The Mayapur Pilgrimage offers a transformative journey into the heart of spiritual awakening, where devotees can deeply connect with Krishna’s divine presence. In fall 2025, seekers will have an extraordinary opportunity to immerse themselves in sacred practices and experience the profound spiritual energy of Lord Chaitanya’s birthplace.

MAYAPUR PILGRIMAGE FALL 2025

led by Gopal Krishna and Champakalata Sakhi

dates – november 7 – 15

location – Mayapur, India

price –

$1900 – shared accommodation (2 people per room)
$2100 – private accommodation

If you’d like to arrive on november 6 to acclimate – base cost + $50.

Registration closes on September 4th and full payment due at that time.

*for any questions please email champaka@bhakticenter.org

please note

This is a Level 2/3 pilgrimage for those who want to go deep in the practice of Bhakti and already have a basic foundation in the practice.

Schedule a FREE 30-minute information session with Champakalata at champaka@bhakticenter.org to discover if this pilgrimage is a good fit for you.

overview

The heart yearns for deeper spiritual connection. The heart yearns to feel Krishna’s presence. We long to get outside of our normal routine and become absorbed in a new paradigm of life, one that has unlimited possibilities and potential to love and be loved. Going on pilgrimage provides that opportunity to become changed individuals. By having a deep experience in Mayapur, we receive strength and empowerment to then come back to our daily lives with a new perspective and zest for spiritual life. On pilgrimage, we become nourished.

We will have sadhana, kirtan, and katha together. We will visit some of the most sacred places in the universe. We will chant japa. We will ask questions. We will discuss. We will become close like a family. You will experience Lord Chaitanya’s presence in His Home, your heart will soften, and your spiritual life will never be the same. Any spiritual practice you do in Mayapur gets 1,000 times the benefit.

This pilgrimage is for people who are committed to the practice of Krishna Consciousness, whether they have been practicing for a short period of time but are committed or have been practicing for a long period of time. It is not a sight- seeing trip but a pilgrimage of sadhana, sanga, kirtan, katha, and of course visiting many Holy Places, seeing many beautiful deities, and taking bath in the most sacred place in the Sacred Ganges.

What is Mayapur?

Mayapur is non-different from Vrindavan, Krishna’s Home. It is the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya, who is Krishna who came in the form of Krishna’s devotee to give the world pure love of God. It is through Lord Chaitanya’s mercy that we approach Krishna. Mayapur is the place where Bhakti is given freely without limits. It is the place where the Kirtan Movement was born.

Many Holy temples exist in Mayapur, and it is the worldwide headquarters for the Krishna movement. Sure to become one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Temple of Vedic Planetarium is already standing large and tall and partially open, while fully opening soon. After the Vatican, it will be the largest temple in the world. Mayapur is a city of devotees with everything needed to support your spiritual journey.

what places will you visit?

We will daily (optional) attend the morning program at ISKCON Mayapur that Srila Prabhupada established and see the beautiful deities of Radha Madhava and Their Astha Sakhis, Pancha Tattva, and Lord Nrsimhadeva. We will spend time in Prabhupada’s samadhi and you will receive a tour of the entire Mayapur complex, including the samadhis of many of Prabhupada’s prominent disciples. In the complex, we will have the opportunity to join the historical Harinam experience. Our tour will include a full tour of the TOVP, Gurukula (school for children), and Goshala (place of care for cows).

We will have ecstatic kirtan every day, along with stories of the Holy Places and Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes, and philosophical explanations and practical meaning.

We will visit the Yogapitha (birthplace of Lord Chaitanya) and the Srivasangam where Lord Chaitanya chanted and danced throughout the night with His followers.

We will spend time at Bhaktivinod Thakur’s home (one of the primary teachers in the Bhakti Movement). We will meet resident sannyasis (renunciates) at Surabhi Kunja. We will visit the Chaitanya Gaudiya Matha, Dhameshvara Temple, Chand Khazi Samadhi, place of Kolevacha Sridhar, Rajpur Jagannath Temple, and Bael Pukar.

One afternoon, we will have an opportunity to do kirtan for the main deities of the ISKCON temple.

We will have Mahaprasadam at the Jagannath Temple, and a Sunset Kirtan Boatride on the Ganges River followed by dinner.

During our stay, we will have an opportunity to hear from and spend time with His Grace Jananivasa Das, a spiritual legend in Mayapur (bio below.)

There will be an opportunity to make lamp offerings and prayer requests for loved ones to the deities, bathing in Ganga, witness a procession with elephants of the temple deities, and (TBC) offer service to the locals by serving them kitchery prasadam.

Our last evening will be an afternoon/ dinner experience at a devotees’ home who will cook for us and share their experience with about living in Mayapur.

