11 Best Vipassana Meditation Centres In India

Learn the ways of this age-old meditation technique from the most accomplished.

Reviewed by Rakesh Rathod, Certified Personal Trainer
Written by Jyotsana Rao, BE

Edited by Subhrojyoti Mukherjee, MA (English) • Mar 11, 2024

11 Best Vipassana Meditation Centres In India

Image: iStock.com

Have you thought of practicing meditation to fight back negativities and depressing thoughts, but got deterred by the dilemma of choosing the right option and place? It is about time you give Vipassana meditation centers in India a try. The root of this ancient meditation technique can be traced back to more than 2500 years – the era when Gautam Buddha attained nirvana and developed the cult of Buddhism. This age-old non-sectarian technique is meant for the elimination of mental impurities and to boost mental health and well-being. It lets the followers establish a connection between their mind and body. This meditation technique helps get more self-awareness and understand the difference between reality and perceived reality with the help of mindfulness exercises. You can attain a peaceful state of mind after trying this form of yoga practice, and your level of self-control will go up.

Quick Tip

Vipassana is a Pali (an ancient language of Buddhism) word, which means seeing things clearly and as they are.

Vipassana Meditation Centers In India:

The good thing is you need not go abroad to seek lessons of Vipassana meditation. The maestro who re-introduced the method to the world, Mr. S N Goenka, also did his bit to make it popular in India. Since 1969, he and his key disciples have been teaching this meditation technique all over India. Now there are several Vipassana meditation centers in India for interested people. At any of these centers, you can obtain the teaching of this age old meditation technique and overcome mental barriers like never before.

Did You Know?

The Vipassana meditation technique helps increase brain plasticity (the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth) (1).

1. Dhamma Dhaja, Hoshiarpur, Punjab:

Located in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur District, the Dhamma Dhaja Vipassana Meditation center is close to the Shivalik Mountain range. This center often helps to relieve the excess student load of Dhamma Sikhara center. It offers short courses for seasoned students of this meditation technique.

Phone: [91] (01882)272 333, 240 202

Address: Hoshiarpur Vipassana Centre
Dhamma Dhaja
Punjab Vipassana Trust; Anand Public School
Anandgadh village; Post Melawali;
Dist. Hoshiarpur 146110;
Punjab, India

Website: www.dhaja.dhamma.org

2. Dhamma Giri, Igatpuri:

This is one of the prominent Vipassana meditation centers in India. Located at Maharastra’s Igatpuri, not far from Mumbai, this center has played a pivotal role in spreading the ancient meditation technique in spirituality among Indians and travelers from abroad alike. It started operating in 1976. The retreat center offers 10 day meditation courses twice every month- all over the year. The center is located in a beautiful location amidst lush greenery. Its aesthetic architecture makes your mind content and mesmerized too.

Phone: 91-2553-244076, 244086, 243712, 243238

Address: Vipassana International Academy Dhamma Giri, P.O. Box 6, Igatpuri 422 403, District Nasik, Maharashtra, India

Website: www.giri.dhamma.org

3. Dhamma Pattana, Mumbai:

Located in Mumbai’s northern suburbs, the Dhamma Pattana Vipassana meditation center is built on a hill. It offers you views of Gorao beach. This is one center in India that is equipped with state of the art facilities, and it caters mostly to working professionals. The courses offered are same, but followers get additional lessons on the ways to cope with the stresses of the business world.

Phone: [91] (22) 33747501 / 2845 2111 (Mon-Sat, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM only)

Address: Dhamma Pattana Vipassana Centre
Inside Global Vipassana Pagoda Campus
Next to Esselworld, Gorai Village,
Borivali (West), Mumbai 400091

Website: www.pattana.dhamma.org

4. Dhamma Bodhi, Bodh Gaya:

You may choose to meditate at many places in India, but can anything be better than the place where Lord Buddha himself attained enlightenment? You can opt for the Dhamma Bodhi Vipassana meditation center, located in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya. It is adjacent to the Magadha University. This center can accommodate 80 students. The center offers the 10 day Vipassana meditation course throughout the year.

