Parmarth Niketan literally means “An Abode Dedicated to the Welfare of All.”
Parmarth Niketan is a true spiritual haven, lying on the holy banks of Mother Ganga in the lap of the lush Himalayas. It is the largest ashram in Rishikesh, providing its thousands of pilgrims who come from all corners of the Earth with a clean, pure and sacred atmosphere as well as abundant, beautiful gardens. With several hundred rooms, the facilities are a perfect blend of modern amenities and traditional, spiritual simplicity. Parmarth Niketan is located in Swargashram, on the main road, just on the banks of the sacred Ganges River.
Rishikesh – known as the “City of the Divine”- is a spiritual center to which sages, rishis, saints and pilgrims have flocked for millennia. The roads of the city are lined with bustling market places of ethnic arts and handicrafts, fresh produce markets, holy shrines and orange-robed sadhus. Then, the road narrows, the markets become more sparse and you come upon a foot bridge, suspended high over the sacred Ganga river. As you cross this bridge, the sun streaming through the sacred Himalayas to warm your being, you will feel as if you have truly come home.
It is no surprise that pilgrims are drawn here from all over the world. The awe-inspiring beauty of the ashram, the clear flowing Ganga, the majestic mountains, and the lush green forests will embrace and rejuvenate your entire being. Parmarth Niketan offers comfort, inspiration and upliftment for your body, mind and spirit as well as a deeper connection with the Divine. As you stay in the ashram, you will feel your soul bathing in the peace of sacred energies, including those that emanate from nature and those that linger from the timeless healing powers of saints, sages and holy ones. Parmarth Niketan contains within it the voice and the spirit of divine communion.
The ashram is committed, as its name reflects, to the welfare of all. Through numerous charitable programmes in the fields of health care, residential education and wide-spread humanitarianism as well as through spiritual programmes to feed the heart and spirit.
The ashram offers daily activities of yoga, meditation, satsang, universal prayers and its world-renowned Ganga Aarti at sunset. There are also Nature Cure and Ayurvedic Treatment facilities on the Ashram premises as well as a charitable clinic/dispensary.
There are frequent special cultural, spiritual and environmental programmes given by revered spiritual leaders, acclaimed musicians, scientists, scholars and others as well as numerous charitable activities dedicated to the welfare of all, as is the meaning and motto of Parmarth Niketan.
Additionally, there are frequent camps in which pilgrims come from across the world to partake in intensive courses on yoga, meditation, pranayama, stress management, acupressure, Reiki and other ancient Indian sciences.
Parmarth Niketan is open to all, with no discrimination on the basis of race, gender, nationality, religion, caste or creed.
Ashram Guidelines
This ashram is open for the stay of only those pilgrims who are here to devote themselves to sadhana, meditation, seva and satsang. To fully take in the ashram experience we highly encourage you to engage yourself in sadhana, introspection, reflection, meditation, seva and satsang whilst you are here. In addition, here are some tips or guidelines that we recommend will be helpful to you during your visit and stay:
- The pilgrims staying in this ashram are required to observe and adhere to truth, non-violence, self-discipline, and polite etiquette.
- All pilgrims are expected to join in the Ganga Aarti (the light ceremony with devotional songs at sunset).
- Men and women should wear clothing that covers shoulders (no sleeveless shirts), midriff, and calves (no capris, shorts, or short dresses). Ladies should be careful to cover their cleavage. Yoga Students are expected to wear white, a balance of the seven colors and the color of purity. Please avoid wearing tight clothing both for your own comfort and as a sign of respect for the local culture. Additionally, it is customary to remove your shoes before entering buildings or sacred places. If you are not dressed appropriately you may not be allowed to participate in yoga classes or other Ashram activities.
- In the event that the administration asks the pilgrim to leave, the pilgrim must vacate the premises immediately.
- No strangers or persons who are not mentioned on the admission form are allowed to be invited or entertained in the rooms.
- If the pilgrim has to leave for two or three days, he or she will have to inform the manager and will have to leave the keys to the room in the ashram office. If he or she has to leave for more than three days, he or she will have to vacate the room. Locking the room without providing information to the management is prohibited. If necessary, the management will open the room by breaking the lock.
- It is the pilgrim’s responsibility to keep his/her room clean and tidy. Rooms should always remain in the same condition as when they were assigned.
- Please refrain from picking flowers and littering.
- It is prohibited to use playing cards, radios, or TVs.
- No pets are allowed.
- The following are strictly prohibited: smoking, drinking intoxicants, using drugs, eating egg or other non-vegetarian foods, playing cards, watching television, playing radios/cassette players loudly. We also recommend that you refrain from eating onions and garlic.
- No one will have the rights and license of tenancy.
- Each pilgrim will have to vacate the accommodation on the stipulated day, even before the management asks him/her to do so.
- Please insist on a receipt for your donation. Specify the cause to which you want to donate (e.g. food for the poor, schools, gurukuls/orphanages, hospital, aarti, yagna, gaushala, accommodation, yoga and meditation programs, environmental programs, rural development, Veda Vidyayala, etc.).
- Please do not oblige anyone by directly providing money, clothes or tips of any kind. This affects the discipline and management of the ashram as well as negatively influences the divine, devoted feeling amongst the individuals here. Whatever help you want to give, please donate it to the office, and it will be distributed where it is most needed.
Silence is appreciated at the Ashram from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.
There are several hundred residential rooms that retain the simplicity of ashram living and yet are equipped with the necessary modern amenities. Many guest rooms have attached, Western-style bathrooms and many have hot, running water. Linens are provided. The ashram provides a clean, pure and sacred atmosphere to thousands of pilgrims and devotees.
