When is amma in the ashram

Amma has her own meditation course called IAM meditation which is a two day course. You can also sign up for massage and Vedic astrology readings. Also on site is an Ayurvedic clinic. You need to sign up for a consultation in advance and there may be a long wait. It seems the practitioners are quite in demand. There is a great Ayurvedic supply shop to buy herbal remedies. Next to the check-in office is a room to get phone cards, charge up your SIM card or make a phone call. There is not much wifi on site.

But there is an ATM on site and laundry services. The Indian food is free. There is a line in the main hall at scheduled times for 3 meals. It is vegetarian and tends to be spicy. As an alternative they offer a western style cafe where you can buy food across the hall throughout the day that makes veggie burgers, omlets, pancakes, pizza, pasta, has a great bakery and sells coffee and chai. They also have an Indian cafe that sells samosas, pakoras, dosas and other items and a stand that sells fruit, fruit juices and young coconuts.

Everyone is asked to hand wash and dry their plates and leave them at designated stations as well as to compost and recycle.

It is incredible to watch and everyone waits to eat until everyone has their food including Amma who eats with you. This was also one of the best tasting meals we had at the ashram. The rooms:. I was most concerned about what the rooms would be like as there are no photos online and I have heard various, conflicting descriptions of them.

Our room was a western accommodation room high up in a building that looks almost like a simple office or institutional building. The rooms are small, very simple and humble. They supply a pad lock for your door and a key. We stayed in a private room because we are a married couple, but if you are single they will put you in a dorm room with others of the same sex in bunk beds, possibly 4 or more people to a room.

There were two single beds with a thick and hard sleeping pad on top. When you check in they will rent you linens that include two sheets and a pillow case. I have heard that sometimes the rooms can consist of just a sleeping pad on the floor with no bed frame. There was a small bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower head that rains all over everything. It is basically a wet room, common in India. There was also a small secondary area with a sink and counter.

There was a big window with bars on it, but you can open the shutters. There was a fan and lights. There was no dresser or cabinets to put clothes, so we lived out of our suitcase.

There are no towels, no toilet paper, no soap and no other amenities, so you must bring or buy your own on site. The room can be a little dusty and dirty, and you may need to clean it thoroughly when you arrive by sweeping the cobwebs and dust, wiping the mattress pads, surfaces and bathroom. You will need to buy soap and cleaning supplies at the shop.

We had a broom and dust pan in our room luckily. By bus or train: Please visit Route map to Ashram page for details. While we make every effort to provide private rooms for couples, single men and single women are given dormitory accommodation. All the rooms are very simple, typically with mattresses on the floor and an attached bathroom and shower. Simple, Indian style ashram meals are provided along with your accommodation. Non-spicy, Western style food is also available.

Most of the basic necessities including sheets, pillows, mattresses, buckets are provided by the ashram. You may, however, wish to bring a small inflatable mattress, earplugs, and a luggage lock for travelling with Amma in India. It may be helpful to bring vitamins and protein supplements, and any medicines that you may need. What People Say. North America Tour. Retreats with Amma. What to Expect at a Program. Amma's Ashram In India.

Amma's Worldwide Tour Schedule. Who We Are. Disaster Relief. Public Health. Fighting Hunger. Building Homes. Empowering Women. Green Initiatives. Community Outreach. Care Homes for Children. Education for Everyone. Amma Disciples' Tour Schedules. Charitable Projects in North America. IAM Meditation Technique. Boatman under Amrita Setu pedestrian bridge.

The journey from Trivandrum takes three hours. From Cochin, it is four hours. This road crosses the backwaters and brings you into the ashram. Otherwise, you will be dropped off in Vallickavu. You will cross the backwaters over Amrita Setu, the pedestrian bridge.

If you have heavy luggage you can take a hand-poled boat across. Kayankulam 12 km north of Amritapuri and Karunagapally 10 km south are the closest towns. Small auto-rickshaws can bring you to Amritapuri.

Most of the basic necessities including sheets, pillows, mattresses, and cleaning supplies are provided by the ashram. Clothing, shoes, toiletries and household necessities are also available at the ashram.

Cool, comfortable, modest clothing Yoga mat for asana practice Earplugs Copies of prescriptions for medications put these in your carry-on luggage Nutritional supplements and medications that you may need Scan a copy of your passport and visa and email it to yourself. You can also take a photo with your phone. This is very helpful in the unlikely event you lose your passport. Extra contact-lens solution if applicable Flashight, reading light Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen Power converter, as outlets and electrical voltage are different from the US and Europe.

Note: Hair driers, Electric kettles, Coils and appliances using a lot of electrical power are not allowed as they blow fuses. You are welcome to bring laptop and mobile phone. Flowers at Amritapuri ashram. Visitors are requested to respect local customs by wearing modest clothing around the ashram. We suggest loose-fitting, clothes that cover the body from ankles to elbows. No shorts, sleeveless tops or transparent clothes. Plan to wear modest t-shirts and pants or shorts for yoga classes.

Tank tops are not permitted in class. Bank and credit cards: Inform your bank and credit card companies the exact dates of your travel so they allow your cards to be used in the countries you will be traveling in. Important: Bring contact phone numbers of your bank and credit cards. Cell Phone: Inform your cell phone company of the dates of your trip as well. If your company offers global coverage, then you might wish to activate this plan for your trip.

Some people purchase simple phones and coverage plans when they arrive in India. Weather: Prepare for hot, humid weather. If you are traveling alone, always use caution. It is best to travel with a friend or tell someone where you are going if you go off on your own. Conservative clothing is usually required for sacred places in India. The ashram is a spiritual community with practicing nuns and monks. To respect ashram custom and Indian culture, we encourage people of opposite genders to not touch or hug, etc.

Round rooms with a view of one of the many ashram gardens.