airport also operates a single cargo terminal.

International flights connect you to some of the most popular attractions, including Abu Dhabi, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Singapore, and Riyadh. A person can board domestic flights from Cochin Airport to travel to several other Indian states, including Jaipur, Pune, Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam.

7. Trivandrum International Airport

This airport is situated just 7 km from the city centre. Trivandrum International Airport is one of the busiest airports in India. It is a leading gateway for travellers to Middle Eastern and South-Eastern countries such as Dubai, Oman, Singapore, Sharjah, Bahrain, Mahe, and Colombo. This is one of the top airports in Kerala, and it also offers a pilot training centre. This international airport serves two terminals and has a traveller handling capability of around 1.95 million every year. However, Terminal 1 handles all domestic flights, while Terminal 2 handles all international flights.

8. Calicut International Airport

This is also popular Kozhikode Airport or Karipur Airport, this air terminal stands third for being the busiest airport in Kerala and stands as the 7th best international airport in the nation. Situated around 28 km from Kozhikode city center, this is one of the top international airports in Kerala with advanced facilities. The airport is well-connected to many foreign locations such as Kuwait, Doha, Muscat, Bahrain, Dubai, and more. Calicut International Airport serves two terminals and is the main base for Air India Express.

9. Kannur International Airport

This posh airport is designed to offer supreme connectivity for Keralites, travellers and avid travellers. The airport runs domestic flights to major Indian cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Thiruvananthapuram.

10. Standards Requirements of Tourists' Visa

The Indian embassy in our state has provided the rules and regulations that you must follow when applying for a visa.

The requirements are given below:-

  • Need a valid passport with six months of validity if you want to visit India.
  • Passport-size photos.
  • Fully Done Application form.
  • Proof of Residency
  • Application Charges
  • A birth certificate.
However, the visa process is quite complicated; if you have a clear understanding of the types of visas, then it becomes straightforward for you to choose the correct visa according to your itinerary. Go to India and discover the magic of yoga with dedicated yoga teachers who can provide peace in your life.
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How to Prevent and Recover from Jet Lag?

Air travel entails travelling across different time zones, which can result in jet lag. If you want to travel from India to the United States, you can feel jet-lagged. The fact of jetlag happens when we battle 'our biological clock'. Our body requires proper rest at certain times, and crossing diverse time zones can disrupt our regular sleeping pattern.

Jet lag causes tiredness, dehydration, and awkwardness. It is accompanied by a lack of attention and inspiration, particularly for activities that require cognitive skills, such as reading, discussing a business deal, or reporting to work.

According to various studies, it takes one day for every one hour of time zone crossed to recover normal heart rate and energy levels. For instance, a five-hour time dissimilarity means you need five days to recover.

Why Does Jet Lag Occur?

Crossing time zones is the main reason for jet lag. The more time your body takes to change in your sleep-wake cycle, the more you are affected.

  • Travel illness and travel strain can make your jet lag worse. If you are worried or stuck on a flight, you may take some time to recuperate from jet lag.
  • Drinking coffee, tea and alcoholic drinks in-flight can also poorly impact the jet lag.
  • Continue to sit for a long while may lead to too much fatigue and annoyance. This will also affect jet lag signs.
  • Other aspects that might affect you are unequal bowel movements, airline food and boredom from the prolonged travel.
Why Does Jet Lag Occur?
tips to avoid jet lag

Tips To Avoid Jet Lag

The following tips will assist you in staying away from jet lag and enjoying prolonged flights

  • Drink more water. Avoid coffee, alcohol, juice, and other drinks.
  • Sleep throughout your common sleeping time. You can use blankets, pillows, and earplugs. If you are going on a midnight flight, try to sleep as quickly as possible so that your sleep-wake cycle continues unaffected.
  • Place yourself in a relaxing sleeping stance.
  • Consume calmly.

Other Steps To Avoid Jet Lag

There is a particular shot solution for stopping jet lag. The following steps will help you travel happily. Jet lag often leads to the problem led by travel-related anxiety.

  • Draw near your sleep before the flight.
  • Take a daylight flight.
  • Once aboard, fix your watch to match the destination time.
  • Sleeping medications are not the right option. They can encourage an exhausted state and make you more prone to growing blood clots in your legs. However, these medications work perfectly for some people. Talk to a doctor to take the correct medication, if needed.
  • Draw out your legs and walk around as long as possible. Try to clean up in stopovers. Take care of lounge services and restrooms rather than taking the flight.
  • Once you arrive at your destination, begin eating and sleeping as per the new timetable.
Steps to Avoid Jet Lag

To stop jet lag, you should sleep during the regular sleeping hours of the destination you are flying to. Melatonin helps you sleep at the right time, in the right place. A small dose (0.1 to 0.5 mg) helps many people fall asleep.

