Sadhana Mandir Rishikesh near Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama

Rishikesh is famous for being the yoga capital of the world. It’s a great place for yoga, but it can also get really busy with lots of people and ashrams everywhere. If you’re looking for a peaceful spot to relax and meditate, I found a special place called Sadhana Mandir Ashram in Rishikesh near Swami Rama’s Grama Ashram.

Sadhana Mandir Yoga Ashram is a calm and quiet ashram right next to the Holy River Ganges, but it’s away from the busy parts of Rishikesh like Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula.
It’s a perfect place if you want to escape the hustle and focus on your meditation or yoga practice. When you stay there at Sadhana Mandir Rishikesh, there will be only a few people around, and everyone are on their own practice, so it will be super peaceful.

Overview

The Sadhana Mandir Rishikesh is surrounded by pretty gardens, mango trees, and a lovely lotus pond, making it a serene place for meditation. They ask guests to stay mostly within the ashram to focus on their practice and avoid the busy parts of Rishikesh. But you can visit Ram Jhula a few times, and that will be fine.

When there are special meditation courses or retreats, the ashram can get busier, and the main hall might be reserved for those events. But don’t worry—there’s another hall you can use for meditation, and you can also practice yoga in your room or on the porch outside.

Sadhana Mandir Ashram Facilities

Sadhana Mandir Ashram is a beautiful place with some really lovely features:

Gardens: The ashram has stunning gardens filled with all sorts of colorful flowers, trees, and a charming frog pond. It’s a peaceful spot to sit and reflect.
Yoga and Meditation Spaces: The ashram has clean, spacious areas for yoga and meditation. The rooms are also well-maintained, and the view of the Ganges River from the rooms is truly beautiful.
Rooms: The rooms are nice and clean, though they share a bathroom with the room next door. This can feel a bit awkward when the bathroom is in use, but it’s manageable.
Dining: The food at the ashram is delicious. The dining room is small, which makes the dining experience more personal and special.

Walking Path by Sadhana Mandir Ashram

Right next to Sadhana Mandir Ashram, there’s a pleasant walking path along the river Ganges. This road is reserved for pedestrians, so you won’t have to worry about bikes or rickshaws.
You can enjoy a peaceful walk along the river all the way from Sadhana Mandir Rishikesh to Ram Jhula, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
However, during the monsoon season, some sections of the path might be covered by the river, making it less accessible. It’s a good idea to check the conditions before heading out during this time.

Running and Walking at Sadhana Mandir Ashram

The path next to Sadhana Mandir Ashram is perfect for running. Finding a good running spot while traveling in India can be tough, so this is a great advantage of staying here.
I didn’t run myself, as I was busy with meditation and yoga in the mornings and it got too hot later in the day, but I enjoyed walking along this road after lunch.
You can also take a 20-minute walk from Sadhana Mandir Rishikesh to Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG), which is another ashram.
Sadhana Mandir was founded by Swami Rama, while SRSG was established by Swami Veda Bharati, a disciple of Swami Rama and the current director of Sadhana Mandir.

Meditation Courses at Sadhana Mandir Ashram

Sadhana Mandir Ashram offers a range of interesting meditation courses throughout the year. Although you haven’t participated in any of them yet, they sound intriguing. Here’s a look at the courses you might consider for your next visit:

Self Transformation Program
Path of Fire and Light
Personal Meditation Retreats
Intensive Meditation Retreat with Swami Jnaneshvara
The Science of Joyful Living
Guided Silence Retreat
Ongoing Meditation Retreats

How to Reach Sadhana Mandir Ashram in Rishikesh

To get to Sadhana Mandir Ashram from Ram Jhula:

Shared Auto Rickshaw: Take one of the large blue shared auto rickshaws and ask to be dropped off at the “market.” This will cost around 20-50 rupees.
Transfer to Smaller Rickshaw: From the market, you’ll need to switch to a smaller shared rickshaw, which is usually found a few meters up the road from where you were dropped. Ask this rickshaw driver to take you to Sadhana Mandir. This second ride will cost approximately 20 -50 rupees.