Uncovering the Mysticism of India
A Mantra Immersion to the Heart of Kirtan
with Gopi Kinnicutt & Kristen Zorda
Oct 11th-23th 2026
Across the land, temple bells ring and sacred chanting echoes through the streets. Cymbals and drums resound in the distance, calling the soul toward its quest for life and the exploration of love. Gopi & Kristen will not be taking you on a tourist’s journey, but that of a pilgrim. We will be taking those deep spiritual seekers into the villages, where the secrets of sacred sound and mantra were revealed and given form in Mayapur, West Bengal—the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya, the divine Avatar of Love. He revived and made accessible the most powerful love mantra, a vibration now heard in yoga studios and whispered in private meditation across the world. These mantras awaken the deep, forgotten love that every heart yearns to remember. Then we’ll move across the country to Vrindavan, Krsna's birthplace & the heart of Bhakti and we’ll seek solace and refuge in sacred Govardhan.
6 days Mayapur
This pilgrimage is a doorway into the mystery of divine love. Our first immersion begins with us flying to Calcutta, where you will be picked up and taken to a very powerful and sacred village in West Bengal, Nabadwip, Mayapur, the nine islands surrounded by the sacred Ganga, and explore the nine limbs of bhakti devotion, dive deep into kirtan, mantra, yoga, and ritual. Here, the veil between worlds grows thin—grace can be felt, and divine presence becomes tangible through sincere chanting and practice. The sacred Ganges flows gently through West Bengal, its lush green landscape embracing you, while saints and teachers call you onward into the greater quest.
3 days Vrindarvan
We plan to fly from Calcutta to Delhi and take a cab to Vrindavan. The birthplace of Lord Krishna, Vrindavan is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus and home to over 5,000 temples, large and small. Mantra chanting resonates throughout the town. Each day will offer a new experience and adventure. Sitting in on the famous 24 hour mantra music kirtan at the most beautiful and vibrant Krishna Balaram temple will be an unforgettable experience. We will enjoy a boat ride on the sacred river Yamuna, surrounded by puja (ritual). Each day we will visit significant historical temples, diving into the mystical stories behind these living shrines. We will also tour a wonderful charity school that educates girls from very poor families, not only changing their lives but also ending generations of poverty. We’ll meet local saints and sages living lives of devotion, practice yoga and meditation, and enjoy delicious healthy food. We’ll also make time for a henna party and of course plenty of shopping. We will be staying at a comfortable, calm hotel called the MVT Guesthouse.
3 days Govardhan
We will also spend 3 days by the sacred hill of Govardhan near Vrindavan, considered to be a living force and avatar of divinity, grace in the form of a mountain. Thousands of pilgrims circumambulate barefoot around it every day, chanting the holy names of God. Its energy and power are infectious for believers and skeptics alike. Around the 21 km long pilgrim path, there are many holy spots where one is invited to enter prayer and meditation, as well as gorgeous sacred ponds where locals and visitors bathe for purification. We will stay at the newly built Govardhan Retreat Center, partaking in a Kirtan mantra music festival led by musicians from all over the globe, gathering to unite their souls in one sacred song of Divine Love. We will also visit Barsana, the land and home of the Goddess Sri Radha, a mystical place that graces pilgrims with love and touches individuals’ hearts in unexplainable ways