Every day we will have catered fresh for our group 3 healthy vegetarian meals (vegan upon request).

what to expect

Attending this pilgrimage is an opportunity to step outside of your normal life and focus exclusively on your spiritual practice in one of the most holy places in the world for Bhakti practitioners, Mayapur. We will go deep into meditation on and presence in this sacred place, which will provide an experience of heart opening and spiritual advancement. Devotees of Krishna share that their life is transformed after visiting the place where the Kirtan Movement was born, and a spiritual awakening they did not know was possible, occurs.

included in your trip

Gopal and Champakalata’s full attention and support along your journey
your accommodation from November 7th-15th (the best in Mayapur close to the main temple)
3 delicious vegetarian (vegan upon request) meals a day (with the highest cleanliness standards for your safety)
your rickshaws and internal transportation
sunset Ganga boatride
a guide present with us at all times taking care of logistics
life long friendships
japa, kirtan, and katha on Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes and holy places

not included in your trip

your airline ticket
transportation to and from the Calcutta airport (we will arrange for you but price depends on if you travel solo or with the group)
laundry (paid laundry facilities available)
tips for local guide
any transportation separate from the group itinerary
any meals/ drinks separate from the group itinerary

schedule

November 7th: Arrive in Delhi airport by 10AM to ride with group from airport to Mayapur (or you will need to book with our company your own transportation) ***NOTE: Arrival on November 6th is possible if you would like to arrive 1- day early but you will need to inform Champakalata and pay for an extra 1-night of accommodation
November 8th: Yogapitha, Srivasangam, Tour of Mayapur Complex

November 9th: Bhaktivinod Thakur’s House & Samadhi, Surabhi Kunj, Harinam Experience, Prabhupada’s Rooms

November 10th: Chaitanya Gaudiya Matha, Tour of TOVP, Movie at Mayapur Campus (TBC)

November 11th: Dhameshvara Temple, Kirtan in front of Radha Madhava

November 12th: Chand Khazi Samadhi, Kolevacha Sridhar, Rajpur Jagannath Temple (Coconut Offerings, Maha Prasadam), Goshala

November 13th: Visit to Gurukula, Sunset Kirtan Boat Ride

November 14th: Bael Pukar, Afternoon/ Evening experience at Devotee’s Home with Kirtan and Dinner
November 15th: Departure day

registration

If you are interested in joining us, contact champaka@bhakticenter.org. After the info session, she will send you the registration link on Momence to make your $500 non-refundable deposit which secures your spot or pay the full amount.

Please note there is a non-refundable deposit required to hold your spot for the Mayapur Pilgrimage. By paying the $500 deposit, you know that you are holding your spot for our Mayapur pilgrimage, that it is non-refundable and non-transferable, and the final payment is due by September 4th, 2025. You will be sent a retreat policies document to review and sign once your deposit is made.

Please contact us BEFORE booking your flights. We will give you specific flight details as well as visa information.

Registration Deadline with Payment in Full: September 4th, 2025.

cancellation policy

There will be no refunds or discounts for arriving late, leaving early, flight cancellations, travel delays or illness.

If You Cancel Your Reservation:

- 120 days or more prior to the start of the retreat, you receive 50% of the money you have put down after the deposit (the deposit is non-refundable).
- 90 days prior to the start of the retreat, you receive: 20% of the money you have put down after the deposit (the deposit is non-refundable).
- There are no refunds given after September 4th, 2025.
- To cancel, you must send an email stating that you wish to do so to: champaka@bhakticenter.org and maryallison@bhakticenter.org

visa

Get your Indian Tourist Visa Today. We recommend the E-visa as it’s the most hassle free process. CLICK HERE to start your E-visa process.

your guides

Gopal Krishna das is a disciple of His Holiness Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Swami. He was born in Kazakhstan in 1989. He moved to Finland in 2005 and lived there until 2023. In 2012 he started seriously practicing Krishna Consciousness and joined the brahmachari ashram (as a celibate monk) in 2013. He received first initiation in 2014 and second in 2016. In 2015 he became sankirtan leader and served for 6 years until he became the full-time Temple Commander, still continuing harinama sankirtana. 2016-17 he performed daily Harinam in downtown Helsinki. He also performed many other services like crowdfunding, graphical design, photography and videography. His personal Deity is Giriraja, Whom he worships daily. In 2022 he started working as a part-time teacher of Krishna Religion in Helsinki City public schools, teaching around 20 kids the basics of Krishna Consciousness philosophy and practices. He regularly visits the Holy Dhams of Vrindavan and Mayapur, and has spent a lot of time in both places. He married Champakalata Sakhi in April 2023 and moved to Bhakti Center. He currently lives with his wife, Champakalata Sakhi in NYC and serves the community as a teacher, community developer, life coach, and book distributor.

