FAQs
Experience Related
+What type of trip will be
suitable for me?
Jvala has four types of
themes. To find out which one ‘you’ will be interested in, visit Paths of Jvala.
+Will the Connoisseur’ theme be
physically demanding?
Jvala’s trips will be unhurried with a lot
of personal time to absorb and reflect on the day’s activity. Having said that, the heritage
locations are open spaces which will involve some walking; but a day’s outing should be not more
than 4-5 hours including travel time. The timings will be aligned to the hours that these public
spaces will be available and open.
+Will the Yoga themes be
physically challenging?
The yoga workshops will not involve complex
or difficult goal poses. Workshops are designed for a specific experience. Simple asana-s will be
chosen, modifications to suit various body types will be incorporated to keep the focus of
the goal to achieve the ‘function of the pose’ over ‘form of the pose’. In identifying and
addressing the function of a pose as the milestone, our belief is that the form: will be an
eventual result.
+Should I be an art student to
sign up for an art and culture experience?
An eye for beauty, inclination towards art
and open-mindedness for culture qualifies you as an enthusiast. The experience contains
knowledge modules which will help an enthusiast better appreciate the nuances in the art. We, at
Jvala, are committed to making a connoisseur of you, if you are so inclined!
+Should I be a yoga teacher or
trainer to sign up for Yoga Retreat?
Seekers’ themes are intellectual, thinking
and reflective workshops. It is enough if you are a practitioner of mindful activity, like yoga
or if you are an existential thinker enjoying general fitness. Focus is more on breaking mental
conditionings required for inner transformations.
+Does Jvala do customised tours?
Yes. Jvala will customise tours for
individuals and groups interested in exploring India's rich oral traditions, regional
handi-crafts and knowledge systems. Please write to us on info@jvala.travel
Traveling with family
+Will it be economically
beneficial to travel as a couple?
The advantage of registering as a couple is
that you are sure of your roommate, and the pricing may marginally drop when traveling as a
couple.
+Are Jvala themes children
friendly?
Jvala conducts camps and workshops for
school students >12 years, catering to their energy levels, engaging them differently,
suiting their age and mental capacity. Paths under Connoisseurs may suit some young adults
interested in art and history, but paths of Seekers and Wellness are developed for a specific
age to achieve a certain goal.
Traveling as a Group with Jvala
+Are there age restrictions for
the experiences?
Yes. Each Jvala experience will have an
entry age criteria that is mentioned. While some of our trips do not have a maximum age limit, a
self-assessment form will be sent for passengers with medical conditions or above 60 years of
age.
+Who are Jvala travellers?
Jvala travellers are usually individuals
who are culturally tuned-in intellectual people. Everyone who signs up with Jvala, whether they
are solo travelers or traveling as a Group, are thirsty for an experience, hungry for knowledge
and thus share similar interests. Apart from that, each Jvala theme has a physical and cultural
grading that will help decide if the trip is suitable for you.
+Who will be my group leader?
Jvala Experiences will have a resource
person in the form of a culture expert or an expert yoga teacher acting as your host through the
trip.
Solo traveling
+Is it safe for me to travel by
myself?
Traveling by yourself can be liberating by
itself. With Jvala, you will enjoy the best of two worlds: while you will be traveling alone,
you will also not be alone. You will be in the company of like-minded people.
Trip Changes and Cancellations
-Can I upgrade my accommodation
to Single Occupancy?
Yes you can. It will come
at an additional cost. Please mention it at the time of booking.
+Can I make changes to the
itinerary before, after or during the trip?
Jvala’s themes are curated for experiences
to spark a desired goal. They are also designed keeping in mind the climate of the region.
Having said that, for private group travels, experiences can be tailor made. Please get in
touch.
+Can I add an extra night in the
beginning or at the end of the trip?
Yes you can. Jvala experiences are
scheduled close to a local festival or annual event for this reason. Please make your request at
the time of booking.
+What if I hurt myself during the
trip?
Our host will be traveling with a first aid
kit. Besides, almost all hospitality partners have a doctor on call. If for any reason, you will
need to cut your trip short, we will do whatever we can to get you home. But reimbursement for
the unused parts of the trip will not be possible.
+Can I do just part of the trip?
Our host will be traveling with a first aid
kit. Besides, almost all hospitality partners have a doctor on call. If for any reason, you will
need to cut your trip short, we will do whatever we can to get you home. But reimbursement for
the unused parts of the trip will not be possible.
