INDIALINE
Complete India Travel Guide

Uttaranchal Ayurveda / Haridwar Ashrams

Meditation in Rishikesh, Uttaranchal

Practiced since centuries, ayurveda, yoga and meditation, are terms not new in India, in fact they have taken India to the world. People from across the world now come to India for these. Infact India has fast emerged as a health tourism destination because of these.

Ashrams in Uttaranchal are one of the first choices of tourists coming to India for ayurveda, yoga and meditation. While yoga and mediation are practiced and taught in ashrams on river banks, there are reputed universities here where ayurveda is taught. It is a proper subject, is considered as a branch of science and constant researches are conducted in the field.

Ayurveda

A 5000 year old science, it employs whatever mother nature provides in forms of plants, trees, shrubs and herbs to cure ailments. Since the ayurvedic treatment is based on nature, everything one takes is pure, herbal and natural, there are no side effects to it. Ancient texts like Rigveda, Achar Sanhita are the backbones of this science and few other similar texts are also available. Literally the term 'Ayurveda' means science of life. The deemed universities in Uttaranchal and age old ashrams which have now turned into full fledged research institutes and proper colleges. One such place is Patanjali ashram.

Yoga And Meditation

Yoga and meditation, the two terms are often taken together, they are connected but not synonymous. In fact the two are practiced in a different manner altogether. While yoga comprises of body postures using hands and legs, meditation is more of a spiritual thing. It involves exercises with your breathing. Most people associate yoga and meditation with the Hindu religion, however it is only after one learns or starts to practice them that one knows that the effect and healing powers transcend the boundary of religion.

The science of Yoga and meditation has been practiced since time immemorial in India. In the ancient times, sages controlled their breathing. The science of yoga and meditation goes deeper then just a few asans. It is a complete wellness regime which if followed ensures a life blessed with health. People have observed complete changes in themselves after practicing these.

Uttaranchal Yoga Destinations

Rishikesh is also called the 'Yoga capital of the world'. An annual yoga week is held in Rishikesh during the month of February which sees spiritual leaders and yoga gurus from across the world coming together in Rishikesh. Some of the prominent ashrams where you can learn and practice yoga and meditation in Rishikesh are Parmarth Niketan, Sivanand Ashram, Yoga Niketan, Omkaranand Ashram, Vanprastha Ashram, Ved Niketan Dayanand, Vedanta Ashram, Arihant ayuevedic in Haridwar and Vanmali Gita yogashram.

For ayurveda treatments, Haridwar is the preferred destination. There are many Ayurveda colleges and research institutes here where patients are also treated. The most famous and prestigious among these is Government Gurukul Kangri Ayurvedic College and Hospital in Haridwar.

There are other institutes in the states as well which take admissions every year for full fledged ayurveda degrees and courses in health tourism in Uttarakhand. Rishikul Government Ayurvedic College also in Haridwar and Uttaranchal Ayurvedic College in Dehradun to name a few.