The 5 best places to practise yoga in India

The discipline of yoga originated in India thousands of years ago, so for enthusiastic yogis there really is no better place to go to deepen your practice (or discover it).

The range of yoga retreats and drop-in classes on offer is immense, the energy India exudes is pure magic and even meditating in spiritually significant places here will supposedly bring you closer to ‘moksha’ (release from the cycle of reincarnation).

To help you narrow down the options, here are the most highly rated destinations in India for yoga, according to global travellers.

Rishikesh

Known as the ‘yoga capital of the world’ or the ‘birthplace of yoga’, Rishikesh was attracting yogis long before the Beatles turned up to try to master transcendental meditation. Endowed with spirituality by the sacred Ganges River that runs through it, this Himalayan town is home to ashrams that date back hundreds of years. Visitors can partake in numerous styles of yoga and meditation, from Hasya yoga (laughter therapy) or advanced ashtanga, to being baptised in the icy, fast-flowing holy river or learning to play the sitar. It’s believed that meditating here brings you closer to enlightenment than anywhere else on earth. Even if your beliefs are of a different kind, the powerful feeling of breathing through your asanas to the rhythm of the mountain breeze won’t be lost on you. To be close to the renowned Patanjali International Yoga Foundation, check into the highly rated Live Free Hostel. Or, stay just out of town in one of Rishikesh Valley’s wooden cottages, surrounded by misty forest and waterfalls and with its own yoga studio and Ayurvedic spa.

Varanasi

With its burning ghats, ancient temples and sadhus bathing in the Ganges, the city of Varanasi is considered the spiritual heart of India. Thus, some of the world’s most revered yoga gurus have gravitated here and set up ashrams that teach a range of traditional yoga classes (some taught in Hindi or Sanskrit with no mats or props) as well as the more modern and dynamic vinyasa yoga. As one of the world’s oldest cities, Varanasi is a special place to do a series of sun salutations at dawn, watching the ancient buildings light up in an orange glow as the morning temple bells chime. Just a short walk from the city’s famous ghats, the royal-blue painted brick Rose Heritage Home is a beautiful B&B that’s been open since the 17th century.

Arambol

Arambol may have changed somewhat from a quiet, hippy beach town to one of Goa’s most popular destinations, but it still retains its laid-back, spiritual appeal. While some may bemoan its newfound commercialism, the silver lining is an array of gourmet vegan and vegetarian food, plenty of new age entertainment and widespread WiFi. Get yourself into a soothing daily yoga routine (recuperating between classes with a fresh mango lassi on the beach), finishing in time to watch the sun go down over the Arabian Sea. At sunset, the beach fills up with performers and artists, forming drum circles and fire-breathing shows, and creating a truly rare and magical atmosphere. If you don’t know what kind of yoga you’re interested in, you can just turn up and ask; even the waiters at the beachside cafés are infinitely knowledgeable in the Yoga Sutras, and most beach hut accommodations offer in-house yoga. Stay at Little Indian Village, where rooms are draped in brightly-coloured fabrics and centred around a courtyard where yoga classes take place.

Agonda

The town of Agonda boasts a Goan beachside setting that’s very conducive to yoga and meditation. It’s fairly remote, so is quieter than its northern Goan equivalent, Arambol. And the WiFi is terrible, so it’s also more suited to a digital detox. The sunsets on the coast of Goa are some of the best in the world, resembling an impressionist painting with flaming oranges and hazy, powder blues and lilacs. Take mellow yoga classes on the broad, flat sandy beach, punctuated by chai tea breaks and maybe some Bollywood dancing or Indian cookery classes. Stay in an air-conditioned beach hut amid palm tree- and flower-filled gardens at Simrose.

Varkala

Varkala is a town in the south Indian state of Kerala, where palm-covered red cliffs and golden beaches have made it a popular setting for yoga classes. Every second building in the town is a yoga studio, ashram or teacher training school, while the beach is often dotted with impromptu classes. But it’s not only a magnet for enthusiastic yogis; Janardanaswamy Temple sits on a nearby hilltop and is a historic Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Vishnu. What’s more, the state of Kerala is celebrated as the home of the ancient holistic healing system, Ayurveda, as well as for its mesmerising network of tropical backwaters. And a backwater cruise or an Ayurvedic massage both make for a blissful treat after a sweaty yoga session. Stay at the banana-yellow Mango Villa, with tropical gardens full of luminous pink plumerias and just a few minutes’ walk from the beach.