A Beautiful Elsewhere · Monica Matera
THE SPLENDOUR OF THE YOGINĪ TEMPLES
INDIA · 11 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH 2027
The Splendour of the Yoginī Temples
A small-group adventure (6–8 people at most) to discover the Yoginī temples: circular buildings open to the sky. Places full of energy and spirituality.
An itinerary that weaves together beauty, art and history, encounters with local communities and the pleasure of sharing. You'll be accompanied by painter and traveller Monica Matera.
20 days of travel · 6–8 travellers · €3,300 until 15 November · Madhya Pradesh · Uttar Pradesh · Odisha
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Is this journey for you?
Come with open eyes and a sense of humour. This isn't a lecture tour and it isn't a "spiritual" retreat. It's an adventure through the real India: noisy, colourful, surprising, sometimes chaotic, and very, very beautiful.
It's for you if…
You love beauty: art, sculpture, colour, fabrics, faces.
You enjoy a good story, especially one told among thousand-year-old goddesses.
You like adventure, mixing with local people and saying yes to the unexpected.
You're happy to get a little creative (yes, there may be an Indian princess gown).
It may not be for you if…
You get bored in museums or at archaeological sites.
You dislike long journeys by car, minibus or train.
You find waiting, schedules or group life difficult.
You'd rather stay put than keep changing scenery. "India: love it or leave it."
You don't need to know anything about India, yoga or the Yoginīs. Just bring curiosity, comfortable shoes and a sense of humour.
Monica Matera
YOUR GUIDE
Monica Matera
Monica is a painter first, and she travels like one: always looking for beauty. She isn't an archaeologist or a guru. Her first journey to India was a pilgrimage to Hemkund Sahib in the Himalayas in 2005, and she has been back 15 times since: for Navaratri, the temples of the south, the Teyyam rituals in the jungle of Kerala, and the stories of the Yoginīs, which she loves to tell. Since 2015 she has taken six small groups to the Yoginī temples, 39 travellers in all.On the first day she sends the women off to buy an Indian princess gown. The group arrives in boring western clothes and leaves looking like royalty. That's the spirit of the trip: creative, adventurous, curious about everyone we meet, and a lot of fun. Monica speaks Italian, English and French, and she's with the group every day.
7th Yoginī group journey · 2005 her first journey to India · 16 journeys to India
THE JOURNEY
Stone circles open to the sky
The Yoginī temples are some of the most beautiful and mysterious places in India: circles of stone, open to the sky, lined with goddesses carved a thousand years ago. Very few survive, and most are far off the tourist trail. Monica isn't an archaeologist, but she knows some wonderful stories about the Yoginīs, and she'll tell them right there, among the statues.
Mitaoli
On a hilltop near Gwalior stands the Yoginī temple of Mitaoli. Open to the sky, it turns golden in the light of sunset. A place where the landscape and the atmosphere invite contemplation.
Sculpture and museums
Goddesses, dancers and lovers carved in stone, from Delhi's National Museum to the temples of Khajuraho. Pure beauty.
The temples of Odisha
Bhubaneswar and its 80 temples, the majestic Sun Temple at Konark, and the precious temple of the 64 Yoginīs at Hirapur, a jewel rediscovered only in 1953.
India in full colour
Flowers, and living temples full of devotion. In Varanasi, life flows along the ghats, and at dawn a boat on the Ganges offers a view of the city as it wakes up.
Villages and music
Painters' villages, local cooks, musicians and sadhus. We stop, we chat, we join in.
Far from the crowds
The enigmatic temple of Ranipur Jharial and other remote sites off the beaten track, perhaps including the archaeological site of Ratnagiri if time allows. We explore them at a slow pace, and sometimes we are the only visitors.
THE ROUTE
11–12 FEB Delhi
Arrival, Old Delhi, the National Museum13 FEB Gwalior and Mitaoli
The fort, the Sas Bahu temples, sunset at Mitaoli14–16 FEB Khajuraho
The UNESCO temples and Bachon Kalika Devi17–18 FEB Bhedaghat
81 Yoginīs above the Narmada and the Marble Rocks19–21 FEB Varanasi and Sarnath
The ghats, the Ganges, the old city and its temples22–24 FEB Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark, Hirapur
The heart of Odisha and the Hirapur circle25–26 FEB Kila Dalijoda and Jajpur
A heritage house in the forest, the Sapta Matrika temples27–28 FEB Ranipur Jharial
One last sunrise among the ruins1 MAR Raipur → Delhi
Flight and onward journey home
A DAY ON THE JOURNEY
Dawn at Bhedaghat
It's still dark when we walk to the temple. We climb the steps, sit inside the circle among 81 Yoginīs carved a thousand years ago, and wait. Then the sun rises over the Narmada river, and the goddesses appear one after another, like a vision.After breakfast we head to the Dhuandhar waterfall, where the water thunders down with great force, throwing up a cloud of spray like smoke.
