A Tryst With Ekaanta

"Let's pause, let's succeed," advocate Shradha Lohia and Saumya Agarwal, co-founders of Ekaanta, a unique learning destination on the banks of Ganges in Uttarakhand. Hit the travel button now to arrive at this destination where mindfulness is the way toward self-transformation.

- Rachna Virdi

Seated on the steps of Alakhnanda Ghat with feet immersed in holy water on the banks of the timeless Ganges is a divine experience. Even as the sun shines bright on our heads, we can feel the chilly breeze of the early morning in this northern part of India. The space is calm and serene and the view is purely blissful. Like a setting straight out of a beautiful painting. It seems like life has come to a standstill. With no chaos, no madness around. The only sound one can hear is that of the chirping of birds and the gushing flow of River Ganga. This is mindfulness at its best.

We are at Ekaanta, a distinctive learning destination, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, amidst the hustle-bustle of Haridwar (hari ka dwar, the gate to God) in Uttarakhand. The retreat is located in a quiet bylane close to Har Ki Pauri Ghat, and is surrounded by a row of guest houses owned by the ancestral families of the Singhanias, Birlas and Jains from the Marwari community.

The story of Ekaanta