India is more than a destination — it is a turning point.
It does not reveal itself all at once. It unfolds through contrast — movement and stillness, clarity and disorientation.
These stories are fragments of that encounter, drawn from places like Rishikesh, Varanasi, and beyond — where what appears external often becomes deeply personal.
Arrival in Rishikesh I arrived in Rishikesh — a town stretched along the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, whose very name echoes the ancient rishis, the Indian sages — for a three-week yoga course, my first intensive training. It is also home to one of the most iconic and paradoxical spiritual sites in […]
The Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh: When Silence Is Not Peace Read More »
Before reaching the French restaurant Chez Christophe — a point of reference for those tired of rice and spices — I met two Indian girls standing by the road. They were well dressed, holding a notebook, asking for money because they wanted to eat. I told them they could receive prasad at the temple. I’m
Gokarna, India: A Place Where Time Slows Down Read More »
An unexpected encounter in Kerala, India Fort Kochi, Kerala I arrived the evening before in Fort Kochi, Kerala — a small town with a rich colonial past along the Malabar Coast. The Portuguese came first, then the Dutch, and finally the British; none of them bypassed this quiet coastal settlement. Vasco da Gama’s remains once
Fort Kochi: the Man Who Read My Silence Read More »
A Museum of Faiths Missed the beginning? Read the first part of the story here: Puttaparthi: A Dream Made Real The next morning, a smaller part of our group set off to visit the Museum of Religions in Puttaparthi, where much of the exhibition is devoted to Sai Baba’s life and the shared essence of
At the Edge of the Universe: A Journey Through Puttaparthi Read More »
A Different Kind of India The next morning, our journey to Puttaparthi began. It was long but not tiring. The ride to the Varanasi airport and the flight to Bangalore passed quickly. Soon, we were in a taxi heading toward the dreamlike destination I knew nothing about—Puttaparthi, the town of Sai Baba. The view from
Puttaparthi – A Dream Made Real Read More »
Discover more from Varanasi:👉 Where the Fires Burn – First Encounters with Varanasi reveals the first touchpoints with India’s most mystical city.👉 Between Life and Flame – Tales from the Ganges continues the journey with intimate insights into the river and its eternal rituals. Myth of Saturn: Karma, Time, and Transformation In just three days
Journey Through Varanasi: Saturn, Sound, and Spirit Read More »
More on Varanasi:👉 Where the Fires Burn – First Encounters with Varanasi captures the raw emotional power of first impressions.👉 Journey Through Varanasi – Saturn, Sound, and Spirit explores a symbolic performance and the soul’s resonance with the sacred. In the Shadow of Shiva: Aghori Encounters As you may remember, for Mykola, there is no
Between Life and Flame: Tales from the Ganges Read More »
The Road from Prayagraj: A Second Trial The morning after our symbolic lunch-breakfast, we began our departure from Prayagraj. It turned out to be just as challenging as our arrival. Crowds of pilgrims, like three days before, were trying to leave the city alongside us. We had to take a bus to Varanasi with no
Where the Fires Burn: First Encounters with Varanasi Read More »
If you’re new to the Maha Kumbh Mela, you may want to start with my earlier posts:Madness or Faith? A Pilgrimage to the Maha Kumbh Mela explores the initial plunge into the spiritual chaos,while Exploring Hinduism’s Greatest Festival – Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 dives deeper into the rituals, symbolism, and scale of the event. The
To Be or Not to Be: On the Eve of the Great Bathing Read More »
If you’re new to the Maha Kumbh Mela, you may want to start with my earlier posts:Madness or Faith? A Pilgrimage to the Maha Kumbh Mela explores the initial plunge into the spiritual chaos. Morning in Allahabad The next morning, after a leisurely Indian-style breakfast — with mango lassi and various kinds of paneer (a
Exploring Hinduism’s Greatest Festival: Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 Read More »
