It was a usual Saturday morning around 5:30 am when I was in deep sleep, I got a call from my Guruji. I jumped with joy with what he said next. He asked if I would like to accompany him and a few other disciples to the Sadhana Ashram, Rishikesh for the weekend. For a long time as I wanted to visit that meditation center and it seemed the perfect opportunity for me.

I asked my husband if he can also join but he already had some plans so could not make it. So, I quickly got ready and packed my bag for a road trip and joined others at the temple which was at a walkable distance from my place in Chandigarh.

The journey!

We were 5 people in an Innova and it was around 5 hours journey. We halted at a roadside hotel to enjoy Maggi and tea. Maggi and hills are a deadly combo. Isn’t it?  We went via Dehradun enjoying the scenic beauty. As it was summer, the weather was quite pleasant. We reached our destination in the late afternoon and checked into our respective rooms.

Sadhana Ashram, Rishikesh

The first sight of the Ashram was absolutely breathtaking. It was situated on the banks of the river Ganga, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in an isolated area. The flow of the river was calm and steady and there was no one in sight. Without wasting much time, we had our evening tea and went out for a walk in a peaceful atmosphere. It was just the right place for rejuvenation and to discover ourselves.

Quite, away from the noisy city and pollution of any kind. All I could see was abundant nature, the serene river and flock of chirping birds flying back to their nests. The tranquility of the Sadhana Ashram, Rishikesh was balmy and infectious. The walk along the riverside was the best one of my life. I was alone, I was myself, I was happy. The cool breeze was comforting after the scorching heat of Chandigarh.

After some time,  a few other members of the ashram also joined me and we sat at the shore. The water was cold and clean, to my surprise. We dipped our legs in the river and sat there chit-chatting about the center and life in the ashram. It was dinner time so we headed back to the Ashram. After a scrumptious meal at the ultra-clean dining hall, we retired to the bed.

We had to get up early in the morning as it was Ganga Snan and we decided to take a dip in the holy river.

A dip in the Holy river Ganga!

The next morning, we took a bath in the chilled water of the Ganges. It was altogether a different experience for me. Before this, I took a dip in the river with my parents during my visit to Haridwar. I was nostalgic and wished they were with me at that moment.

It was time to explore the beautiful Sadhana Ashram, Rishikesh which was founded in 1966. Established by Swami Rama, it is an International retreat center to practice meditation in a spiritually elevating and healing environment. I met a few sincere aspirants from various parts of the globe who were staying at the Ashram for quite some time to practice meditation.

Apart from meditation, there were many other activities also in the Ashram like silence retreats, spiritual guidance, yoga, yoga psychology, self-transformation, and the art of living. The vibrations in the meditation room were magnetic.

As the location of the Ashram itself is so soothing, the well-planned interiors add to its beauty and make it an ideal place for relaxation. It is surrounded by mesmerizing flowering gardens, mango trees, and a small lotus pond also. Every corner of the Ashram permeates positivity. The view from the room balcony was pleasing with the flowing river and greenery in sight.

The only thing missing was my family. Sadly, I don’t have any pictures of my trip to share because I was so engrossed in the beauty that I did not even touch my phone for two days. Hope you can now imagine how captivating this place must be. After spending two days away from the hustle bustle of the city, without any tension or responsibility, we left the next morning for Chandigarh. The memories of this place will always be etched in my heart.