About Parmarth Niketan

A unique spiritual retreat, Parmarth Niketan is situated in the beautiful Himalayas on the revered banks of Mother Ganga. It is the largest ashram in Rishikesh, offering tens of thousands of pilgrims who travel here from all over the world a clean, pure, and sacred environment as well as an abundance of lovely gardens.

Parmarth Niketan was built by param pujya Lt. Swami Shukhdevanandji Maharaj in 1942. At present Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati ji Maharaj is the spiritual head of the ashram. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati ji teaches at the Paramarth Niketan for the last 25 years.

Parmarth Niketan is famous for mother Ganga arti which takes place daily in the morning and evening. 100’s of pilgrims visit here every day to attend the Ganga arti. Most visitors reach here to feel the spirituality, and some visitors come here for Ayurvedic treatment and Yoga Like Vinyasa yoga, Hath Yoga, and many more types of yoga. This place is famous for yoga, and its divine spirituality.

About Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji

1. H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji’s has a motto in his life i.e., “In the Service of God and humanity.”
2. He was born on 3rd.June.1952, at Rishikesh in Uttarakand.
3. He is right now President & Spritual Head of Parmarth Niketan.
4. He  is also Founder of India Heritage Research Foundation (IHRF), Ganga Action Parivar (GAP), Divine Shakti Foundation (DSF), Interfaith Humanitarian Network/Project Hope.
5. Swami Ji has also received numerous Awards : World Peace Ambassador Award, Hindu of the Year Award, Prominent Personality Award, by Lions’ Club, Best Citizens of India Award, the Uttaranchal Ratan Award.

About Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji

1. Famous spiritual teacher and motivational speaker Sadhviji is situated in Rishikesh, India.
2. She was Born on 14th.March, in America. She was a psychology student at Stanford University, California.
3. She moved to India 25 years before as a tourist and then become spritual teacher.
4. She is right now a spritual teacher at Parmarth Niketan.
5. She wrote one the famous books :  Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation.
6. Because of her lifelong dedication to volunteer work, U.S. President Joe Biden recently presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Events at Parmarth Niketan

Daily Activities & Events

The daily events at Parmarth Niketan are listed below:
(Please check in with the Reception Office about any changes to the daily schedule upon your arrival.)

1. 5:00-6:00 am Prarthana (Morning prayer) [Hindi] – Satsang Hall
2. 7:00-8:00 am Morning Asana Class – Satsang Hall
3. 8:30-9:00 am Sacred Yagya Puja – Ganesha Courtyard
4. 9:00-9:30 am Gita Paath & Pravachan – Satsang Hall
5. 3:00-4:00 pm Afternoon Asana Class – Samadhi Mandir
6. 4:00-4:30 pm Meditation Class – Samadhi Mandir
7. 5:00-6:15 pm Sacred Ganga Yagya & Aarti – Ganga Ghat
8. 6:30-7:15 pm Sadhviji’s Satsang & Meditation [English] – Divine Garden

Annual Events

Many special events take place every day, every week, every month, and every year.

The ashram celebrates Guru Purnima and the Nirvana Mahotsava of His Holiness, the late Shri Swami Shukdevanandji Maharaj with great joy and religious zeal from the 15th of Asadhsukla to the 5th of Shravana (in July). Several hundred worshippers sing the Ramayana Patha nonstop during these five days, backed by musical tunes. The final day includes Guru Puja, a memorial ceremony, and a community supper.

Additionally, Nirvana Mahotsava is observed with customary celebrations, for:

1. The late Swami Dharmanandji Maharaj on February 25^th
2. The late Swami Sadanandji Maharaj on May 15^th
3. The late Swami Bhajananandaji Maharaj on the 13th of Kartika Shukla

Sadhana Week:
From the ninth day of Kartika Sukla until the full moon day of Kartika, this is held annually (in October). Under the direction of M.M. H.H. Swami Asanganand Saraswatiji and H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, various certified professionals are teaching yoga, pranayama, and meditation during this unique session (Muniji).

Facilities

There are several hundred residential rooms that retain the simplicity of ashram living and yet are equipped with the necessary modern amenities.

1. Guest rooms with attached, Western-style bathrooms.
2. Hot, running water.
3. Linens are provided.
4. A clean, pure and sacred atmosphere to thousands of pilgrims and devotees.

