Updated 12Jun08

Itinerary (second half)

ANANDA NAGAR (Quite sure)

Ananda Nagar (lit. "City of Bliss") is a unique developmental complex on the border of West Bengal and Jarkanth. Located in one of the poorest and, most backward areas of the West Bengal (Purulia District), Ananda Nagar covers over 600 square kilometers and encompasses 90 villages. Ananda Marga has many service projects working with village woman, orphanages, running schools, hospital, farms and helping the village people in different projects to develop the area further. In Ananda Nagar there are almost one hundred Tantra pit'has, so lots of good places for meditation. We will visit a few.

Normally Didi's organise a tour, cultural program and a delicious meal in the Didi's Master Unit just 5 Km form Central Ananda Nagar. Next day the DMS will start. It's the large Ananda Marga spiritual festival over the new Year Dec 30 to Jan 2 in which people from all over the world come together to do collective meditation and Kiirtan.

We will also try to visit the different projects in Ananda Nagar, do Meditation at tantra pit'has and meet many senior Dada's and Didi's. And welcoming the new year with whole night Kiirtan! During the program there is everyday 3 hour Akhandha kiirtan followed by meditation and stories by different senior Didi's, Dada's and margiis.

Workers meeting at Ananda Nagar

During the DMS there will be no additional program from our side. Enough is happening already! We also need to attend some meetings and like to catch up with other Dadas and Didis whom we can only see during this time. We can have breakfast and dinner together and naturally we'll make arrangements so you can take lunch!

As there has been some unrest in the area it's hard to say if our visit is sure till closer to the program. I expect that there will be no problem to visit but at the time of the DMS may not be possible. Even the DMS is not completely sure though last year we had two... bit confusing but we enjoyed the vibration of Ananda Nagar.

JAMALPUR (sure)

Jamalpur is a small railway colony in Bihar State, where Ananda Marga originated. It is here that the founder of Ananda Marga, P.R. Sarkar (also known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti) grew up and worked before dedicating his life to the development of Ananda Marga. One Dada wrote the following:

Jamalpur is a railway township, rich in natural bounties and encircled by forest. The unbearable noise of the mechanical civilisation of modern urban life is not heard here. There is no overflowing population. The calm sky and the sweet air are its constant companions.

On one side of the railway there are the dwellings of the local people. On the other side, at a considerable distance, there are sprawling fields, a few hillocks and dense forest. This side of the town is actually rather frightening, even during the daytime people do not ordinarily go there......The lonely environment was not the only reason for this fear. Close by lies the grave of a tiger, which serves to remind all of the horrible tale. A time of cruel death, which earned this place the name of "Death Valley"

Once a hunter shot a tiger there, but the shot was not accurate and the animal was only wounded. A struggle between the two warriors, hunter and tiger ensued. The horrible drama came to a close with the death of both combatants. The local people burried the bodies where they lay and since then the area has become known as Death Valley.(From "Sambhavami").

Unfortunately a lot has changed on the physical level... Still there is much beauty and spiritually it's still vibrated

We'll visit many of the places where Baba used to go for his field walks, Sadhana and were he dictated most of the early publications.

POKARA (Quite sure)

For most this last part of the tour is really the icing on the cake.

Trekking in Annapurna region. Most likely we'll do the 10 day trek that goes from village to village, sleeping at inns primitive, cheap and fascinating. See the wonders of the Himalayan peaks and do Meditation in the stillness. Full day walks (four to five hours). At night relax around the fire (not in all the inns). We'll walk all the way up to Muktinath (+3800meter) and than back track one day to Jomson and fly back to Pokara. An incredible flight if the weather co-operates… Did I mention the hot springs?? Great to relax tired muscles! As the situation and trekking routes are changing every year we may adjust.

Pokara itself is on the shore of a beautiful lake and the peaks are visible from the rooftops. It's a great place to start the trek and again to relax when coming back. Bikes are for rent and if we have time there are nice day trips from there as well.

Read Ananda Mayii's and others impression here
A beautiful poem from Jayagiita here

the tour will also end in Pokara. We'll arrange the transport for those who need to be back in Delhi. In case for any reason we cant go to Nepal see here for alternatives that we have as back up. Also some items that has been on the tour but are not this time are there, maybe something you like to visit after the tour.

So far the fuzzy Itinerary on the next page the solid one if indeed we will be able to book our train tickets according to plan...