South India Pilgrimage 2026

with Katie Rose & Edwina Peden

Welcome to the trip of a lifetime in South India.

Join Katie Rose and Edwina Peden on a women’s pilgrimage through South India — a carefully curated journey of culture, devotion, and community. From the historic spice markets of Kochi to the profound stillness of the Matrimandir in Auroville, this itinerary offers experiences that will be spiritually enriching and unforgettable.

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Together we travel for 11 days and 10 nights from Kochi to Chennai.

This will be our fourth pilgrimage to India, and honestly, they just keep getting better. Every time we go back we’re reminded why we love leading these journeys so much—the friendships that are formed, the belly laughs that carry us through long bus rides, and the magic of sharing India with a group of women who are open to both adventure and depth. We feel we’ve struck the perfect balance: spiritual without being too austere, comfortable but still authentic, and packed with genuine highlights—no fillers, no fluff. You’ll experience incredible food, wonderful shopping, and the devotion and sanctity of temple visits and spiritual life that only India can provide. Our last retreat sold out in about ten days after we casually shared on Instagram how much we love taking groups to India! We must have really spoken to women who, like us, long for time away from obligations to reset, women who are up for adventure, and want to journey with other like-minded and like-hearted women. We are so excited for this next adventure, and we’d love you to be part of it.

We’ve designed this itinerary with so much care, choosing each stop because it brings something unique and unforgettable to the whole journey.

We start in Kochi because it’s the perfect soft landing into India— with spice markets, colourful streets, and a chance to relax in the backwaters before heading inland. From there we take you up into the hills of Munnar. Here the tea plantations roll out like green carpets across the mountains, and we will visit the Tata Tea Museum which gives you a sense of the history and rhythm of this region. After time in the cool of the hills we descend into Madurai, and here you’ll feel the pulse of temple life in a way that is unlike anywhere else. The Meenakshi Amman Temple is vast and awe-inspiring—it’s a living, breathing centre of devotion and we chose it because it really brings home the sanctity of South Indian spiritual culture. After Madurai we head to Pondicherry, where everything softens a little—the French Quarter with its boutiques and cafes, the seaside promenade, and the chance to shop, decompress, and enjoy a different flavour of India. And then, of course, we crown it all with Auroville and the Matrimandir. We chose to finish here because it gives the journey its pinnacle moment: sitting in silence in that extraordinary golden sphere, connecting to the vision of The Mother, and reflecting on everything we’ve seen and shared along the way.

Each leg of this trip has its own energy, and together they weave a balance of culture, devotion, nature, rest, and empowerment that feels just right.

Our dates are Wednesday 16th – Saturday 26th September, 2026

(of course you can stay longer if you wish to continue your travels after the pilgrimage). 

We begin in Kochi and end in Chennai - you will fly into Kochi International Airport and then fly out of Chennai Airport for your onward journey or home.

(Airport transfers from these airports are included)

Itinerary includes: 

Day 1 – Wed Sept 16: Arrive Kochi

  • Arrival day, pickup from Kochin Airport or designated airport hotel and settle in. Afternoon Fort Kochi stroll, explore shops, galleries or simply rest and settle into the surrounds. We'll meet for our delicious welcome dinner where we officially open the pilgrimage get to know each other.

Day 2 – Thu Sept 17: Kochi

  • Experience lush Ayurvedic treatments, visit the churches and cathedrals hang in a cafe or enjoy a spot of shopping in the beautiful boutiques, bookshops or art galleries.

Day 3 – Fri Sept 18: Kochi → Munnar

  • Travel by bus to the lush green tea hills where you will experience a tea plantation walk and of course enjoy some tea.

Day 4 – Sat Sept 19: Munnar – Hill Station

  • Explore the Tata Tea museum, majestic waterfalls and beautiful tea gardens. We'll enjoy an early evening group relaxation of yoga nidra with Edwina. Followed by dinner at your leisure.

Day 5 – Sun Sept 20: Munnar → Madurai

  • Travel via a scenic descent to Madurai. Exprience an evening aarti (devotional fire ritual) at Meenakshi Temple.

Day 6 – Mon Sept 21: Madurai

  • Our morning will be spent exploring the breathtaking Meenakshi temple in depth. Then in the afternoon we'll visit the palace and shopping in the bazaars. Late afternoon group satsang circle with Katie.

Day 7 – Tue Sept 22: Madurai → Pondicherry

  • Travel day, 7–7.5 hrs depending on traffic. Arrive in Pondicherry, settle, rest and enjoy an evening seaside walk in the historic French Quarter.

