A slice of ashram life in the Himalayan foothills

Morning yoga on the terrace at Akhanda Sri Jungle Ashram in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. Reached by a winding mountain road, the retreat sits in a quieter corner of the Himalayan foothills near Rishikesh. (All photos by Shikha Shah and Akhanda Yoga)

Skip the crowds in India's yoga capital for a tranquil sojourn in rural Pauri Garhwal

PAURI GARHWAL, India -- Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh sits where the sacred Ganges descends from rugged peaks to fertile plains. Considered the birthplace of yoga, the town fuses spirituality, adventure and nature in a way few places do.