10 Popular Vipassana Centers In India
Calm your senses and delve into deep meditation at India's best Vipassana centers.
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Vipassana meditation has been practiced since time immemorial and is said to have wonderful health benefits. Vipassana centers in India see people come from far and wide. Have you often wondered why this meditation technique is so popular and how healing it can be? These techniques have profound medical backing and can help you with numerous benefits. First, however, you must choose the right meditation technique and master it under the supervision of a trained instructor.
This post talks about the top Vipassana meditation retreats in India. Read on and check them out!
In This Article
Northern India:
1. Dhamma Sikhara:
The location of Dhamma Sikhara is what makes it very popular. The center is located in the Dhauladhar Range of the Himalayas in Northern India. It is close to Dharamkot Village in Upper Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. Short courses for 1, 2 and 3 days are conducted at the center along with long courses of 10 days and Satipattana course.
Contact Number– 91-92184-14051 and 91-92185-14051
Address – Himachal Vipassana Centre,
Dhamma Sikhara; Dharamkot, McLeodganj,Dharamsala 176 219 Dist. Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
Website – http://www.sikhara.dhamma.org/
Fee – No fee (donation based)
2. Dhamma Lakkhana:
Sprawled over an expansive 8 acres of land, Dhamma Lakkhana has many trees planted in its premises, which give the place a tranquil and cool feeling. The center was established in 2003 and has been receiving a steady flow of students for the different courses. Annually, about 18 to 20 different ten-day courses are organized by the center, along with many 3-day courses, 1 to 2 Satipattana courses, and Anapana courses exclusively for children.
Contact Number – 91- 522-2508525
Address – Dhamma Lakkhana,
Lucknow Vipassana Center,
Astee Road, Near bakshi-ka-Talaab,District Lucknow – 227202, Uttar Pradesh
Website – http://www.lakkhana.dhamma.org/
Fee – No fee (donation based)
3. Dhamma Patthana:
This Vipassana meditation center attracts large numbers of people from Northern India due to its prime location. Students from various North-Indian states come to this Vipassana center for attending various courses that are offered from time to time. 10-day courses and courses for children are commonly conducted at the center.
Contact Number – 09991874524
Address – Vipassana Sadhana Sansthan, Village kammaspur, Dist. Sonepat (Haryana) – 131 001
Website – http://www.sota.dhamma.org/
Fee – No fee (donation based)
Central And Eastern India:
4. Dhamma Bodhi:
Situated in Bodhgaya, this Vipassana center is one of the best in India. It is the place where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. The famous Bodhi Tree of Bodhgaya can be seen from this center. It is located on 12 acres of land and had been conducting Vipassana courses since 1970. However, it was in 1995 that the first course was conducted as a curriculum of the center. This center is frequently visited by foreign students as well.
Contact Number – (631)220-0437
Address – Dhamma Bodhi – Bodh Gaya International Vipassana Meditation Centre,
Gaya-Dhobi Road, Near Magadha University, Bodhgaya, Bihar 824 234, India
Website – http://www.bodhi.dhamma.org/
Fee – No fee (donation based)
5. Dhamma Ganga:
As the name implies, Dhamma Ganga is located on the banks of River Ganges in Kolkata. The center started functioning from 1989, one year after it was acquired. The three-storied large building is surrounded by trees from all sides. Good accommodation facilities are available for men, women and teachers at the center, along with a new meditation hall. Generally, 24 one-day courses, 4 three-day courses, 20 ten-day courses, 2 Satipattana courses, and 4 children courses are conducted by the center.
Contact Number – (033) 2553-2855
Address – Calcutta Vipassana Centre – Dhamma Ganga
Bara Mandir Ghat, Harishchandra Dutta Road, Panihati (Sodepur)Dt. 24 Parganas, West Bengal 743 176, India
Website – http://www.ganga.dhamma.org/
Fee – No fee (donation based)
6. Dhamma Ketu:
Dhamma Ketu, which means ‘Fort of Dhamma’, is located close to the Shivanth River. This center was established in 1994 and has been conducting various kinds of Vipassana courses for interested students. On an average, 3 three-day courses, 10 ten-day courses and 2 Satipattana courses are conducted by the center annually.