Day 8 – Wed Sept 23: Pondicherry

  • Enjoy a French Quarter heritage walk and boutiques. A visit to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram followed by a free afternoon: cafés, Ayurveda spa, or beach. Early evening meditation with Edwina followed by group sunset drinks.

Day 9 – Thu Sept 24: Auroville Day Trip

  • Day trip to Auroville to visit the famous Matrimandir (gold dome), eco-projects, art studios and organic cafés. Return to Pondicherry for a relaxed dinner.

Day 10 – Fri Sept 25: Pondicherry 

  • Time for last minute shopping, or Marina Beach stroll. Enjoy our final evening together and close the pilgrimage over a divine banquet dinner.

Day 11 – Sat Sept 26: Transfer to Chennai and Departure

  • Depart after breakfast. Transfers to Chennai International Airport for onward flights.

Please note: the itinerary is subject to changes, this is a guide only.

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Here are your inclusions:

✨ Accommodation in boutique and heritage-style hotels across Kochi, Munnar, Madurai, Pondicherry and Chennai. We’ve chosen places that are comfortable, beautiful, and full of character, giving you an authentic Indian experience without compromising on ease.

✨ All travel by private, air-conditioned bus with a professional driver so we can move safely and comfortably as a group.

✨ Some meals included, featuring regional South Indian specialities. Think Kerala spices, Tamil thalis, coastal French-Indian fusion in Pondicherry, and a couple of special banquet dinners together. Our welcome dinner on the first night will be our opportunity to get to know each other and open the pilgrimage. Then we'll close the pilgrimage over a delicious banquet group dinner on the final night.

✨ Tea plantation walk and Tata Tea Museum visit in Munnar — a chance to immerse yourself in the history, flavours, and landscapes of India’s tea country.

✨ Temple visits including the world-famous Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai — a living centre of devotion and one of the most extraordinary spiritual sites in India. The Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai is a breathtaking celebration of the divine feminine, dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, a powerful incarnation of Parvati who reigns at the very heart of this sacred city. With its towering, jewel-like gopurams covered in thousands of colourful deities and its vast halls of intricately carved pillars, the temple embodies both spiritual majesty and artistic grandeur.

✨ Exploring Auroville and the Matrimandir — a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the golden meditation globe and the visionary community that surrounds it. This is the spiritual pinnacle of our trip.

✨ Guided cultural and shopping experiences — spice markets in Kochi, silks and jewellery in Madurai, and boutique shopping in Pondicherry’s French Quarter.

✨ Spiritual and cultural guidance with Katie Rose and Edwina Peden. This is not a yoga retreat specifically, but we’ll be weaving a guided meditation, satsang circle, and a yoga nidra into our time together. While Most of our accommodations also have suitable spaces if you’d like to keep up your own asana practice.

✨ Friendship, laughter, and sisterhood. This is what makes our pilgrimages so special — travelling with like-hearted women in a way that is safe, supportive, and full of joy.

✨ Airport Transfers

A single group shuttle bus will be provided and will make two pick-up stops before the pilgrimage begins.

  • Pick-up Stop 1:
    Hotel Taj Cochin at 10:00am on 16 September

  • Pick-up Stop 2:
    Cochin International Airport at approximately 10:30am on 16 September

After collecting guests from both locations, the group will depart together to begin the pilgrimage.

Arrival planning:
Guests may either:

  • Book flights arriving into Cochin International Airport in time to meet the airport pick-up, or

  • Arrive one day early and stay at Hotel Taj Cochin Airport (or another nearby hotel) to join the first pick-up stop.

  • Departure transfer:
    At the conclusion of the pilgrimage, there will be one group drop-off at Chennai International Airport on 26 January, arriving at approximately 3:00pm.

We recommend booking onward or return flights no earlier than 6:00pm on the same day.

Please note that transfers outside of these scheduled group shuttles are not included.

Not Included:

  • Flights (you'll need to organise your own flight into Kochi and out of Chenni. We will pick you up from the airport).
  • Some meals (we want you to have freedom to explore restaurants and cuisines).
  • Visa (we’ll guide you through the simple process).

Our journey begins in Kochi on the southwest coast of India and concludes in Chennai, with a beautiful overland route that takes us through tea plantations, sacred temples, and coastal towns along the way.

We’ll be travelling in the last two weeks of September, when the monsoon rains are easing and the landscape is fresh, green, and alive with colour. You can expect warm to hot weather (generally in the mid-to-high 20s°C, sometimes low 30s), with the possibility of some rain showers, especially in the hills — it’s all part of the magic of South India at this time of year.