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:

1. The pilgrims staying in this ashram are required to observe and adhere to truth, non-violence, self-discipline, and polite etiquette.
2. All pilgrims are expected to join in the Ganga Aarti (the light ceremony with devotional songs at sunset).
3. 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.
4. In the event that the administration asks the pilgrim to leave, the pilgrim must vacate the premises immediately.
5. No strangers or persons who are not mentioned on the admission form are allowed to be invited or entertained in the rooms.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Please refrain from picking flowers and littering.
9. It is prohibited to use playing cards, radios, or TVs.
10. No pets are allowed.

Prohibition points to remember:

1. smoking, drinking intoxicants, using drugs, eating eggs or other non-vegetarian foods, playing cards, watching television, and playing radio/cassette players loudly. We also recommend that you refrain from eating onions and garlic.
2. No one will have the rights and license of the tenancy.
3. Each pilgrim will have to vacate the accommodation on the stipulated day, even before the management asks him/her to do so.
4. 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.).
5. 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.

How to Reach

By Car

1. Come to Haridwar
2. Pass Haridwar and go 15-16 Km, you will see the Hanumanji Temple (Baba Neem Karoli Temple) on your left.
3. Just past the temple there will be IDPL Gate on your right. Turn right towards this gate and keep going straight.
4. Ask someone for the Barrage Bridge and follow the way to the bridge, then there you will see signs for Parmarth Niketan. Follow these signs.
5. After crossing the Barrage Bridge, you are now about 8 km from Parmarth Niketan.
6. As soon as you cross the bridge, turn left then go straight through the mountains. First, you have to go uphill and then downhill.
7. There will be a Y-point in the road then take the road that goes to the left and downhill.
8. Head downhill there will be another sign for Parmarth indicating to Turn left.
9. After a few hundred meters on the road (directly parallel to Ganga, a few hundred feet inland).
10. Then turn right and at the end of this road, you’ll find Parmarth Niketan.

By Train

There are several trains a day between Delhi and Haridwar, the schedule is posted below. You can book tickets online at https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search.

Trains from Delhi to Dehradun
S.No.	Flight	Departure	Duration	Fare
1.	DDN Janshtbdi (12055)	03:20 pm	5hr 50min	₹905 (CC) ₹1405 (EC)
2.	Mussoorie EXP	10:25 pm	10hr	₹225 (SL) ₹600 (3A) ₹845 (2A) ₹1405 (1A)
3.	Dehradun Janshatabdi	03:20 pm	5hr 50min	₹165 (2S) ₹535 (CC)

To go to the ashram straight from the train station, follow the above guidelines, or take a cab, bus, or rickshaw to the Muni-ki-reti parking lot in Rishikesh, which is the parking lot close to Ram Jhula (also called Shivanand Jhula). You can travel across the Ganga by motorboat from there (or walk across the bridge). After crossing, turn right down Ganga and continue until you see a huge, stunning clock tower. Parmarth Niketan is that. From Ram Jhula, we are a few hundred metres downstream.

 

By Flight

Alliance Air, IndiGo, Air-India, and Vistara run daily flights to the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. The airport is listed as Dehradun but it’s actually very close to Rishikesh (30 min – 50 min depending on which route one takes). See www.yatra.com for flight schedules.

Flight from Delhi to Dehradun
S.No.	Flight	Departure	Duration	Fare
1.	Alliance Air	06:20 am	1hr	₹2490
2.	IndiGo	04:55 pm	1hr	₹3434
3.	Vistara	02:00 pm	1hr	₹3908

Top sights near Parmarth Niketan 

1. Ram Jhula
2. Swargashram
3. Geeta Bhawan
4. Goa Beach

Where to stay in Parmarth Niketan? 

1. Lakshya Palace
2. Ganga Ashoka
3. Hotel Ganesha Inn
4. Hotel Kailash Residancy

Taxi/ car  Services in Rishikesh

1. Asha Tour and Travels – Rishikesh
2. Rishikesh Taxi Association Stand Office – Rishikesh
3. Yog Nagri Rishikesh Railway Station | Rishikesh Taxi Service
4. Tayal Tour & Travels- Rishikesh