Contact Number – (0788)320-5513
Address – Durg Vipassana Centre – Dhamma Ketu,
Bhilai-Durg (Chattisgarh) Vipassana Centre, Thanaud, Via Anjaura, Dist. Durg., Chhattisgarh, India
Website – https://ketu.dhamma.org/
Fee – No fee (donation based)
Western India:
7. Dhamma Giri:
One of the largest Vipassana meditation centers in India as well as the world, Dhamma Giri is frequented by large numbers of students seeking inner peace. The first 10-day course was hosted in the center in the year 1976, and since then, many developments have taken place in the center with respect to accommodations, meditation halls, and pagodas. Large numbers of students are enrolled in each course at this center. Mataji and Goenkaji are often seen at this Vipassana center in the evenings.
Contact Number – 91-2553-244076/ 244086/ 243712/ 243238
Address – Vipassana International Academy Dhamma Giri, P.O. Box 6,
Igatpuri 422 403, District Nasik, Maharashtra, India
Website – https://giri.vridhamma.org/
Fee – No fee (donation based)
8. Dhamma Kota:
Situated in a small village called Khokhaddad, this Vipassana meditation center is at a distance of 14 kilometers from Rajkot. The center is spread over 14 acres of land with a lovely landscape in the backdrop. 10-day courses are offered at the center frequently, along with occasional Satipattana courses. Excellent accommodation facilities are available for resident students. Developments are also being made for other amenities at the center, including meditation halls and pagodas.
Contact Number – +91 (281) 2924942, 2924924, 93279 23540
Address – Dhamma Kota,
Saurashtra Vipassana Research Center, Kotharia Road, Near Khokhadad Village, Dist. Rajkot, Gujarat – INDIA
Website – http://www.kota.dhamma.org/
Fee – No fee (donation based)
Southern India:
9. Dhamma Setu:
Located on an area of almost 18 acres of land, Dhamma Setu is surrounded by greenery on all sides. There are paddy fields as well as open farmlands all around the meditation center, providing a calm atmosphere. It was in the year 2000 that Dhamma Setu was established, though the land was received way back in 1991. With constant developments in infrastructure, this center has now become a leading Vipassana center, not only in India, but also on a global scale. 10-day courses are a specialty of this center, and they are conducted on a bi-monthly basis. With the completion of the Pagoda complex, there are plans of starting more long-duration courses in the center in the near future.
Contact Number – 91-44-24780953
Address – Dhamma Setu533 Pazhamthandalam Road, via Thiruneermalai Road, Thirumudivakkam, Chennai – 600 044
Website – https://setu.dhamma.org/
Fee – No fee (donation based)
10. Dhamma Ketana Vipassana Meditation Center:
Dhamma Ketana has carved a niche for itself for becoming one of the best Vipassana meditation centers in India. Spread over an area of 5.2 acres, the meditation center is located in Cheriyanad, which is a small peaceful village near Chengannur town in Kerala. The rustic charm of the place has made it an ideal destination for meditation. Initially, Vipassana courses were carried out at rented sites. It is since 2006 that the center has had proper long term courses in its schedule. Presently there is a monthly 10-day course, 1 day children courses, as well as 3-day courses conducted at the center.
Contact Number – (0091) – 479 – 2351616
Address – Kerala Vipassana Samiti, VMC, Mampra P.O. Kodukulanji (via) Chengannur, Dist. Alleppey (8 kms from Chengannur Railway station), Kerala-689511
Website – http://www.ketana.dhamma.org/
Fee – No fee (Donation based)
Vipassana meditation has been practiced for ages across India due to its healing benefits for mental health. It is always better to practice this ancient meditative technique under the supervision of a trained professional, at least in the initial days, to achieve the desired results. All of the Vipassana centers in India listed above offer specialized courses and have trained gurus to help you get rid of your worries and anxieties. These courses are offered free of cost but are donation-based. So, choose your nearest center and enroll yourself at the earliest!
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