” Meditation is the tongue of the soul and the language of our spirit. “

In the extremely busy and hurry life, we have forgotten that we are working to live, not living to work. In the rat race of the world, we have forgotten to take out the time for ourselves. From kids to adults, every body is busy in their hectic life, making our day to day work to become monotonous and boring.  May be this is the reason what is taking the creativity out of the head and filling lots of stress. It’s the time to break the monotony of life and throw the stress away. What you really need is a calm and peaceful place to achieve the peace of mind. One such method is meditation.

Meditation is the art of silencing the mind. When the mind is silent, concentration increases and we can experience inner peace in the midst of worldly turmoil. Meditation can bring a great amount of creativity into the head as our mind is in complete peace because of it. India has made meditation and Yoga, famous all around the globe. Many Gurus and experts have setup their meditation centers at different parts of the country. Even people from other countries do sincerely follow the meditational methods of Indian Gurus.  People from all around the globe, come to India to see the power of meditation and achieve the divine inner peace. India has many such places in India to be visited with complete family or friends which can bring your mind to a stable state of calmness and peace.

Presenting the list of Meditational retreats in India……..

1.) Rishikesh

• Rishikesh is popularly known as the birth place of Yoga. Rishikesh is located in the North Indian State of Uttarakhand.
• Rishikesh, along with Mysore, is one of the most popular destinations for yoga in India. There are numerous ashrams, and numerous styles of yoga and meditation, to choose from.
• Anand Prakash Ashram is located in tapovan near Rishikesh. Founded by Yogrishi Vishvketu ji and Chetana Panwar, this ashram offers a wide range of Traditions in Yoga such as Vedic Karma, Kirtan, Meditation, Asana, Pranayama and a lot more. Akhanda Yoga is the most popular Yoga teaching of this Ashram and also the major attraction.
• Parmarth Niketan is the largest Ashram in Rishikesh. It is located in Swargashram Locality in Rishikesh on the banks of the holy Ganges. Parmarth Niketan has been in existence for the last 70 years being one of the oldest Ashrams in Rishikesh as well.
• In Rishikesh, there is a 120-year-old ashram, located on the banks of river Ganga. This ashram is known as Phool Chatti, which means “Land of Flowers”.  Phool Chatti offers a wide range of yoga learning courses and teacher training courses. These courses may range from a short 1-week course to even a year or two.
• Located a short walk up the hill from Anand Prakash, the compact Himalayan Yog Ashram teaches the practice of Himalayan Yoga based on the Vedic tradition, which forms the base for all different paths of yoga. The programs consist of a combination of yoga postures, breathing, meditation, and spiritual teachings. Various Ayurvedic healing programs are offered as well.

2.) Kerala

• Meditation is nothing but putting the mind aside, putting the mind out of the way, and bringing a witnessing which is always there but hidden underneath the mind. This witnessing will reach to your center, and once you have become enlightened, then there is no problem. Then bring the mind in tune with you
• The Sivananda Yoga Camp was founded by Swami Vishnudevananda in 1963 and is the headquarters of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres. Situated one hour north of Montreal amidst 250 forested acres of the Laurentian Mountains, the Ashram boasts beautiful mountain views, tranquil gardens and woodland paths, a swimming pool and offers a wide range of outdoor activities in both summer and winter.
• On the banks of the holy river Ganga (Ganges), and nestled among the Himalayan Mountains the Sivananda Kutir makes the perfect setting for yoga practices. The ashram is open from April to November. Yoga Vacation guests are welcome when courses are not happening. Prior booking is essential as the ashram has the capacity for only 30 students.
• Matagi Mundax is an eco-friendly Homestay and Kerala Yoga Meditation retreat sets in four acres of an organic farm near PeriyarTiger Reserve. The Homestay Yoga Meditation retreat is the ideal place to relax, meditate, practice yoga, and listen to the stillness of your inner Self.
• In order to give participants individual attention and provide guidelines according to their background and level, we take only four students in a class. Join us for a 3, 5, 7 or 10 days Yoga Meditation Spiritual Retreat.

