Looking for a cheap and good place in India to dabble in some yoga.

Question

Going to be in Nepal and will be traveling into India but not sure where yet. Proximity is of some importance, cannot travel all the way to S. India, but I want to find a good place to get into some yoga classes. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Rishikesh would be a good place to start.  

I went to a place called Ved Niketan there, which was across the footbridge hang a right and go all the way to the end (that'll make perfect sense if you're there).  It was cheap with classes in the morning and evening, and an optional theory class mid morning.  It wasn't as regimented as some of the other ashrams - you could come and go as you pleased and there were no courses, so no set beginning and end dates - you just stayed until you were ready to move on.  When other places ask you to hand over your passport and personal belongings I think you need to think twice!  It was quite a while ago I was there, but I loved every minute of it.  I THINK I paid about 35 rupees a day, which included accommodation, breakfast and the classes.  Things may have changed now - that was about 10 years ago.  

There's a lot of places in Rishikesh though - and if you're travelling from Nepal during the dry season you can enter India through the sporadically open Western Nepalese border.  It's an unbelievably spectacular trip - MUCH better than going through that hellhole Gorakphur.  

If you do have to go through Gorakphur just be aware that EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE is going to try and rip you off.  Ignore everyone and head to the train station yourself and buy your own ticket.  I've been through there a few times and even knowing what I knew I still ended up getting swindled.  

I think Varanasi also had quite a few yoga schools, but don't know much about them.  I'm sure you won't have much trouble.  Good luck - I'm jealous!!!