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INDIA, SPIRITUALITY, TRAVEL
10 amazing places to meditate in India
1. Kasar Devi, Uttaranchal

kasar-devi

Kasar Devi is a little hill-top village 30 kms further up from Almora in the Himalayan state of
Uttaranchal in North India.

Kasar Devi became known as a spiritual centre when Swami Vivekanandameditated here in
the 1890s and wrote about his experiences in his diary. Walter Evans-Wentz, student of
Tibetan Budhism and the translator of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, stayed here for some
time.

Apparently, the earths magnetic field plunges in Kasar Devi making it especially conducive
for meditative and transcendental experiences.

Not surprisingly, Kasar Devi has seen spiritual seekers streaming into this little village for the
last 100 years. Danish mystic Sunyata Baba (Alfred Sorensen) lived here from the 1930s till
the 60s. As did Ernst Hoffman, who later became known as Lama Angarika Govinda.
Mystic-saint Ananda Mayi Maa too spent some time here.

Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, George Harrison, Timothy Leary, DH Lawrence, all came to Kasar
Devi for spiritual and creative inspirations.

The Kasar Devi temple complex, built in 2nd century CE, is a great place to meditate.
Further up from the temple is the Shiva temple at the highest point in the region. Built in 8th
century CE, it gives a great panoramic 360 degree view of the valleys and mountain ranges.
Its probably the only temple I have seen in India that also has a meditation room.

These temples are relatively quiet and has few visitors, making this one of the best active
temples in India to meditate in.

photo 1 (3) photo 3 (2)

2. Bhuj, Gujarat

Bhuj

About 12 kilometers from Bhuj, a parched, dry region in the western state of Gujarat, is a
Shiva temple built probably in the 11th or 12th century CE.

Located in the middle of nowhere with no mention in any travel book and no roadsigns
leading you to it, its not that easy to find unless somebodys given you specific directions.
The Archaeological Survey of India has done its job of putting up a board on it. And Gujarat
Tourism probably doesnt even know this beautiful ancient temple exists. And thats good
news for meditators.

Nobody knows of its existence and hardly anyone ever visits here, which makes this highly
energised place of worship a rare serene temple in India to spend the entire day meditating.
The only things that might disturb you there are the birds and the squirrels.

Bhuj Temple Shiva

For directions to the temple, pls contact Mr. Manvir Vaghela of Kutch Safari Resort, Bhuj.

3. Isha Ashram, Coimbatore

isha

The Isha Yoga Ashram in Coimbatore, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is located
in a beautiful, cool place on the foothills of the Velliangiri Hills.

The hills, known as the Kailash of the South, has special significance as Lord Shiva is
supposed to have spent some time here back in the day. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the
founder of Isha, says that his Guru had left his body on the hills. As did Sadhgurus previous
incarnationSadhguru Brahma Yogicontributing to the highly energised state of
these hills.

The star attraction in the Isha Ashram is Dhyanalinga.

Dhyanalinga is a 13 feet high Shiva linga made of high density black granite. It was
consecrated by Sadhguru using the ancient yogic practice of Prana Pratishtha and is
supposed to be the first of its kind to have been completed in the last 2000 years. A large
dome of 76 feet diameter and 33 feet height covers the sanctum sanctorum.

dhyanalinga-600x398 dhyanlinga-isha

The Dhyanalinga is an energised body divided into 7 parts just like the chakra system of the
human body. Meditating there is like meditating in the physical presence of an enlightened
being like the Buddha. With each day of the week corresponding to one chakra, you can
work on and activate each chakra by meditating there for 7 consecutive days.

4. Arunachala, Thiruvanamalai

arunachala

Arunachala Hill in Thiruvanamalai is another highly energised space in the Southern state of
Tamil Nadu. The great Indian mystic Ramana Maharshi called it the spiritual centre of the
universe.
There are a couple of caves on Arunachala where Ramana Maharshi had meditated for 22
years. These caves are highly energised spaces and its a favorite for meditators.

1*b-_JOwgM0-xpLoRNoD_8hA photo (5)

Ramana Maharshis ashram is located at the foothills and its a great place to stay if you plan
and book in advance. The morning and evening prayers at the ashram temples are truly
uplifting experiences.

Ramana Maharshi advised everyone to circumambulate the hill walking clockwise. If you
decide to do so, start early at 4am and walk slowly and intently. By the time you complete
3/4ths of the walk, prepare yourself for a massive surge of energy.

5. Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

Spiti

North of Himachal, South of Ladakh, and West of Tibet, Spiti is one of the most stunning
places one can ever visit. There are few places better than this for quiet solitude and
reflection.

Getting to Spiti is tough. But that makes it all the more worthwhile to visit.

While in Spiti, one should stay in the villages, in the homes of the locals, and meditate in or
near the village monastery, usually located at the highest point there. Komic, the highest
village in the world, has only 13 homes and a beautiful monastery, which you could choose
as your meditative base.