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Varkala Beach: Kerala’s Yoga & Ayurveda Hub

Varkala Beach

Varkala beach is an amalgamation of Nature’s beauty, which has been enticing travellers’ attention to the god’s own Country. Situated in southern Kerala at the north boundary of Trivandrum District, this beach is gifted with natural wonders. Growing demand for tourism and increasing business opportunities transformed the Varkala village into a greatly preferred place in Kerala. Tons of tourists are drawn each year to go to this fabulous piece of exquisiteness.

Those of you who are willing to wait for a location that offers a tranquil holiday with some athletic adventures should never miss the chance to visit this destination. Widening all over the Arabian Sea, this destination has a fantastic experience to offer you. It is linked to some of the magnificent beaches all over the Arabian Sea, which keep nature's attractiveness alive; these include Papanasam Beach, Black Beach, Odayam Beach, and Kappil Beach.

The stunning hill crag structure along the exotic beaches of Varkala is the only one of its type in the entire south India. Hill Cliff is one of the major tourist destinations of Varkala, along with its seashores.

A charming View from the Hill cliff perspective will gust your mind, and you’ll drop yourself into the tranquillity of nature. Hill cliff offers extra beauty to its beaches and assists in the nonstop flow of stable wind to support sports such as parasailing and windsurfing.

Exotic beaches in Varkala offer a stunning life experience that will last a lifetime. It offers sunbathing with one of the most passionate beach sunsets. High tides and Sturdy wind flow provide excellent opportunities for some adventurous seashore water sports. You can enjoy the whole thing that a beach has to offer.

Nightlife on its beaches is faded. However, it offers every enjoyment, it doesn’t let alcohol in its neighbourhood. As Varkala has well-known Historical remains such as Janardhana Swami Temple, and many more.

Travelling across its villages and walking under the palm trees will help you uncover some of its artistic heritage. The local theatre offers more visions of its culture, be sure you never overlook visiting it once. Varkala beach offers a wide array of exploring opportunities for every type of tourist, opt for yours and go to spend some unforgettable experiences on its beaches.

Best time to visit

Between the heavy rainfall of the Monsoon and the scorching sunshine of summer, there is a time between late November and March. This time has the great experience of Varkala beach, with a temperature range of around 30 degrees Celsius. You can enjoy the Dry and scorching weather day by day between late November and March.

Things to do at Varkala beach

  • Sightseeing: A striking beach with close-by sightseeing destinations has always been a top priority to a traveller. Varkala beach is a location where you can enjoy different sightseeing along with beaches. What exactly starts from naturally combined exquisiteness to the man-made wonders it has all.
  • Sunbathing: Sunbathing is one of the most preferred things to do on the beach. Varkala beach offers an exceptional experience of sunbathing with its spectacular landscape and encouraging weather. A feeling of relaxation and harmony always comes with only a 5 minutes sunbath on its seashore.
  • Windsurfing: For those of you who are keen lovers of Windsurfing, here is the destination for you. With the long waves of 2 to 5 feet, you can enjoy remarkable windsurfing at this place. The lengthy stretches of rock face configuration assist to maintain the stable flow of winds over the sea.
  • Parasailing: Pruning through the winds and cruising over the ocean is what makes this sport a striking one. With the nonstop flow of wind, parasailing at the seaside is a well-known tourist spot. Every year, loads of tourists in the world go to this destination just to get an ideal parasailing experience.
  • Sunset: Sitting on the beach, watching the late sun with the wonderful merged colours is an experience you would never like to overlook for your whole life.
  • Ayurvedic: Varkala is famous for its Ayurvedic Treatments, Ayurveda Courses and Retreats. Ayurveda is a method of healing against diseases in the form of self-discovery. It teaches you to uphold a state in which your mind, body and soul communicate with each other to flawlessly work together, and assist you to experience the feeling of self-aware, wellness and ecstasy.
  • Yoga Courses: Yoga has initiated its expedition from its source country, India. Now it has extended all over the world for the happiness of individuals. It not only assists in treating several diseases, but daily yoga also helps to preserve the body in a great condition. Hence, the line "Prevention is better than treatment" can be accomplished by maintaining a great schedule of Yoga every day. Varkala offers a wide range of Yoga Teacher Training centres and Best Yoga Retreats, some of which are handled by eminent people in the yoga field. You can learn many more innovative things with these yoga treatment centres.
  • Meditation: Yoga assists in maintaining better health, and meditation aids in boosting your mental strength. Meditation assists you to treat your mental pain, Decrease Stress, improve a bad mood, enhance Concentration and unleash creativity to its best. Learning a meditation step from these centres will assist you in living a contented, peaceful life. You should try meditation while spending time at this place.
  • Art / Creative Workshop: Art and creative workshops are one of the great ways to spend some spare time, knowing the value of life. Visit the art workshops after you spend your wonderful beach time. Also, roam around these workshops to study here; who knows, you might end up exploring a new chapter of life.
  • Traditional dance performance in Local theatre every day: Varkala is also a well-known destination in its involvement in Kerala tradition. Traditional dance is done by some of the brilliant local people in the Varkala Culture Centre. You can also learn many more about Kerala's tradition with these glances at traditional dance performances like Kathakali dance.
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