Destinations India More to Explore Things To Do The 8 Best Ashrams to Visit in India By Sharell Cook Sharell Cook Sharell Cook lives in Mumbai full-time and has been writing about India travel for TripSavvy since 2008. Travel's editorial guidelines Updated on June 24, 2024 'Hugging Saint' Mata Amritanandamayi. Photo: John Moore / Staff/Getty Images India has always been a popular destination with spiritual seekers who flock to the country's many ashrams. These ashrams are home to a spiritual or religious guru who lives there with his or her disciples. The term may be used to describe the community of people who reside in such a place. Ashrams are usually secluded places that are devoted to spiritual activities like yoga, meditation or religious instruction. For those seeking peace and solitude in India, they are truly majestic places to visit. Every ashram is different though, so which one to choose? This guide to popular ashrams in India will give you some ideas as to what's on offer. 01 of 08 Art of Living Ashram Vishalakshi Mantap. Suyog Gaidhani/Getty Images Address Sheesham Jhadi, Gali no 13, near, Swaminarayan Ashram Rd, Chandreshwar Nagar, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 249137, India Get directions Phone +91 70602 95681 Web Visit website Founded in 1982 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Art of Living is renowned worldwide for its stress-elimination and self-development programs based mainly on breathing techniques, meditation, and yoga. The Art of Living itself is a UN-accredited NGO. The foundation course at the ashram is the three-day Art of Living Part I residential workshop. You'll learn revitalizing breathing techniques to restore the natural rhythms of body and mind. Where: In the Panchagiri hills, 36 km southwest of Bangalore, near Udipalya village.Courses: Art of Living I & II, yoga, meditation, Vaastu Shastra, Vedic math, and youth training courses. 02 of 08 Osho International Meditation Resort Buddha Grove. Courtesy of Osho Ashram Osho was perhaps India's most controversial spiritual leader due to his sex views. The Osho ashram no longer holds workshops calling for undressing, and free love isn't encouraged. Yet, unlike many ashrams, there's no gender segregation anywhere at the Osho ashram. This ashram is more like a resort and aims to provide a luxurious environment where people can be at ease with themselves. Despite the compulsory wearing of maroon robes, it's commercial and far removed from Indian culture. Courses are mostly directed at healing from traumatic experiences, rather than personal development. Where: Pune, Maharashtra (four hours from Mumbai). Courses: Active meditations (including jumping and screaming), Tantra workshops, plus a huge range of multi-diversity courses. 03 of 08 Isha Foundation Ashram Courtesy of Isha Yoga Center Address Isha Yoga Center Rd, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641114, India Get directions Phone +91 83000 83111 Web Visit website The Isha Foundation is a non-profit organization, founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev in 1992. Its purpose is to foster people's spiritual and physical well-being through yoga and outreach programs, such as environmental rejuvenation. The core of the Foundation's activities is a customized system of yoga called Isha Yoga. The three- to seven-day introductory program, known as Inner Engineering, introduces guided meditations and a powerful inner energy process for deep inner transformation. Where: Isha Yoga Center, at the base of the Velliangiri Mountains, 37 km from Coimbatore in Tamil NaduCourses: Inner Engineering, Hatha yoga, yoga for children, advanced meditation programs, sacred treks, mind and body rejuvenation retreats based on Ayurvedic principles. 04 of 08 Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram Adam Berry/Getty Images News Fondly known as the "Hugging Mother" or "Amma, the Mother of All", Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi envelopes devotees with her love. She focuses her attention on trying to overcome the lack of love and compassion in the world, and devotees are particularly attracted to her for her comforting embraces. Free public darshans (audiences) are held with Amma at around 10 a.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Where: The Amritapuri Ashram is in Kollam, Kerala, 110 km north of Trivandrum.Courses: Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique (a 20-minute combination of yoga, pranayama, and meditation). Morning and evening meditation, prayers, and service are all part of the ashram life. 05 of 08 Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram Sharell Cook Address Chengam Road, 63F4+GMH, NH 66, Thamarai Nagar, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu 606603, India Get directions Phone +91 4175 237 200 Web Visit website The teachings of modern sage Ramana Maharshi are based on a process of self-inquiry, which he initiated at the age of 16 in 1886. After realizing that his real nature was "formless, immanent consciousness", he left his family home and traveled to holy mountain Arunachala, where he remained for the rest of his life. The core of his teachings can be found in a booklet called, "Who Am I?" It contains instructions that come from his direct experience of self-realization. Free accommodations and food are provided to devotees who wish to practice his teachings at the ashram. Where: Tiruvannamalai, 200 km southwest of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu.Courses: The ashram has a daily schedule of activities including puja (worship), Vedic chanting, and group readings. 06 of 08 Sri Aurobindo Ashram jayk7/Getty Images Address and, No. 9, Marine Street, White Town, Puducherry, 605002, India Get directions Phone +91 413 223 3604 Web Visit website Founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and Mirra Alfassa, a French woman known as The Mother, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram has grown into a diversified community with thousands of members. The ashram sees itself as working towards the creation of a new world, a new humanity. If you're looking for a quiet haven of retreat, this isn't the right ashram for you. It's "a vibrant center of life in a modern urban setting". There's no renunciation of the world there. Everyone spends time each day in one or another of the Ashram's 80 departments. Where: Pondicherry, 160 km south of Chennai.Courses: Collective meditations are held, but there are no prescribed practices, rituals, compulsory meditations, or systematic instructions. 07 of 08 ISKCON Ankur Dauneria/Getty Images Address Hare Krishna Hill, Chord Rd, 1st R Block, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560010, India Get directions Phone +91 80 2347 1956 Web Visit website The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement. It's based on the teachings of Lord Krisha and is a branch of Hinduism known as Gaudiya Vaishnavism, which was started in the 16th century by spiritual leader Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. ISKCON was not founded until much later, by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in 1966. The Bhagavad Gita is one of the main texts used. Devotees practice bhakti yoga, which involves dedicating all thoughts and actions towards pleasing God (Lord Krishna). Where: There are centers all over India. The world headquarters are in Mayapur, West Bengal. Other popular centers are in Delhi, Mumbai (Maharashtra), Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh), and Bangalore (Karnataka). Do note that although both sexes are welcome, ashram facilities are mostly provided for men, as women are not encouraged to live an ascetic lifestyle in the temples. Guesthouses are available though, for short-term stays.Courses: Daily activities include worship, classes on the Bhagavat Gita, a celebration of religious festivals, and lectures on spiritual topics. 08 of 08 Ramakrishna Mission Belur Math. Archive Photos / Stringer/Getty Images Address Ramakrishna Ashrama Cir, Gandhi Bazaar, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560004, India Get directions Ramakrishna Mission is a religious movement that's based on the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. It was founded by his chief apostle, Swami Vivekananda, in 1897. The teachings follow the system of Vedanta, which combines both Hindu religion and philosophy. The belief is that every soul is potentially divine, and this divinity can be manifested through work, meditation, knowledge, and devotion to God (the four Yogas). All religions are recognized and honored, as they are considered to be different paths to the same reality. Where: There are branches all over India. The headquarters are at Belur Math near Kolkata.Courses: Depends on the branch. Activities include daily worship and bhajans (singing religious songs), celebration of major Hindu festivals, religious classes, discourses, and spiritual talks and retreats. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit