Most of our students come from outside India, and for many of them it is their first visit. The course itself is the easy part; the questions people ask us beforehand are almost all about the journey. This guide collects the answers in one place, with the honest caveat that visa and health rules change, so always check the official sources linked below before you book anything.
1. Visa
Most international visitors need a visa for India. Many nationalities can apply online for an e-Visa, and India's e-Tourist Visa lists attending a short-term yoga programme among its permitted purposes. Apply only through the official Indian government e-Visa website, not through third-party agents, and check the current rules for your nationality, the length of stay allowed and how far in advance to apply.
- Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date and have blank pages.
- Keep a printed copy of your e-Visa approval with your passport; you will be asked for it at check-in and on arrival.
- If your course is longer than a short stay, or you plan to travel before or after, make sure the visa you choose covers the whole trip.
2. Flights: arrive in Delhi, continue to Dehradun
Most international students fly into Delhi (DEL), which has direct connections from Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. From Delhi you have three ways to reach Dehradun, the gateway to Uttarkashi:
- Domestic flight to Dehradun (DED), Jolly Grant airport, which is a short flight from Delhi and the simplest option. If possible, book it on the same ticket as your international flight, or allow several hours between flights.
- Train from New Delhi to Haridwar or Dehradun, which takes around five to six hours and is comfortable in the reserved classes.
- Taxi by road, which is the most expensive and usually slower because of traffic leaving Delhi.
From Dehradun the journey to Uttarkashi is through the mountains and takes around six hours by road. Every course at Yoga Bhawna Mission includes free pick-up and drop from Dehradun, so you only need to send us your arrival details. Mountain roads are slow, so plan to land in Dehradun by early afternoon. Our Uttarkashi travel guide covers the last stretch and the seasons in more detail.
3. When to come
The most comfortable months in the Himalaya are March to June and September to November. July and August are monsoon months, when landslides can close mountain roads; December to February is cold, especially in the early mornings. If you are flexible, autumn brings the clearest mountain views.
4. Money
- The currency is the Indian rupee (INR). Our course fees are set in INR, with US dollar and euro amounts shown on each course page for reference; international students pay 10% more than Indian students, as shown in the fee tables.
- Tell your bank before you travel so your cards are not blocked. ATMs are easy to find in Delhi, Dehradun and Rishikesh; small mountain towns rely more on cash, so carry some rupees for personal spending.
- Many Indian payment apps need an Indian bank account, so do not rely on them as a visitor.
5. Phone and internet
You can buy an Indian prepaid SIM card at the airport or in town; you will need your passport and visa, and activation can take a few hours. Alternatively, an international eSIM can be set up before you leave. Mobile coverage in the mountains is good in town but patchy in places, and many students find that a month with less screen time is part of the benefit.
6. Health and insurance
- See a travel clinic or your doctor several weeks before you travel for advice on vaccinations and medication for India. Recommendations depend on your health and your plans, so we do not give medical advice here.
- Buy travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation, and keep the policy details with you.
- Drink filtered or bottled water, especially in your first days, and bring enough of any prescription medication for the whole trip.
- Tell us before the course about any injury, condition or medication, so your teachers can adapt the practice for you.
7. Culture and etiquette
- Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, especially in temples, ashrams and small towns.
- Remove your shoes before entering temples, the yoga hall and many homes.
- Uttarkashi is a pilgrimage town on the road to Gangotri, and life at our school follows its rhythm: the food is sattvic and vegetarian, and students agree to the school's code of conduct and to respect local culture and traditions. Our article on the sattvic diet explains the food.
- A greeting of "Namaste", with the palms joined, is welcome everywhere.
8. Practical details
- Time zone: India Standard Time, UTC+5:30, with no daylight saving.
- Electricity: 230 volts, with type C, D and M sockets; bring a universal adapter.
- Language: Hindi is the local language, and English is widely spoken in travel and education. Our teachers teach in English and speak Hindi too.
- What to bring: see our packing list for yoga teacher training in India.
9. After the course
Graduates of our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training and 500 Hour Advanced YTTC can register with Yoga Alliance and teach internationally; our guide on how to register with Yoga Alliance explains the steps. If you would like to see more of India, Rishikesh is on the way back to Delhi and is easy to combine with your trip; see our two locations.
Still have questions about travelling here? Write to us or message us on WhatsApp. We are happy to help you plan the journey, and for an overview of training here, see Yoga Teacher Training in India.
