Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar: A Quiet Ashram for Meditation

Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar

Peaceful Retreat

Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar, founded by Swami Brahmdev, is a peaceful ashram near Rishikesh. It’s a great place to spend time in silence, reading, or focusing on meditation.

Swami Brahmdev’s Journey

Swami Brahmdev began his journey after completing his degrees in Law and Economics. He traveled all over India searching for answers but found his path in the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.

Meeting Swami Brahmdev

Swami Brahmdev is humble and focused on his work. When we walked into the reception to check in, we found him sitting on a sofa, wearing a plain white t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. Although I recognized him from pictures, you couldn’t tell he was the founder of the ashram just by looking at him.

A Friendly Conversation

Swami Brahmdev started talking to us, asking typical questions like, “Where are you from? What do you do?” He then invited us to follow him for a small walk. We talked for a little bit before he stopped by a building under construction to continue his work.

Suggested Read: Learn meditation in 5 minutes, Rishikesh India

Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar

Founding and Location

Aurovalley Ashram was founded by Swami Brahmdev, a disciple of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. It is located at the edge of Raiwala, a small and remote village situated between Rishikesh and Haridwar. The ashram is popularly referred to as Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar, a catchy name highlighting its location between these two well-known cities.

Environment and Atmosphere

The ashram is surrounded by nature, providing a very quiet and peaceful environment. Unlike the busier areas of Rishikesh, the air here is exceptionally clean. The serene atmosphere makes it an ideal place for spiritual practice and introspection.

Diverse Visitors

People from all over the world, including families with children, visit Aurovalley Ashram. It is particularly popular in Latin America, with a noticeable number of visitors from Colombia. Signs throughout the ashram are in English, Spanish, and Russian, reflecting the international community it attracts.

Inclusive Philosophy

The philosophy at Aurovalley Ashram emphasizes inclusivity and unity among all. Regardless of spiritual background, age, education level, language, habits, or beliefs, everyone is welcome. The ashram provides an ideal atmosphere for individuals to connect with their own divinity, surrounded by the sound of birds and the beauty of nature.

Quote

“Surrounded by the sound of birds, people of any spiritual background or creed can find the ideal atmosphere to contact their own divinity. All ages, all levels of education, different languages, different habits, different attitudes, different beliefs, all beings are welcome.”

Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar

Ashram Daily Schedule

The daily schedule is conveniently inserted in the key holder of each room.

• 06:00 Meditation
• 07:00 Asanas
• 08:00 Breakfast
• 09:00 Karma Yoga
• 11:30 Satsang
• 13:00 Lunch
• 15:30 Tea time
• 16:00 Study/Karma Yoga
• 16:30 Asanas (optional)
• 18:00 Meditation/Kirtan
• 19:00 Dinner
• 20:00 Cultural program

Location and how do you get there?

Aurovalley Ashram is a retreat that sits between Haridwar and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, a state in North India.

• Address: Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar, Raiwala, District Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India 249205
• Email address: aurovalley@hotmail.com
• Phone numbers: (91) 1352484851 or (91) 9259096978

Getting  there, the three best options are:

• Drive from Delhi to Aurovalley Ashram by taxi. The drive is 5-6 hours and would cost approximately 4,000-6,500 rupees depending on the size of the vehicle.
• Take the train to Haridwar and a taxi to Aurovalley Ashram. There are two Dehradun Shatabdi each day that leave from NDLS (New Delhi Railway Station).
• Fly to Jolly Grant Dehradun airport and take a taxi to Aurovalley Ashram.

My Stay at

My stay at Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar

Experiencing Ashram Life
It felt so good to be at the ashram again, surrounded by a community of spiritual seekers. The ashram is quiet, comfortable, clean, and easy-going. There is an amazing meditation hall and library where you naturally feel like spending time in contemplation and meditation.

Enjoying My Stay
I really enjoyed my stay at the ashram. A part of me wishes I could have spent more time there to focus on my meditation practice and do some reading. But at the same time, six days were enough.

Future Visits
I might visit the ashram again in the future, but I’m not so sure because of one reason, which I will explain further below.

Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar Facilities

Beautiful and Clean

Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar is large and beautiful, with lots of trees around. It is very clean compared to other ashrams I have visited in India.

Buildings

The Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar has a beautiful meditation hall, a large yoga hall, a beautiful library, another meditation hall above the library, and several other buildings. It reminds me of Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama in Rishikesh, which I always recommend.

Meditation Hall

The meditation hall is a peaceful place to meditate.

Library

The library is amazing, packed with yoga books. You can find books by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, including copies in Spanish, French, and Russian. If you love reading, you’ll love this ashram.

Workout Area

There is a small workout area, which is rare in ashrams. I used it a couple of times and would have used it more if I stayed longer.

Proximity to River Ganges

The ashram is a ten-minute walk from the river Ganges, so you can take a nice walk to the river anytime.

Accommodation

There are several accommodation buildings, with the most impressive being a large circular building with two floors and a terrace. The rooms are spacious and clean, with everything you need for a comfortable stay.

Meditation

The day starts with a one-hour silent meditation at 6 am. If you can’t make it, that’s fine; you can follow your own routine. The meditation session isn’t strictly one hour; some people leave earlier, and some stay longer. There is no bell indicating the end of the session.

There is another meditation session at 6 pm before dinner. Sometimes there might be soft Indian music, or it could be another silent session. There are no meditation classes or instructions; you are free to practice what you know or sit in silence and follow your inner guidance.