The Ashram was established during the 1960s by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, who is a globally renowned teacher of Vedanta and foremost scholar of Sanskrit. It is a unique center for the study of Vedanta and Sanskrit in English.

Location: The Ashram is situated on the banks of the Holy river Ganga at Rishikesh, India. The closest airport is Dehradun situated 21 Kms away.

Accommodations: The Ashram has limited accommodation and needs to be booked in advance. There is no fixed tariff for the stay & food but voluntary donations are expected. (Office timings 8 am to 12.30 pm & 3 pm to 6.30 pm)

Basics: This being a compact Ashram you may not need a tour etc. There are a few guidelines on the dress code as shown in the picture above.

Food: Vegetarian food is provided in the dining hall as per schedule shown in the above photo. There are restaurants nearby as the Ashram is located in the middle of the town.

Activities: The Ashram has a Temple, Samadhi Shrine, Book shop apart from the Auditorium. There is a fixed schedule for the Vedanta course program participants. General visitors can attend the Puja at the Temple and also can witness Ganga Aarti in the evening. There is a nice walkway to Ram Jhula from the back side gate.

Vendata Retreats/Courses: The Ashram conducts short term and long term residential programs on Vendanta and Sanskrit.

This ashram is the birthplace of the world-renowned Amma Amritanandamayi, often referred to as the “Hugging Saint”. It also serves as the headquarters for Amma’s extensive worldwide humanitarian mission.

Reaching the Ashram

The Amirtapuri Ashram is situated in Kerala, India. We reached the ashram by car from Cochin Airport, which took us approximately 4 hours. The ashram is also about 35 kilometers from the Kollam railway station, or a roughly 1-hour drive from Kollam (also known as Quilon). From Cochin Airport, the distance is approximately 140 km.

Accommodation and Food

We had pre-booked our accommodation online, which made the check-in process smooth. Upon arrival, we submitted a photo ID at the Accommodation Office and received our room key and bed sheets. The rooms are quite comfortable, almost 2-star hotel standard with an attached bathroom. In 2023, the cost for accommodation and food was a very nominal INR 300 per person per day.

For international visitors, an important note – passports need to be deposited upon arrival and can be collected back at checkout, or preferably a day earlier as the office is open only during specified hours.

When it comes to food, there are diverse options:

• The Indian Dining Hall offers meals for free.
• Other options like the Western Dining Hall, Indian Canteen, and cafes charge a fee, but a meal typically costs around INR 100.
• Beyond these, the ashram also has a vegetable shop and a departmental store.

We observed a significant number of foreign visitors at the ashram.

Daily Life and Activities

The ashram offers an Ashram tour daily at 10:30 AM (or at 5 PM on Tuesdays).

The evenings are when the ashram truly comes alive:

• Programs typically begin at 5 PM daily in the Meditation Hall.
• The schedule includes a Satsang (Discourse), followed by Meditation, and then Bhajan (devotional singing). All these activities take place in Amma’s presence.

The Transformative Embrace: Amma’s Darshan

The highlight for many is Amma’s Darshan, her personal embrace (hugging), which commences around 8:30 PM after the evening programs conclude. To experience this, you need to obtain a token. Each person is given the opportunity to hug Amma one by one. Amma is known to speak words of blessing in your own language. Even with large crowds, everyone is given a chance to receive her embrace. During our visit, our turn came past 11 PM. On many days, Darshan continues until midnight.

Exploring the Ashram and Beyond

Beyond the scheduled activities, there are several significant places to explore within the ashram grounds:

• The Meditation Hall
• The Kali Temple
• Amma’s birthplace
• Directly opposite the ashram, you’ll find a beautiful beach. Meditation on the beach is also an option.

For those who wish to contribute, there are volunteering opportunities for service (Seva) during the morning and daytime.

Making the Most of Your Visit To truly experience everything the Amirtapuri Ashram has to offer, including meditation on the beach, Darshan at the Kali Temple, and Amma’s embrace, it is recommended to stay for at least one day.

Visiting Amirtapuri Ashram offers a unique opportunity for reflection, service, and experiencing the warmth of Amma’s presence.

Kanha Shanti Vanam is the world headquarters of the Heartfulness Institute also known as Sahaj Marg.

Sahaj Marg, a spiritual path focusing on meditation, was founded by Shri Ram Chandra, also known as Babuji Maharaj. He started teaching Sahaj Marg in the early 20th century, emphasizing the practice of “Sahaj Marg” or the “Natural Path” to spiritual evolution.

Location : This sprawling campus of 1400 acres is located about 20 Km from Hyderabad Airport, India.

How to Reach: You can take a cab from the Airport. The Ashram also provides pickup and drop off service from/to the Airport.

Nestled amidst serene surroundings,, Kanha provides a tranquil retreat from the bustle of daily life. The atmosphere emits a sense of peace that invites guests to meditate and engage in self-reflection.

It has the world’s largest Meditation hall, Multiple canteens offering vegetarian food, Wonderful Children’s park, Swimming pool, Gym, Book store, Grocery departmental store, Wellness Ayurvedic Spa and Residential facilities including cost-free options.

To move around within the campus one can rent the bikes after payment of refundable deposit.

Free training sessions are offered to visitors who are new to Heartfulness Meditation. It is necessary to attend 3 sessions before one can start practicing on their own. Details can be obtained at the Welcome Lounge.

Abhyasis (Practitioner) can attend the group meditation in the Meditation hall twice a day- morning 6.30 am (Sundays 9 am) and evening 5.30 pm.

There is a dining hall for Abhyasis.

Suruchi Canteen offering a wide spread of vegetarian cuisine and Italian Restaurant are open to all.

Three day retreats are also scheduled on specified periods for new seekers as shown in the sample poster below. Further info. is available at https://heartfulness.org/kanha/events-listing