3.) Varanasi

• Colorful and spiritual are the two words best describe the charm of Varanasi. This Indian travel destination is famous for its bathing Ghats that line River Ganges. Considered to be one of the holiest places around the world, it is visited by millions of Hindus and travelers each year.
• Varanasi is mostly preferred by travelers from Hyderabad, Bangalore. There are 117 tourist places in Varanasi, which can be explored by travelers. Local attractions can be visited at any time of the day, be it early morning, afternoon, evening or night, as suitable for travelers.
• Dasaswamedh Ghat is one of the prominent ghats, situated on the banks of river Ganges. The ghat is visited by Hindu devotees in large number due to the religious significance of ten sacrificed horses.
• It is believed that ten horses were sacrificed by Lord Brahma to allow Lord Shiva return from the period of banishment.
• Apart from being the oldest ghat of Varanasi, it is untouched and retains its beauty.
• It is believed that the sacrifice of ten horses was repeated at the ghat during the second century by Bhara Shiva Naga rulers. Dotted with numerous temples and religious sites, the ghat possesses well-laid steps and platforms for performing various rituals and religious activities.
• The evening Aarti at the ghat attracts many devotees, who immerse earthen lamps in the water of holy Ganges, providing a beautiful view of the dusk.
• Kedar Ghat, situated in the southern part of the destination, was built by the Maharaja of Vijayanagar. The ghat is named after Lord Shiva, who is also known as ‘Kedarnath’. Popular among Bengali and South Indians, the ghat has a beautiful temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. This temple is constructed in ancient Hindu architectural style.
• Ramnagar Museum, also known as Banaras Vidya Mandir Museum, is a scholarly museum located inside the Ramnagar Fort. The museum houses a vast collection of items belonging to the Royal family of Varanasi. These include artifacts belonging to medieval period along with various handicraft items.

4.)  Osho  Ganga Dham

• To meditate in a center in the company of others on a regular or occasional basis, can be a valuable and enjoyable experience. Situated in the pleasant natural area near river Ganga of Uttarakhand, some ten minutes by road from Laxman Jhulla and a 15-minute drive from world famous Rishikesh.
• This is a place where you can simply relax and where you can also enjoy the company of visitors of all ages from all over the world. You can choose if you want to do something, or if you just want to rest,  meditate — or just to be.
• Meditation practices are taught at the ashram, and meditation camps are offered throughout the year.
• The Osho Ganga Dham ashram is situated on the Ganges River at Brahampuri, on Badrinath Road. It is founded by Osho for mental peace and tranquility of the people. The ashram is surrounded by the Shivalik hills of the Himalayas on three sides, which feels you close to nature.
• This is a perfect sanctuary for anyone looking for personal Transformation. And seeking a deep inner journey through various holistic techniques of Meditation, Yoga, Inner Inquiry or simply a quiet personal retreat etc.
• The Ashram has a large meditation Hall overlooking the river Ganges, a very private Ganges beach just a few stairs down from the ashram and several nearby trails to explore the surrounding hills and the long river bank.
• “Every year thousands of people visit this beautiful and comfortable Ashram. A paradise where you can stay a long time or short time, within a low budget and very good food in the commune, with meditations being free. The atmosphere is really like a fairy tale. A paradise where all your emotional and spiritual needs are met. I can advise everybody to visit for a few days and walk around that beautiful garden where everybody is friendly.”

5.)  Vipassana International Academy, Nashik

• Dhamma Giri, meaning ‘Hill of Dhamma’ is one of the world’s largest Vipassana meditation centers. It is co-located with the Vipassana Research Institute at Igatpuri in Maharastra. The center’s Pagoda has over 400 cells for individual meditation.
• Vipassana is the process of self-purification by self-observation. One begins by observing the natural breath to concentrate the mind.
• Then, with a sharpened awareness, one proceeds to observe the changing nature of body and mind. And experiences the universal truths of impermanence, suffering, and egolessness. This truth-realization by direct experience results in mental purification.
• This truth-realization by direct experience results in mental purification.
  The technique is a universal remedy for universal problems and has nothing to do with any organized religion or sectarianism. It can be freely practiced by anyone without conflict due to race, community or religion, and will prove equally beneficial to one and all.
• To learn Vipassana Meditation one needs to develop one’s own experience during a residential ten-day course. Courses are held throughout the year at Dhamma Giri. Courses are also held in various locations throughout India and many countries around the world.

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