The itinerary is designed to be comfortable and manageable: we’ll be walking through temple complexes, exploring local markets, and spending some days on the bus for longer drives. No special level of fitness is required, and age is certainly no barrier — in past pilgrimages we’ve welcomed women from their early 20s right through to their mid-70s, all of whom have found their own rhythm within the group.

 

A payment plan over 8 months is available. The pay in full option saves you $196 compared to the payment plan. 

We have a very limited number of single rooms at a $500 supplement. First come first in for those. Otherwise accomodation is in twin share (your own bed with one other person sharing your room). 

Important Terms:

There are no refunds. All sales are final. If you are on a payment plan, you are responsible for completing all payments regardless of whether you need to cancel your booking. We recommend travel insurance for unforeseen circumstances.

Anne

Aside from a well-planned (every detail thought through) and epic trip to incredible parts of India which gave us temples, ashrams, mountains, the Ganges, bizarres, and nourishing food, while staying at very comfortable, boutique hotels, I chose to go on this trip with Katie and Edwina because I knew they would attract the perfect group of women to travel with. Kind, creative, clever and adventurous women who all made the trip fun, safe and relaxing. I would absolutely do this trip over and over again.

Katrina

This was my first time in India and I had a fantastic time! I felt that it was the perfect blend of group activities and freedom to explore. The accommodation was great everywhere we stayed, and the food was delicious and plentiful 🤤 The Taj Mahal was definitely a highlight and I’m so glad I got to see it! The Jyotish astrology reading was a fascinating experience and now I have enough mala beads to sink a ship 📿😂 And of course, the connections made with the other women on the tour will be cherished forever 🫶🏻 We had an amazing group and this made the trip so much more special Thank you Katie and Edwina for introducing me to India 🙏🏻 🇮🇳

Grace

This experience is not a holiday; it is a pilgrimage — an unfolding journey of awakening, realisation, and growth. I couldn’t have chosen better facilitators than Katie and Edwina. The thoughtful blend of hotels and homestays, tourist landmarks and local spaces, with spiritual practice woven throughout, created something truly special. It has been a humbling experience — one that felt like a quiet, powerful returning home to myself.

 

Here are some highlights of our magical time together ... 

Kochi

We’ll begin in Kochi, one of South India’s most vibrant coastal cities and the perfect introduction to the country. Here you’ll find spice markets bursting with colour, the charm of Fort Kochi’s historic streets, and the famous Chinese fishing nets at sunset.

It’s a place where old and new India meet, giving us time to land gently, savour incredible food, and start soaking up the rhythm of life here.

Stay at Fort House Hotel

Munnar

From Kochi we travel up into the hills of Munnar, where tea plantations stretch like green carpets across the mountains. The Tata Tea Museum tells the story of this region’s culture and history, but the real magic is in the landscape itself—misty mornings, cool breezes, and sweeping views.

Munnar brings balance to the journey: after the bustle of the city, we get to slow down and breathe mountain air.

Stay at The Leaf Hotel

Madurai

Next, we head to Madurai, one of India’s oldest and most sacred cities. The Meenakshi Amman Temple here is extraordinary: a vast, living temple filled with devotion, colour, and awe-inspiring architecture. Madurai offers us the chance to experience the deep sanctity of South Indian spiritual life.

We’ll also explore the city’s bazaars, palaces, and markets—this is where devotion and daily life exist side by side in a way only India can offer.

Stay at Heritage Madurai

Pondicherry

Pondicherry, a city with a very different flavour—French colonial charm, pastel-coloured buildings, chic boutiques, and seaside promenades. After the intensity of temple life, Pondy gives us time to rest, shop, eat, and enjoy a softer pace.

It’s the perfect place to gather as a group, to wander, to reflect, and to soak in the cultural diversity that makes India so compelling.

Stay at Villa Helena

Auroville & the Matrimandir

The journey culminates in Auroville with a visit to the Matrimandir, the golden globe at the heart of this visionary community. The Matrimandir is not a tourist site but a space for silence, reflection, and connection to something greater. It was the vision of one woman, The Mother, who dreamt of a place dedicated to unity and spiritual growth—and today it continues to inspire seekers from all over the world.

