Best Time to Visit The World Capital of Yoga Rishikesh 2020!

Yoga Rishikesh: Rishikesh is also called the ‘World Capital Of Yoga’. Rightly so, as it has many ‘gurus’ or teachers of the ancient practice of Yoga. Many ‘Ashrams’ or teachers of the ancient practice of Yoga.

Many ‘Ashrams’ or Schools here teach Yoga and Meditation. Yoga and meditation make life wholesome, energetic, and spiritual. These authentic Yoga classes in the holy city of the Rishikesh is a must experience on your bucket list.

Different ashrams are settled on the banks of the river itself and give yoga classes and perform Ganga aarti ceremony on the banks. Both add to your spiritual side and leave you touched for the rest of life.

Some experiences are indeed inked on your mind forever, and this will be one of them. This will change you forever. Regular practice of the yoga and meditation learned here, raise your spiritual level, and liberates you from anger and frustration in daily life.

Various Yoga and Meditation Ashrams in yoga Rishikesh?

1. Parmarth Niketan 2. Sivananda Ashram
3. Omkarananda Ganga Sadan 4. Yoga Niketan
5. Sadhana Mandir 6. Swami Dayanand Ashram
7. Phool Chatti 8. Anand Prakash Ashram
9. Himalayan Yog Ashram 10. Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation School
11. Rishikesh Yogpeeth 12. Alakh Yoga School
13. Avatar Yoga School 14. Osho Gangadham Ashram

These Ashrams provide a peaceful, serene, and spiritual environment, which is ideal for uniting with the divine and cleansing your mind, body, and soul. Let’s discuss these Ashrams in detail:

Parmarth Niketan Rishikesh
Yoga Rishikesh

1. Parmarth Niketan:

Parmarth Niketan is a riverside Ashram situated on the banks of the holy river Ganga. It is also host to the International Yoga Festival. It is the largest ashram in the area and amongst the best in India.

The Ashram is spread out on a sprawling campus of 8 acres and has 1000 plus rooms, and the unique attraction of the ashram is the Ganga Aarti Ceremony in the evening.

What’s different in Parmarth Niketan:

Yoga and meditation is the primary objective to stay here but add ons are, you can be part of the Ganga aarti and sit on the ghats and enjoy watching the rafting activity in the river. Also, you can indulge in nature care and Ayurvedic treatments. You can also receive lectures on spirituality from gurus and yogis.

Sivananda-Ashram-Rishikesh
Yoga Rishikesh

2. Sivananda Ashram:

Sivananda Ashram was founded by the Swami Vivekanand. Now, this ashram is run and maintained by The Divine Life Society. The Ashram is located near Ram Jhula on the main road. Here free meditation classes are given. Men receive their classes in the morning while women in the evening. Even accommodation and food is free but is given only to serious spiritual seekers, but they need to apply at least one month prior.

What`s different in Sivananda Ashram:

You can attend classes on yoga and meditation and apart from that, you can also learn Hinduism, Vedanta, and other spiritual topics. One can also take his evening walk along the river Ganga watching the sunset and take part in the evening prayers in the local temples.

Omkarananda-Ganga-Sadan
Yoga Rishikesh

3. Omkarananda Ganga Sadan:

Another beautiful ashram on the banks of the river, it is a serene place. The knowledgable talks of yogis and gurus make the experience enriching and memorable. The ashram is on the name of the mystic sage Paramahansa Omkarananda Saraswati. You can practice yoga daily, while intense yoga sessions need reservations. Various packages are available, and choice can be made according to the convenience.

What`s different in Omkaranande Ganga Sadan:

Apart from daily yoga sessions and intense yoga and meditation classes, the center also provides learning of the ways and teachings of the sage Shri Paramahansa Omkarananda Saraswati. Also, learn Iyengar Yoga, which is a popular form of Yoga. Visit the riverfront for evening aarti. You can also attend Satsang(sacred singing).