Champakalata Sakhi Devi Dasi is a disciple of His Holiness Radhanath Swami. She was born in Washington DC in 1989. She has a zest for life and has wanted to know God since childhood. She grew up as a dancer and actress, studied acting at Stella Adler Acting Conservatory, and then fell in love with yoga and meditation. She completed her 300-hr yoga teacher training through Jivamukti Yoga in 2011. At the same time she found Krishna Consciousness, met Radhanath Swami, and planned a 17- month pilgrimage to India to solidify her spiritual path. After India, she moved into the DC temple and served there from 2012-2017 in the deity department, as sankirtan leader, and leading outreach initiatives. She received first initiation in 2015 and second in 2017. In 2017 she moved to Bhakti Center and has served as hospitality/ reception manager, pujari, community group leader, drama/ dance performances, Bhagavad Gita teacher, and mentor. She served for 2.5 years on the Leadership Team as Community Care Director, and presently teaches the path of Bhakti and yoga full time. She loves chanting japa and kirtan, reading, dressing the deities, and going on pilgrimage. She is a self- published authour of a Devotional poetry book. She is married to Gopal Krishna Das.

special guest

His Grace Jananivas Das, born in England, was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1971 in Calcutta. Along with his twin brother Pankajanghri Das, who recently passed from this world, he has been head pujari of ISKCON Mayapur since its beginnings in the early 1970s. He has inspired ISKCON Mayapur and the worldwide ISKCON community with his guidance, realizations, and example of humble and loving devotional service. “Only the Deity program is going nicely,” he remarked. Referring to the two English identical-twin brothers who are the head pujaris, Srila Prabhupada declared, “The two brothers Pankajanghri and Jananivasa – there is no comparison. Everyone should know, there is no complaint.” Jananivas Das made a vow to never leave Mayapur, and only did so to bring Lord Nityananda’s shoes around the world to raise money for the TOVP project in Mayapur. He continues to travel to raise money for TOVP, but spends the majority of his time in Mayapur. He is an example of devotion in the ISKCON movement.

TESTIMONIES

“I just returned from the most magical place, Vrindavan. I participated in The Bhakti Center’s Vrindavan pilgrimage at the end of September. I am still filled with awe having been in the place where so many of Krishna’s pastimes occurred. Vrindavan feels like the center of the spiritual universe. Champakalata and Gopal did an excellent job of helping us prepare for entering this sacred space. Everyone who went felt very fortunate to have the guidance of this husband and wife team. They have both previously lived in Vrindavan so they knew the area, but more importantly, they knew the inner meaning of a pilgrimage to Krishna’s home. Every day was packed with visits to holy sites but I never felt overwhelmed. I had plenty of time to soak in the experience, pray, and go deeper spiritually. Champakalata and Gopal enhanced every day by providing information on the significance of every temple or site and answered all of our questions. Our group continues to share our realizations and reflections. We’ve all become friends. All of us feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity and the support to go deeper in our devotion and understanding. After hearing so many of the group’s realizations I can share that this Vrindavan pilgrimage filled us with joy, inspired us, motivated us, provided opportunities for reflection, and enhanced our love for the Supreme Lord.”

Leigh Patton

“This is not your typical tour or spiritual retreat. It is a conquest that leads you further into your deepest spiritual thoughts by leveraging the prepared lectures that accompany every auspicious stop on the agenda. There were daily beautiful kirtans by Kishor Gopal Das Prabhu often in temples or various divine locations throughout our journey. Sometimes even on our shuttle!

Being part of this pilgrimage was a homecoming that brought comfort to my soul. It began with an opening circle where the most notable and eye opening comment was shared – we will be there for one another throughout the trip and we will pray for our group before we pray for ourselves. This built a bond between strangers that made us family and challenged us to be mindful and giving and caring. With an emphasis on beginning the day with mangal aarti, morning people rejoice, yet late risers have no fears, the thrill and ecstatic feelings of bathing early, walking in the crisp, cool air into the dimly lit ISKCON temple amongst devotees from around the globe, your heart will rejoice when the curtains open and the lamps are lit and you can sway with the wind in the open courtyard and feel the energy of the community and the altar.

Visiting over 20 temples, including holy places like Radhakund and hiking the Govardhan Hill, the care and leadership by Champakalata and Gopal Krishna Das Prabhu was beyond expectations. They humbly prepared the Agenda with a local guide and pastimes for every stop over 6 months in advance. They encouraged you throughout and were there as a guiding light daily. Their presence illuminated each day and gave each of us ample energy to conquer multiple stops and increase our thirst for philosophy as the days went on. No matter what level of bhakti you consider yourself, the trip took you on an exploration that was easy to follow. With two of the most approachable and caring leaders, it was easy to ask any questions of any level and be met with a corresponding example to relay the depths of the vedas in simple terms. Overall, it was a nourishing experience and I recommend it if you are looking for an experience of a lifetime. I walked away with so many takeaways and a new family of sangha.