Imagine meditating at 4,900 meters in a place that looks like this.

IMG_0101 IMG_0188

6. Pushkar, Rajasthan

IMG_2142

The temple town of Pushkar in the western Indian state of Rajasthan is a great place to chill
and meditate.

The Pushkar Sarovar area is clean and quiet, making it conducive for mediating. Theres a
Brahma temple close-by, great roadside breakfast places and interesting hippie restaurants
and cafes. You could cap off a great day of meditation with a bhaang-laced lassi called the
Special Lassi at Doctor Nobodys or anywhere else that has a Special lassi sign. And dont
forget to start your day with a poori-sabzi breakfast on the street near the temple entrance.
Make sure to wake up at sunrise, go to a rooftop and enjoy the beauty of the Pushkar
morning, birds against the blue skies flying to the gongs of temple bells ringing in the
distance, and ancient houses and temples with hillocks further away making up the skyline.

This place is surreal and will make you feel like youve been transported to the 15th century.

IMG_2179 IMG_2184

7. Hampi, Karnataka

Hampi_virupaksha_temple

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagar empire, one of the greatest empires of the world
between the 14th and 16th centuries CE. During its golden period, it matched the size and
splendour of the Roman empire.

But once the Islamic invaders managed to breach its boundaries, they ravaged everything
except the Virupaksha temple, a place Lord Rama is supposed to have prayed to Lord Shiva
when searching for his wife Sita. Minutes later, as the legend goes, he came across Sugriva
and Hanuman, and the rest is history.

Despite the destruction caused by the invaders 600 years ago, the ruins of Hampi give
ample evidence of the grandeur of the place in its prime.

On the other side of the river Tungabhadra is Anjanadri, the hill-top temple where the
monkey-God Hanuman is said to have been born.

On the same side is a place that doesnt find a mention in any tourist map or guide book but
makes for a great place to meditate.

While driving in that region, you may come across an elderly farmer by the roadside, who
could take you through a narrow gateway in the rocks onto a secluded place that has caves
with paintings supposedly from the neolithic era. You can choose the cave that most catches
your fancy, tip the elderly farmer and send him off on his way, and spend the rest of the day
meditating there.

(Its probably not a safe place to be at nights and women should be careful.)

IMG_2737 IMG_2740 IMG_2742 IMG_2745

8. Netala, Uttarkashi

Nine kilometers ahead of Uttarkashi in the Himalayan state of Uttaranchal is a small village
called Netala. The river Bhagirathi, which goes on to become the Ganges, flows by gently
through the massive Himalayas.
You could walk to the middle of the river bed, find a comfortable rock to sit on, and mediate
to the sound of the river flowing by with the tall Himalayan mountains keeping a watch over
you.

photo 1 (6) photo 2 (6) photo 4 (3)

In Netala, you could stay in Anand Ganga, a small 5-room guest house right by the river bed.
Lovely place.

9. Baba Budangiri, Chikmaglur

Baba Budangiri

Amongst the coffee plantations of Chikmaglur in the southern Indian state of Karnataka is a
hill called Baba Budangiri. Named after the Sufi mystic Baba Budan, who supposedly
brought coffee into the region from the Arab, the hill stands majestically tall overlooking the
region.

On Baba Budangiri is a beautiful little lake and a Shiva temple that makes for a great
meditation place. Youll especially like it if youre spiritual andadventurous because, lately,
tigers have been spotted in the area.

Baba Budangiri

10. Sarnath, Varanasi

Sarnath Stupa
Sarnath Stupa
Just outside the ancient holy city of Varanasi is Sarnath, a great place of learning and
education more than 2000 years ago. The largest structure in Sarnath is the Dhamekh
Stupa43.6 meters in height and 28 meters in diameteroriginally built by King
Ashoka in 249 BCE and rebuilt in 500 CE. It is at this spot that Gautama Buddha gave his
first sermon to his first five disciples after attaining enlightenment revealing his eightfold path
to nirvana.

Its a quiet place, away from the hustle and bustle of Varanasi, where you could meditate in
the company of Buddhist monks who visit the place daily from all parts of the world.

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PUBLISHED BY
MysticZippy
Seeker View all posts by MysticZippy

JULY 13, 2015

2 COMMENTS
#INDIA, ARUNACHALA, BABA BUDANGIRI, BHUJ, CHIKMAGLUR, DHYANALINGA,
GANGES, GUJARAT, HAMPI, ISHA, ISHA ASHRAM, ISHA YOGA, KASAR DEVI,
MEDITATION, NETALA, PUSHKAR, RAMANA MAHARSHI, SADHGURU, SARNATH,
SHIVA, SPIRITUALITY, SPITI, UTTARANCHAL, UTTARKASHI, VARANASI, YOGA
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