Nine Planet Temple Pilgrimage in India
JANUARY 19-31, 2026
△ EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN △
Join Sarah Tomlinson and Seema Johari in South India on the nine day pilgrimage through the Nine Planetary Temples. Sarah and Seema discovered the Nine Temples in 2007 when they took a road trip to satisfy their curiosity about these sacred sites. Venturing into these remote parts of India and receiving the blessings of the gods, the planets and beyond is something incredibly special. Sarah and Seema share their vast resources on the Nine Planets and the benefits they impart.
We hope you can join us.
The Navagraha (nine planetary bodies) is a deep inner journey to the 9 cosmic forces that influence and shape our inner and outer existence.
Living With The Planets
The ways to honor the planets and bring happiness and wellness into all areas of your life are many and during this retreat you will be given a wide range of practices to get to know the one(s) that are the most helpful and fun for you.
Planetary Yoga, this is an immersive training class on planetary yoga.
Planetary Yantras, daily outlines to color, drawing tuition will be given as requested.
Planetary Mantras, you will receive a necklace of 108 mala beads, which you can use to count your planetary mantras on, in the temple each day.
Planetary Temple Offerings, Take flowers and offer them to the planetary deities each day.
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Cost: See registration page for your accommodation options and pricing.
Early Bird Registration is open until May 15th, 2025.
Where: Your course begins and ends in Chennai, South India.
After spending a couple of nights in a five star hotel in Chennai, the main portion of the retreat is held in an Eco Resort in a beautifully renovated heritage home circa 1896 in Swami Malai, in the State of Tamil Nadu. These beautiful surroundings will be your base for the Nine Day Practice. The closest large town is Kumbakanom.
△ SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY △
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Balance Your Nine Planets and Restore Balance And Enthusiasm In Your Life
“It’s chance to experience India in a way that transcends words. You gain access to magical portals, and tap into ancient power and practices that can’t be found in any guidebook. Sarah and her team also take all of the headache out of planning and navigating your way around so you can just surrender and let yourself be transformed. ”
Itinerary
19th January — Arrive in Chennai (Monday)
20th January — Chennai group meditation practices, temple and shopping (Tuesday)
21st January — Travel To Kumbakanom (Wednesday)
22nd January— Day One of Navagraha - JUPITER (Thursday)
23rd January — Day Two of Navagraha - VENUS (Friday)
24th January — Day Three of Navagraha - SATURN (Saturday)
25th January — Day Four of Navagraha - SUN (Sunday)
26th January — Day Five of Navagraha - MOON (Monday)
27th January — Day Six of Navagraha - MARS (Tuesday)
28th January — Day Seven of Navagraha - MERCURY (Wednesday)
29th January — Day Eight of Navagraha - RAHU (Thursday)
30th January — Day Nine of Navagraha - KETU (Friday) and travel back to Chennai
31st January — Retreat ends at 12 noon, journey on or back. (Saturday)
“The Nine Planet Pilgrimage was an out of this world experience! I loved visiting the planetary temples, practicing yoga, drawing yantras, and connecting with new found soul sisters and brothers. Sarah’s guidance made visiting this holy land that much more profound and special. The positive effects of this retreat are still very much with me today.”
On this sacred pilgrimage to the 9 Planetary Temples, located within a radius of 60km in Tamil Nadu, we will come in deep contact with the 9 cosmic forces and explore them using the tools of Mantra, Yantra and Tantra.
Two nice ways to prepare for the retreat: Reading Nine Designs For Inner Peace by Sarah Tomlinson (available on amazon and other good book shops everywhere) and taking the Nine Planet Yoga Class HERE.
Daily Schedule
Disclaimer: this is India — there will be some flexibility with the scheduling
7am Tea Coffee
8am Planet Yoga For The Day (Moon Yoga Poses on a Monday etc) followed by
Breakfast
10am-2pm Planetary Temple Visit For The Day
2-3pm Lunch and free time
3-5pm Yantra Coloring
5pm Dinner
6-8pm Evening Meditation
8pm Free Time and Sleep
Your Teachers
Sarah + Seema Photo: By Pradip Sarma, India 2024
Sarah Tomlinson and Seema Johari have led countless retreats in India over the past twenty+ years. They are ready to welcome you to the Navagraha Pilgrimage 2026.
Sarah Tomlinson is a pioneer in teaching Yantra Painting in the West. Her books Nine Designs for Inner Peace, Coloring Yantras and the newly released Yantra Oracle Deck have brought Yantras to the forefront of the Spiritual and Yogic Traditions. Sarah is also a counselor, working with Ayurvedic Astrology and Yantra Practice in a one:one setting. Sarah is mother to two teenage boys and lives with her husband and family by the sea in Devon, United Kingdom. https://www.sarahyantra.com/about
Seema Johari, is a force. Seema is a teacher of the planets and all things mystical, practical and benevolent in India. Seema is also your guide for the retreat. She is the daughter of the late, great renaissance teacher Harish Johari. Harish brought the Eastern Wisdom to the West in the most accessible ways through his books: Tools for Tantra, Chakras, Ayurvedic Massage, Numerology and Healing Cuisine. Seema, based at the Johari House in Haridwar, has been leading retreats in India for the past 20yrs since Sarah and Seema led their first annual India Retreat.
Photo: By Bhaskar J. K. At the Bhuvaneshvari Temple during the 2024 India Retreat.
ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD
South Indian Food
Your Five Star Hotel in Chennai
The Heritage Home Hotel - Eco Resort close to Kumbakanom
Note: The photographs are to share the atmosphere of each location, each room will be unique.
Lovely photos thanks to Seema and Amanda Ahern at the Eco Resort.
“Visiting the nine planetary temples was the life changing trip I needed most. Combined with studying the planetary powers, practicing the mantras, working with my chart, and creating the yantras it was the ultimate magical mystery tour.
Sarah and Seema are the most amazing hosts, I wouldn’t want to travel to India with anyone else. After this retreat all of my dreams came true, no joke! If you want to go deep this is the retreat for you!”
SIGN UP SOON
SPACE IS LIMITED
*A note from Sarah: A portion of your payment will go towards supporting the Johari Family Legacy in India. Rather than give to charities that I have no connection with, I have chosen to include and work with Seema Johari, the daughter of my teacher Harish Johari, during this retreat. This woman is a force! We are fortunate to have their darshan (presence and blessings) and I am happy to be able to give back to their family and legacy.
△ I N D I A △
What is included in your fee:
Course tuition
All accommodation
All travel within India during the retreat
Airport pick up and drop off if you arrive and depart on the retreat start/end dates
All meals and (and yummy chai!)
Paper to draw on/and/or/Yantra Outlines To Color
South Indian Food Pictures: India Witkin
What is not included:
Travel insurance (required)
Flight to India
Personal laundry at the hotels
All other treatments/massages (there is a spa at the Eco Resort), shopping, etc.
Coloring Pencils,
Yoga mat/Temple flower offerings