+What happens if my trip gets
canceled?
We never want a trip to be cancelled.
However, if the trip is cancelled by us, you will be refunded. For more on this, please read the
Refunds and
Cancellations.
Disability and medical condition
+I have a disability – will I be
able to sign up for Jvala experiences?
Experiences at Jvala are for elevating the
inner sensibilities. If you are traveling with your own travel aid and can catch up on
schedules, then there is no reason why a disability should stop you from experiencing a sublime
experience. Jvala is, however, not in a position to offer full-time aid.
+I suffer from a medical
condition, what is the emergency contingency plan?
Most places we will be staying are
townships where emergency care is available. If admitted, Jvala will reach out to your emergency
contact person; details of which will be collected immediately after your booking is complete.
Jvala advises you to always have a minimum travel insurance plan that would cover the incidental
medical expenses. Jvala will not be responsible for the cost of care.
Foreign nationals traveling in India
+Will the pricing vary for
non-Indian passport holders?
Non-Indian passport holders are likely to
attract more tariffs in certain hotels and accommodations. Please get in touch to get an
accurate quote.
+Do I have to carry my ID all the
time?
It is advisable to carry a digital copy at
all times. Your original travel document, visas, travel insurance can remain in the place of
stay.
+Will I be allowed to enter
inside a Hindu temple?
Most temples that we will be visiting are
either UNESCO Heritage monuments or ASI heritage sites where there will be no restrictions. In
other places, where ritualistic traditions are active, if the dress code is followed as a show
of respect to the cultural sentiments of the native people, you are likely to be welcomed warmly
in the temple.
Food Drinks and Restrictions
+Will there be access to alcohol?
Many places that we will be visiting are
sacred geographies. Hence, alcohol may not be consistently available during the journey.
+Can I consume alcohol during the
trip?
The location, the company, and the
hospitality should be enough to keep you in high spirits. However, if you must, we will not hold your indulgence as long as you are respecting the house rules of the Stay, and do
not disrupt the travel schedules at any given time.
+What sort of food will be served
during my trip?
Jvala commits to a continental breakfast
and meals that are mentioned in each trip.
India being a country that offers a wide variety of vegetarian
regional cuisines, we recommend our travellers to step out of their comfort to try some
local food. Besides, many of Jvala’s destinations are sacred geographies where
non-vegetarian food may not be always available. Wherever service is available,
non-vegetarian meals will be offered.
+What are the drinking water
arrangements during the trip?
Two packaged drinking water bottles of 1ltr
for a room will be provided everyday. Similarly for every day’s outing, unlimited ‘packaged
bottles’ will be available, however we recommend that you be judicious in the use of the water
both from a wastage/scarcity perspective and the use of plastic.
Pricing variations
+Why is the price indicative?
The hospitality industry vary prices based
on season. Jvala always tries to get the best deal from the hospitality partners, knowing the
favourable time to travel considering climate, avoiding peak season rates and tourist traffic at
every destination.
+What is included in the Price?
Jvala's experiences include 4★
Accommodation at Eco Resorts, Boutique hotels or Heritage Resorts based on the path selected,
Local logistics, Breakfast and one meal, Experiential curation at destination including
sight-seeing and special activities. Tours will begin from a certain destination. Please get in
touch with our support team or Whatsapp for more details.
Before you depart
+Are there any special
restrictions in the dress code?
Trips will involve walking or trekking, so
comfortable footwear is recommended. It is culturally appropriate to blend in with local norms
and given that our visit will predominantly be in and around traditional structures and heritage
monuments with spiritual and religious significance, we strongly recommend that clothes such as
leggings, shorts, short skirts, track pants, sleeveless tops/ tees/ dresses, spaghetti tops are
avoided. A hat/ cap or visor is recommended to avoid the direct sunshine.
Where yoga is involved too we advise you to bring clothing that
will facilitate practice.
+What should I bring?
Carry your medicines; travel documents;
vaccination certificates; travel insurance with your personal essentials.
+What is the best way to carry
money?
There are many options available today and
it is always best to have options. Carry only minimum cash for miscellaneous expenses and
tipping purposes. ATMs can be found in all tourist locations where credit and debit cards can be
used to withdraw money. Activate the UPI payment gateway if possible while traveling in India as
digital transactions are popular with all vendors and safe for travel too.