Attending this pilgrimage is an opportunity to step outside of your normal life and focus exclusively on your spiritual practice in the most holy place in the world for Gaudiya Vaisnavas, Vrindavan. 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 of Krishna’s pastimes, and a spiritual awakening they did not know was possible occurs.
If you are interested in attending this pilgrimage, please schedule a 15-minute info call with Champakalata by emailing her at champaka@bhakticenter.org.
Vrindavan Pilgrimage 2024
led by Gopal Krishna Das and Champakalata Sakhi Devi Dasi
dates – september 13th – 21st
location – Vrindavan
price – $1,400 shared accommodation (2 people per room)
* must be signed up and paid in full by august 1st*
If you would like your own room, the price will be higher. Please contact champaka@bhakticenter.org
Overview
We will have sadhana, kirtan, and katha together. We will visit 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 Krishna’s presence in His Home, your heart will soften, and your spiritual life will never be the same. Any spiritual practice you do in Vrindavan 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 world, Radhakund.
What places will you visit?
We will attend the morning program at ISKCON Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan that Srila Prabhupada established and see the beautiful deities of Krishna Balaram, Radha Shyamasundara, and Gaura Nitai. We will spend time in Prabhupada’s samadhi and home and you will receive a tour of the entire complex.
We will visit the temples in Vrindavan of Radha Raman, Radha Damodara, Radha Shyamasundara, Gopeshwara Maha Deva, Rangaji, Govindaji, and Madhan Mohan.
We will visit and honor the Yamuna River.
We will spend two days at Govardhan, the most Holy Place in the material world. One day will be spent doing walking Govardhan parikrama (if anyone can’t walk all the way Rickshaw is available) and taking bath in Radhakund and Shyamakund. The other day will be spent visiting the different Holy Places in Govardhan and hearing katha.
We will spend one day visiting Barsana, Radharani’s magical birthplace.
We will spend one day visiting Vrinda Kund + Ter Kadamba.
We will have one free day for whatever people want: more time at Krishna Balaram Mandir, more time in Vrindavan, or shopping (we can accompany you).
What’s included
- Accommodation at MVT, which is the best place in Vrindavan and right behind the ISKCON temple
- 3 delicious meals a day where you can choose what you want (mostly at the MVT restaurant, which is the safest restaurant in Vrindavan)
- Your rickshaws and local transportation
- Life long friendships
- Japa, kirtan, and katha on Krishna’s pastimes and holy places
What’s not included
- Airfare and transportation to India
- Taxi from Delhi to Vrindavan
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, etc.
- Visa fee
- Tips for driver
Schedule
Registration
If you are interested in joining us, please schedule a 15- minute info call with Champakalata.
Please note there is a non-refundable deposit required to hold your spot for the Vrindavan Pilgrimage. By paying the $500 deposit, you know that you are holding your spot for our Vrindavan pilgrimage, that it is non-refundable, and that a second payment of $500 will be due by June 14th, 2024. The remaining balance is due by August 1st, 2024. 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. There is an option to fly from New York with Gopal and Champakalata. Please email champaka@bhakticenter.org for flight details so we can all travel together to Vrindavan! We will book our flight tickets at the beginning of March when airfare is cheapest so please contact Champaka before purchasing your tickets.
Cancellation Policy
- There will be no refunds or discounts for arriving late, leaving early, flight cancellations, travel delays or illness.
- Any monies paid to the retreat are non-transferrable.
If you cancel your reservation:
- 61 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).
- 31-60 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).
- 0-30 days prior to the start of the retreat, no refunds are given.
- To cancel, you must send an email stating that you wish to do so to info@bhakticenter.org.
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 till he became 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 where he serves as a pujari, operations manager, and teacher while developing his career.
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 and studied acting at Stella Adler Acting Conservatory before she fell in love with yoga and meditation and completed her 300-hr yoga teacher training through Jivamukti Yoga in 2011. At the same time she found Krishna Consciousness and 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 currently serves on the leadership team and as community care director. She loves chanting japa and kirtan, reading, dressing the deities, going on pilgrimage, and going on pilgrimage. She is married to Gopal Krishna Das.
Organized by Lov Braj, click this description to learn more about the organization…
