Yoga and Volunteering in India: A Practical Guide to Combining Both

India is the one country where people regularly ask us to plan two trips at once: a volunteer placement, and time on a yoga mat somewhere quieter than the placement city. It is a good combination. Volunteering gives the trip a purpose and a routine; a few days of yoga afterwards gives it a proper ending. This guide explains how to put the two together without either half being rushed, and is honest about what we arrange and what you book yourself.

Where the volunteering happens

Our India programmes run in Delhi and Jaipur, and they cover the causes India is best known for among volunteers:

• Street children programme, Delhi: day centre support, activities and informal teaching.
• Women’s empowerment, Delhi and Jaipur: English, computer skills and vocational workshops.
• Teaching, Jaipur and the slum education project.
• Childcare, Jaipur and disability care.
• Construction and renovation, Jaipur for practical volunteers.
• Shorter options: the one-week and two-week special programmes, and the language and cultural orientation week, which is the ideal first week if you have never been to India.

Fees, dates and what is included are on the India destination page.

Where the yoga happens

Rishikesh, on the Ganges in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, is the town most people mean when they talk about yoga in India. It has hundreds of ashrams and schools, drop-in classes at every level, and teacher-training courses that run year-round; the International Yoga Festival is held there each March. It is roughly a six-hour journey north of Delhi by train or road, which is why it pairs so naturally with a Delhi placement.

We do not run yoga classes ourselves. What we do run is a Rishikesh and Haridwar add-on tour that takes care of the transport and accommodation from Delhi and gives you time in both towns, including the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Haridwar. Classes, workshops or a longer course you book directly with the school of your choice; the tour is designed so you can.

Three ways to combine them

The classic: placement first, yoga after (three weeks)

Two weeks volunteering in Delhi, then the Rishikesh and Haridwar tour and a few extra nights for daily classes. This is the order we recommend. You arrive with energy for the placement, and you finish somewhere restful rather than flying home straight from a busy city.

The orientation route (four weeks)

Week one on the language and cultural orientation programme in Delhi, two weeks on a placement, then Rishikesh. This suits first-time visitors to India who want the slowest possible landing.

The course route (six weeks or more)

A four-week placement followed by a residential yoga course in Rishikesh, typically two to four weeks for a teacher-training programme. If this is your plan, book the course before you book flights, since reputable schools fill months ahead, and tell our team your dates so the placement ends when the course begins.

When to go

October to March is the comfortable season for both Delhi and Rishikesh: dry, and cool enough in the mornings that early yoga is a pleasure rather than an endurance test. April to June is very hot on the plains, and July to September is the monsoon, when the Ganges runs high and some riverside activities pause. The March festival is the busiest week of the year in Rishikesh; book well ahead or avoid it, depending on your temperament.

Costs and what to budget for

Your programme fee covers the placement, accommodation, meals and airport pickup in Delhi or Jaipur, with in-country support throughout; the exact figure for your dates is on the India page. The add-on tour is priced separately and listed on its page. On top of that, budget for flights, insurance, your visa, spending money, and whatever yoga you book: drop-in classes in Rishikesh are inexpensive, residential courses are not. Everything we charge is published on the cost page.

Visas and practicalities

Most nationalities need a visa for India, and most apply online for an e-visa before travel. The right category depends on what you are doing, and rules change, so confirm the current requirements on the official Indian government visa site and with our team when you book; we provide the documents you need for the application. Is India safe for volunteers? Read our honest answer in is it safe to volunteer in India, and for the wider picture, the volunteer in India guide.

Packing for both halves

Modest, light, breathable clothing works for the placement and for Rishikesh, where covered shoulders and knees are expected in ashrams and at the ghats. Add a mat if you are particular about yours (schools lend them), a warm layer for early mornings in the hills between November and February, and a reusable water bottle. Leave the expectations of a retreat brochure at home: Rishikesh is a working pilgrimage town, lively and occasionally chaotic, and better for it.

Start planning

Tell us which placement interests you and roughly how long you have, and we will fit the Rishikesh and Haridwar tour around it. Volunteers who have done the combination usually say the same thing afterwards: the placement is what they talk about, and the yoga is what let them absorb it.

Frequently asked questions

Does Volunteering Solutions run yoga classes in India?

No. We run the volunteer placements in Delhi and Jaipur and the Rishikesh and Haridwar add-on tour, which covers transport and accommodation. Yoga classes and courses you book directly with a school in Rishikesh; the tour is designed to give you time to do so.

How far is Rishikesh from Delhi?

Roughly six hours by train or road, north into Uttarakhand. The add-on tour includes the journey from Delhi.

What is the best time of year for yoga and volunteering in India?

October to March, when Delhi and Rishikesh are dry and the mornings are cool. April to June is very hot and July to September is the monsoon.

Do I need a visa for India?

Almost certainly yes. Most nationalities apply online for an e-visa before travel. Confirm the correct category and current rules on the official Indian government visa site and with our team, who supply the supporting documents.

Written by

Luni

Luni Chhochoon writes for Volunteering Solutions, a certified B Corporation, covering volunteer abroad programmes, destinations and tips for travelling with purpose.

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