Activities in Maharashtra
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Vipassana International Academy
Heard of vipassana, haven’t you? Now head to Igatpuri to see where (and how) it all happens. Located about 44km south of Nasik, this village is home to the world’s largest vipassana meditation centre, the Vipassana International Academy, which institutionalises this strict form of meditation first taught by Gautama Buddha in the 6th century BC and reintroduced in India by teacher SN Goenka in the 1960s. The centre also serves as the apex body governing the spread of vipassana around the world. Ten-day residential courses (advance bookings compulsory) are held here throughout the year, though authorities warn that it requires rigorous discipline, and dropping out midwa…
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Osho Meditation Resort
- Pune, India
- Activities › Other
You’ll either like it or hate it. A splurge of an institution, this ashram, located in a leafy, upscale northern suburb, has been drawing thousands of sanyasins (seekers), many of them Westerners, ever since the death of Osho in 1990. With its placid swimming pool, sauna, ‘zennis’ and basketball courts, massage and beauty parlour, bookshop and a boutique guest house, it is, to some, the ultimate place to indulge in some stress-busting meditation and rediscover one’s lost spiritual self. Alternately, there are many who point fingers at the ashram’s blatant commercialisation, calling it nothing short of a clever business ploy, marketing a warped version of the mystic East…
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Bhagwan Rajneesh Ashram
The Bhagwan Rajneesh ashram is in a desirable northern suburb of Pune. Since the Bhagwan's death in 1990, it has continued to draw in manifold sanyasins (seekers), many of them Westerners. Facilities include a swimming pool, sauna, 'zennis' (Zen tennis) and basketball courts, a massage and beauty parlour, a bookshop and a boutique guesthouse. The main centre for meditation and the nightly white-robed spiritual dance is the Osho Auditorium (a 'cough-free and sneeze-free zone'!).
The Osho Samadhi, where the guru's ashes are kept, is also open for silent or music-accompanied meditation.
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Sula Vineyards
Located 15km west of Nasik, industry pioneer Sula Vineyards runs a tasting room where you can round off a vineyard tour with a spirited session of wine-tasting (Rs. 150) in its wood-and-mosaic balcony bar. For a more lavish experience, head 3km inland to Beyond, a charming three-bedroom bungalow set amid the vines, where you can ride out on bicycles past the rolling hills, picnic beside the nearby lake or skim the still waters on a kayak.
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Kaivalyadhama Yoga Hospital
Those wishing for a session of yogic healing can head to the Kaivalyadhama Yoga Hospital, set in neatly kept grounds about 2km from Lonavla en route to the Karla and Bhaja Caves. Founded in 1924 by Swami Kuvalayanandji, it combines yoga courses with naturopathic therapies. Room rates cover full board, yoga sessions, programs and lectures. Rates mentioned are for a seven-day package, though two- and three-week sessions are also offered.
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Tiger Hill Vineyards Resort & Spa
Chateau Indage, another of Nasik’s wine biggies, has recently joined the tourism race with Tiger Hill Vineyards Resort & Spa. A serene, stylish getaway located 8km south of town, it’s the perfect place to imbibe copious amounts of chardonnay and champagne in the cosy comfort of its snazzy wine bar, and top things off with a relaxing grape seed–oil massage in rustic bamboo huts at the spa.
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Indian Tourism Development Corporation
The Indian Tourism Development Corporation runs daily tours to the Ajanta caves and Ellora caves, which includes a guide but no admission fees. The Ellora tour also includes all the other major Aurangabad sites, Daulatabad Fort and Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad, which is a lot to swallow in a day. Tours start and end at the MTDC Holiday Resort.
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Vasant Cycle Mart
Cycling around is an option, but be careful of speeding traffic especially on the outskirts. Bikes can be hired from Vasant Cycle Mart for Rs. 10 per hour or Rs. 50 per day.
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Nirvana Adventures
Mumbai-based Nirvana Adventures offers paragliding courses (three-day learner course from €250) or short tandem flights (Rs. 1500) at Kamshet, 25km from Lonavla.
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Boathouse
On the edge of Venna Lake, a boathouse rents out rowboats (Rs. 180 per hour) and pedal boats (Rs. 200 per hour), but the long queues can be off-putting.
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Kuk@ease
Kuk@ease offers one-day cookery courses (single person/per person in group of 4 Rs 1600/600) for all levels of experience with equipment and ingredients supplied.
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Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute
To attend classes at this famous institute, you need to have been practising yoga for at least eight years.
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