Ever since we read Kemi Nekvapil’s brilliant book Power, where she describes her own pilgrimage to the Matrimandir in Auroville, it has been a clear intention for us to lead a group of women there. Kemi writes: “After I’d seen that and had that experience of meditation there and really just looking at that building, it doesn’t really feel or look like an earthly structure. And the fact that it was the power of one woman. One woman who had a vision to do something, and look at what she created.” Her words capture the awe and inspiration of this place—and mirror exactly why we want to bring women to experience it together.

The Matrimandir is the shining heart of Auroville, a vast international township in South India dedicated to human unity and spiritual evolution. Conceived by “The Mother” (Mirra Alfassa), the French-born spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, the Matrimandir is not a temple in the traditional sense, instead, it is a golden sphere rising from the earth, designed as a universal space for silent concentration and meditation. Its inner chamber, a white marble sanctuary flooded with light, holds a crystal globe that reflects the sun’s rays, symbolising pure consciousness.

Matrimandir stands as living proof of what can be created when a woman’s vision is honoured and made manifest. It was The Mother’s dream, and today it continues to be a space where seekers from around the world come to reconnect with their inner power. For us, this is the pinnacle moment of the pilgrimage, where we will gather as women to experience a space that actively mirrors our own capacity for creativity, authority and transformation. 

Wonderful, colourful vibrant India!

'I knew when this trip was offered it was for me. I didn’t want a Western style tour of India, I wanted to have my soul touched, to immerse myself into the spiritual and soak up the history. It was everything I hoped for and more.'

Julie (travelled to North India with us in 2024)

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India September 2026 One Payment

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Temples, sights and food!

'Highlights included temples and the sights, the food and some of the brilliant restaurants we went to. The best, best part of the trip was the people on it. Great group.' 

Lana (travelled to North India with us in 2024)

One Guest's Experience

I joined Katie Rose and Edwina Peden on their 2025 journey through the south of India, and it was truly one of the best ways I could have travelled this magical country. From the moment we arrived, everything was beautiful from the accommodation to the Ayurvedic massage and a deep respect for the culture of India. The ashram stay was my absolute highlight: practicing early morning mediation, eat nourishing food, doing karma yoga, and being surrounded by nature. That experience alone opened my eyes to how privileged I am and filled me with deep gratitude.

The rest of the trip unfolded with with a boat journey on the Kerala backwaters, receiving blessings at a Durga temple under the stars. We stayed in welcoming guesthouses, shared laughs over delicious meals, explored markets and even had spontaneous late-night tuk tuk ride chasing music at sunrise. Through it all, Katie and Edwina were there with support, wisdom, and joy, holding space for circles, meditations, and connection. I arrived in India overwhelmed and stuck, and came home feeling reset, refreshed, and ready to embrace the year ahead. I can’t thank these women enough, and I’ll definitely be joining them again for their another adventure. 

Kimaren Galbraith - South India 2025

About Edwina and Katie 

If you've arrived here you probably know us already but here's a little introduction anyway. 

Both of us have been travelling in India many times over many years. Between us we've got nearly three decades of experience 'on the ground'. India has changed (just a bit!) in that time but what hasn't changed is our love for it. We took our first sold-out pilgrimage group to India in January 2024 and the trip was a huge success. We will return in January 2026 (sold out!) and again for this journey to South India in September 2026 - we'd love you to join us. 

Find out more about Katie here.

Find out more about Edwina here.

Email us with any questions you might have hello@bhaktirose.com.au 

If you are keen please book soon or let us know you intend to book, so we can keep you up to date with when we are close to full. Past trips have sold out.

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Who this trip is for

This pilgrimage is for those who are ready for a meaningful adventure. If you’re curious about India, drawn to sacred spaces, and open to new experiences, you’ll feel right at home. You don’t need to be a seasoned traveller — just willing to step into the colours, sounds, and flavours of this extraordinary country. In the past we’ve welcomed women in their 20s through to their 70s, and couples are also warmly invited. The shared spirit of community, laughter, and discovery always brings the group together. If you’re seeking connection, spiritual depth, cultural immersion, and the kind of friendships that last long after the trip is over, this journey is for you.

Who this trip is not for

This may not be the right trip if you’re looking for a luxury holiday where every moment is predictable and polished. India has her own rhythm — she is vibrant, sometimes chaotic, and always surprising — and part of the beauty of this journey is learning to flow with that. We’ve chosen comfortable, character-filled accommodations and a carefully balanced itinerary, but there will be long travel days, busy markets, and a little dust along the way. This is not a trip designed for families with children — though the one exception is Katie’s 4-year-old daughter, who has joined every pilgrimage as our little India mascot.