If you find yourself on the next pilgrimage, consider yourself fortunate to be in the divine care of our esteemed leaders Champakalata and Gopal Krishna Das Prabhu. You will surely leave feeling joy and blessings beyond words.”

Anita Patel

“My pilgrimage to Vrindavan with Champak and Gopal was truly one of the most transformative and enlightening experiences of my life. As a beginner on the Bhakti path, I initially felt nervous and unsure, but their warmth, dedication, and guidance put me at ease. Champak and Gopal not only provided us with profound knowledge and insight into the Bhakti tradition, but also offered unwavering support in every other aspect of the trip to India.

Their thoughtful leadership extended beyond answering questions about the Bhakti path—they were always ready to assist with everyday matters, embodying the true spirit of selfless service. Witnessing their sincere dedication to guiding both newcomers and seasoned practitioners deepened my gratitude for this path.

I am inspired by the example they set as sincere devotees of Krishna. I look forward to joining them on future trips. Thank you for illuminating the way forward in this ever growing spiritual journey. Hare Krishna!”

Tahmina Rafaella

“Visiting Vrindavan with Champakalata and Gopal Krishnadas was truly an unforgettable experience! From the sacred temples to the rich stories of Krishna, every moment was filled with wonder and discovery. I felt completely safe and taken care of under Champakalata’s and Gopal’s guidance. Our days were well-organized, and the transportation was provided, making the entire journey smooth and enjoyable. It was an adventure I’ll always cherish!”

Pavlo Yakovets

“This pilgrimage wasn’t just about visiting temples, it was about connecting with the heart of spirituality itself. Every moment in Vrindavan seemed like a prayer, every breath like a meditation. I returned from Vrindavan not only with memories but with a deeper connection to my own faith and a renewed sense of devotion.

The journey was made possible through the meticulous planning of Champakalata Sakhi, who ensured both comfort and safety, allowing each pilgrim to have a unique and personal experience on their individual spiritual path. One of the most serene experiences was beginning each day with the peaceful chanting after Mangal Arati at ISKCON Vrindavan. The gentle whispers of the Maha Mantras, paired with the soft chirping of birds, created a transcendent atmosphere of calm and devotion. It felt as though the entire universe was in perfect harmony, resonating with the divine sounds of Krishna’s name.

A truly unforgettable experience was the kirtan led by Gopal Krishnadas, Champakalata Sakhi, and Kishor Gopal at Ter Kadamba, where I felt the undeniable presence of Lord Krishna and Radha. The air was thick with devotion, and as the kirtan enveloped me, I could sense the play of their divine leelas all around. It was as if time stood still, and I was enveloped in the eternal love and joy of Radha-Krishna’s presence.

Another profound moment came during my visit to the ISKCON GoShala, where I offered the cows laddus. The love and reverence that flowed from the sacred cows were touching, and as Vrindavan rain began to fall gently around us, it felt as though the land itself was purifying our hearts. The feeling was so surreal, it was as if nature itself was participating in our devotion.

The peaceful act of offering ghee lamps to the Yamuna River at night brought me closer to the Divine. Watching the flickering lamps drift away on the sacred river felt like my own prayers and intentions being carried into the infinite, blessed by the holy waters of Yamuna.

Visiting ISKCON Govardhan was another highlight of this pilgrimage. As we did a Govardhan Hill Parikrama, we took a much needed break to receive prasadam served by LoveBraj at ISKCON Govardhan, I felt nourished not just physically, but spiritually as well.

Visiting Radha Janawalabh’s temple was another deeply moving experience. The atmosphere of the temple brought me to Ghanashyam’s ultimate devotion depicted in The Journey Home, reminding me of the profound connection that exists between the devotee and the Divine.

Throughout my pilgrimage, the daily reflections and sharing of experiences with fellow pilgrims were incredibly enriching. Listening to Champakalata Sakhi, Gopal Krishnadas Prabhu, and Kishor Gopal’s heartfelt stories of devotion deepened my own connection with the sacred, reminding me that we are all on a unique but shared journey of love, faith, and surrender.

This pilgrimage to Vrindavan has left an undeniable mark on my soul. What struck me the most was the simplicity and purity of the people. The devotion of the locals is truly inspiring. I felt like I was surrounded by souls united in the love of Krishna.

It has deepened my love for Krishna, opened my heart to the purity of devotion, and filled me with gratitude for every sacred moment. I return from this sacred land with a heart full of gratitude, carrying the essence of this spiritual journey with me for the rest of my life.”

Nilam Patel