Yoga-Niketan-Rishikesh
Yoga Rishikesh

4. Yoga-Niketan-Rishikesh

Yoga Niketan set amidst the beautiful city Rishikesh is amongst the best institutes for Yoga and meditation. It has 100 comfortable rooms for the students all with separate bathrooms and hot water. This ashram was set up by the yogi and guru Swami Yogeshwaranand Paramahansa, who was a great master of Raja Yoga.

What`s different in Yoga Niketan:

The teachings here are on the eight primary branches of Patanjali Yoga Shastra. Here students are required to adhere to the disciplined life with Yoga and meditation at the heart of it. Ayurvedic spa and acupressure are also available here. You should also experience Satsang here.

Sadhana-Mandir-Rishikesh
Yoga Rishikesh

5. Sadhana Mandir:

Away from the busy Rishikesh, Sadhana Mandir is a bit farther away from the main city and is a quiet retreat towards nature and self-awareness. The ashram was set up in 1966 by Swami Rama, who is also the author of the famous book, ‘Living with the Himalayan Masters’ and many other publications.

This Ashram focuses on teaching the 5,000-year-old Himalayan Traditional style Yoga in it.

What`s different in Sadhana Mandir:

The ashram is beautiful and sits on the banks of the river Ganges. This Ashram offers a weekend as well as ten-day-long programs.

You can attend a guided silence retreat program and self-transformation program here. The scenic beauty due to the view of the river and beautiful gardens is serene and casts a peaceful atmosphere.

Swami-Dayanand-Ashram-Rishikesh
Yoga Rishikesh

6. Swami Dayanand Ashram:

Swami Dayanand Ashram was set up in the 1960s by Swami Dayanand Saraswati himself. He was a Sanskrit scholar and an expert teacher of Vedanta (collection of Veds). It is at 10 minutes walk from Ram Jhula. This place has 150 rooms for staying with attached bathrooms.

What`s different in Swami Dayanand Ashram:

The Ashram teaches yoga and meditation along with Vedic chanting and other sessions focusing on Bhagwad Gita and Upanishads. Students also have the opportunity to learn Iyengar and Hatha Yoga.

Phool-Chatti-Rishikesh
Yoga Rishikesh

7. Phool Chatti:

Phool Chatti literally means ‘Land of Flowers’ and the place speaks for it. It was founded in the 1800s. The place is situated a bit upriver from Laxman Jhula. Here yoga does not only include different Asanas but, all the paths that lead to a yogic life.

These paths are- meditation, Pranayam (breathing), cleansing, chanting, Mauna(silence), Kirtan(sacred singing), worship, etc. Also, the Ashram practices all 8 types of yoga with a major focus on Hatha Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga.

What`s different in Phool Chatti:

In Phool Chatti, one should experience the rituals like Havan ceremony. Another exciting activity is the meditative nature walk. Also, Ritual Bathing in the river is considered to be sin absolving.

8. Anand Prakash Ashram:

Anand Prakash Ashram is a new development by a couple, Chetana Panwar(a Canadian woman) and Yogirishi Vishvketu( a master of Hatha and Raja yoga and also Vedic healing arts). They offer a non-sectarian version of Yoga and teachings from multiple sources.

The accommodation is optional here. You can either stay in the premises of the Ashram or elsewhere and attend all the activities. One can also check-in for random classes. It is situated in the Tapovan area.

What`s different in Ananda Prakash Ashram:

This place does not speak of any kind of religion but an amalgamation of a number of them. You can practice meditation, yoga, chanting, breathing exercises and relaxation. 200 and 500-hour Teacher Training Programmes are also available. Another engaging activity is the Ayurvedic Cooking Classes.

9. Himalayan Yog Ashram:

This beautiful ashram was founded in 2012 and lies a bit further than Anand Prakash Ashram. It is an ashram giving away yogic lifestyle teachings in a manner that goes deep inside you.

They are known for the transformational journey they embark on. Only 6 rooms are available, all with attached bathrooms and night stays of 6, 13, 20, or 27 nights are possible.

What`s different in Himalayan Yog Ashram:

They teach you all kinds of postures, meditation, breathing exercises, spiritual teachings, Ayurvedic food, but here, the focus is not on the postures, but the transformation they bring in you by taping on your inner self.