Every day has this rhythm: something beautiful, something unexpected, and plenty of time to enjoy it.
Between the marble cliffs
We sail on the Narmada river through a gorge framed by tall walls of white marble, among reflections on the water and shades that change colour with the light.
Music with the locals
An afternoon of drums, clapping and singing that nobody planned. That is how the best days happen.
A lucky encounter
On the ghats of Varanasi one night, we found ourselves right in the middle of the Shankaracharya's procession.
TRAVELLERS' WORDS
Impressions, experiences and memories of the journey
"An extraordinary, unforgettable experience, far from the tourist circuits. The programme is rich and well put together, and still leaves each of us our own space of freedom."
Valerie Huslin
Travelled with Monica in 2019 and 2023
"You keep travelling long after it ends. Monica has created a unique, unconventional journey into the heart of the real India."
Alberto Orlandi
Yoginī journey, 2026
"I have travelled with Monica three times… She does not simply show us places; she helps us enter into a relationship with them. On my journeys with Monica, I have never felt like a tourist."
Lara Martelli
Choreographer and dancer · travelled with Monica three times
THE PRICE
One price, almost everything included
€3,400
per person, shared room
€3,300 if you sign up by 15 November 2026
Single room supplement: on request
Length: 20 days
Group: 6–8 people
Indian tax (5% GST): included
Included
3- to 5-star hotels and heritage houses
All breakfasts and dinners in the programme
Private transport with driver
Domestic flights in the programme
AC-class train journeys
Entry to temples, museums and sites
A boat on the Ganges at dawn
Local guides
24/7 assistance
Monica is with you throughout the journey, sharing her knowledge and the stories that bring you closer to the places and the local culture
Not included
International flights to and from Delhi
Indian visa
Travel insurance (required)
Lunches and alcoholic drinks
Personal expenses
Travellers from Europe usually budget €4,500–5,200 in total, including flights, visa, insurance and lunches (approximate). From North America, allow more for flights.
PEACE OF MIND
Cared for in every detail
A conversation first
Before you sign up, Monica has a conversation with each traveller to explain the spirit of the journey, answer any questions and decide together whether the experience is right for you.
A local partner agency
Travel services and logistics are organised by our partner agency Lyfvibes, to whom those costs are paid directly. Monica's fee for accompanying the group is paid separately.
Confirmed at 6 travellers
The departure is confirmed once at least 6 travellers have signed up. If not, everything you have paid is refunded in full.
Never on your own
Monica is with the group every day, with a private driver, local guides and 24/7 support.
"I felt privileged to discover the most beautiful, the most secret and the most sacred places of India, while always feeling safe. More than six years later, the memory is as vivid as ever."
Aurélie Gendron
Travelled with Monica, January 2019
"The superb organisation took away every worry about travel, lodging and meals, and gave the journey a depth that still nourishes me today."
Caroline
Travelled with Monica, February 2024
QUESTIONS
Your questions, answered
Do I need to know about India or the Yoginīs?
No prior knowledge is needed. Along the way, Monica introduces the history and meaning of each place through stories and background. A sense of humour, some flexibility and a capacity for wonder are all welcome.
How demanding is it?
A normal, healthy fitness level is enough: you'll walk on uneven ground, climb temple steps and have a few early starts. The real challenge is the long drives and train journeys, and Indian trains are not European trains. The accommodation is beautiful and the food wonderful, but this isn't a luxury trip.
Is it safe, including for a woman travelling alone?
You're never alone: Monica is with the group every day, with a private driver, local guides and 24/7 support. Clothing that covers shoulders and knees is recommended at temples.
What is the food like?
India is one of the easiest places in the world to eat vegetarian, and some stays are fully vegetarian. Tell us about allergies or special diets when you sign up.
What will the weather be like?
February is one of the best months: cool mornings (around 10–15 °C) and warm, dry days (around 25–30 °C). Bring layers for the early mornings.
Do I need a visa?
Yes. Most European and North American citizens can apply online for an Indian e-Visa a few weeks before travel. We'll send you step-by-step instructions.
How do I sign up?
Book a 30-minute call with Monica. If the journey is right for you, you'll receive the full programme and payment instructions: travel services are paid to Lyfvibes, and Monica's fee last.
REGISTRATION OPEN
It all begins with a conversation
Monica meets every traveller before they sign up. The group is limited to 8, and places are confirmed in the order people register.
1
Book a 30-minute call with Monica, or message her on WhatsApp.
2
Talk about the journey, your questions and what you're looking for.
3
If it's the right journey, you receive the full programme and how to register.
WhatsApp +39 349 710 1536 · Email [email protected]
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