Shree-Mahesh-Heritage-Meditation-School-1
Yoga Rishikesh

10. Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation School:

Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation School is for those who want to focus on meditation more than Yoga. This school was founded by Ram Gupta. He holds a degree in Nature Cure  Science, a Master Degree in Yoga and Meditation, and 20 years plus experience of teaching in foreign and homeland.

What`s different in Shree Mahesh Heritage Meditation School:

The school believes in the Vedic approach to Yoga. They offer a 300-hour Teacher Training Course in meditation. Also, they offer weekend retreats and beginners course as well. Here they also teach Life Healing and spiritual development.

Another unique course here is a non-residential Life Supportive Lifestyle Program that teaches about how to eat a healthy and wholesome diet.

11. Rishikesh Yogpeeth:

Rishikesh Yogpeeth is unique due to its beautiful and natural setting. It is situated amongst the hills near a village called Patna. To reach here, you need to climb a short but a challenging trek. The trek starts from Neelkanth Mahadev Road, just before Phool Chatti.

This beautiful place is a non-profit organization and is set up by a few locals who came together to promote Yoga in 2005. The area has 18 cottages for accommodation.

What`s different at Rishikesh Yogpeeth:

Rishikesh Yogpeeth is famous for yoga with nature experience as set amidst the hills. Here mind, body, and soul combine with nature and get cleansed and rejuvenated through Yoga.

It has 200, 300 and 500-hour Teacher Training Courses. They also offer 7-day courses for tourist and citizens who have lesser time to part. The 200-hour course is given at riverside campus at Phool Chatti. This place also has ten cottages.

12. Alakh Yoga School:

This school is situated on the outskirts of Rishikesh and offers some unique courses in addition to the yoga and meditation courses. It gives 200-hour Teacher Training Courses. The accommodation facilities and food included in the package provided.

What`s different in Alakh Yoga School:

The Teacher Training Course here offers not only yoga and meditation but emotional unblocking and Basic Naturopathy using five elements retreats. These additions let the student dive deeper into himself or herself and understand their bodies further.

Apart from these, 13-day Naturopathy and Body Detox and 6-day Unblocking Emotional self course also offered.

Avatar-Yoga-School
Yoga Rishikesh

13. Avatar Yoga School:

Avatar Yoga School is situated behind the forest near the Swag Ashram area. It is a 10 minutes walk from the river. International standard accommodation facilities along with food are available. The prices include a comfortable stay in bathroom attached room and Ayurveda food, healthy juices and rejuvenating herbal teas.

What`s different in Avatar Yoga School:

This school prefers a practical approach towards learning rather than theoretical and promotes traditional Yoga.

The unique course given here is the Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training Course. They also offer 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training and also a 300-hour Hatha and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training. In addition to these courses, they offer 7-day and 14-day Yoga retreats, which is the organized monthly.

Osho-Ganga-Dham-Ashram
Yoga Rishikesh

14. Osho Ganga Dham Ashram:

This is the place to be if you are a disciple of Osho and his teachings. Set in the beautiful setting of hills at the back and the holy Ganges river in the front, it is an ideal place to relax and connect with the divine and your spiritual self.

Here you can find accommodation facilities for every budget, from dormitories to private deluxe rooms.

What`s different in Osho Ganga Dham Ashram:

Here discipline and routine is not a necessity. What I mean is that you can very well indulge in all the activities or just listen to the discourses being offered or simply sit and relax in the serene and spiritual environment of the Ashram.

Various courses on Yoga and Meditation and Osho`s teachings and spirituality are imparted to students.

So, this was all about the ‘World Capital of Yoga’. The rejuvenating and relaxing practice of regular Yoga and meditation raises your spiritual self. It unlocks emotional blocks and activates your Chakras. The experiences here make you feel energetic and spiritual.

We hope your stay in Rishikesh is an enriching and enlightening one. Also, read our article on the holiness and heritage of Varanasi and fun and adventure in Panaji, Goa.

6 thoughts on “Best Time to Visit The World Capital of Yoga Rishikesh 2020!”

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