Phone: [91](631)220-0437

Address: Bodh Gaya International Vipassana Meditation Centre
Gaya-Dhobi Road, Near Magadha University,
Bodhgaya, Bihar 824 234
India

Website: www.bodhi.dhamma.org

5. Sikhara Dhamma, Dharamasala:

If you want to learn and practice Vipassana meditation amidst the serenity of mountains and breathe in fresh air, head to the Sikhara Dhamma Vipassana meditation center. Located in Dharamasala in Himachal Pradesh, it is undeniably among the most beautiful and serene Vipassana meditation centers in India. The center holds 10 day courses from April to November.

Phone: [91] 92184-14051 and [91] 92185-14051

Address: Himachal Vipassana Centre
Dhamma Sikhara;
Dharamkot, McLeodganj; Dharamsala 176 219
Dist. Kangra; Himachal Pradesh;
India

Website: www.sikhara.dhamma.org

6. Dhamma Setu, Chennai:

Located in the outskirts of Chennai, the Dhamma Setu Vipassana meditation center is surrounded by farmlands and paddy fields. It started operations in 2005. This is a large center that can accommodate more than 400 students. Apart from the popular full-time course, this also has a special course for the kids. The beautiful three tier pagoda and Dhamma halls are used for practicing meditation. Purified water, heated water and shaded walkways are offered at this center. This is one center that offers 20 and 30 day courses for veteran students of this meditation method.

Phone: +91-94442-80952 and +91-94442-90953

Address: Vipassana Meditation Centre,
‘Dhamma Setu’,
533 Pazhanthandalam Road,
Thirumudivakkam,
(Via Thiruneermalai),
Chennai – 600 044.
INDIA

Website: www.setu.dhamma.org

7. Dhamma Sota, Haryana:

Located in Haryana’s Village Rahaka, Dhamma Sota Vipassana meditation center was set up in 2000. It is built on nearly 16 acres of land amidst the lush greenery of Aravali Hills. It can accommodate 50 female and 78 male students. It also offers single rooms as a facility. The center conducts the 10-day course every month. It also offers bilingual courses.

Phone: [91] (11) 26452772/46585455

Address: Administrative Office
Vipassana Sadhana Sansthan
Room No. 1015, 10th Floor, Hemkunt Tower (Modi Tower)
98, Nehru Place, New Delhi – 110 019, INDIA

Website: www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schsota

8. Dhamma Thali, Jaipur:

Jaipur’s Dhamma Thali Vipassana Meditation Centre is located in a hilly countryside, making it perfect for such practices. There are courses for both beginners and advanced meditation practitioners. The courses are offered in a number of languages. The center is run and owned by Vipassana Samiti.

Phone: +91-141-2177446, +91-9610401401, +91-9930117187

Address: Dhamma Thali, via Sisodiya Rani Baug, Ghat ke Balaji
just ½ k.m. before Galtaji Temple
Jaipur

Website: www.thali.dhamma.org

9. Dhamma Pushkar, Ajmer:

Another prominent center for learning Vipassana Meditation in India, the Dhamma Pushkar center is located in Rajasthan’s Ajmer District. Run by a charitable trust named Vipassana Kendra Pushkar, this center offers meditation courses throughout the year. The location of this 12 acre center makes it perfect for learning and practicing the ancient meditation method. You will be mesmerized by the visual splendor of the Aravalli hills and the beauty of the legendary Pushkar Lake. The center is much smaller compared to other Vipassana Meditation centers in India, but offers some of the best courses.

Phone: +91-145-2780570, +91-9413307570

Address: Dhamma Pushkar, Vipassana Meditation Centre,
Village Rewat (Kadel) – 305031, Distt. Ajmer (Rajasthan) INDIA

Website: www.pushkar.dhamma.org

10. Dhamma Karunika. Haryana:

The Dhamma Karunika, set up in Haryana’s Kunjpura, is built on 7 acres of land. This Vipassana Meditation center began its operations in 2003. The center is equipped with all provisions students may require. It can accommodate 36 female and 52 male students. You can opt for the usual 10-day course or a shorter 3-day course.

Phone: [91] (0184) 225-7543

Address: Vipassana Sadhana Sansthan – Dhamma Karunika
Near Government School
Village Neval Post Sainik School
Kunjpura, Karnal-132001
India

Website: www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schkarunika

11. Dhamma Khetta, Hyderabad

Dhamma Khetta in Hyderabad offers transformative courses following the teachings of S.N. Goenka. Established in 1976, initially spanning 2 acres, it has expanded to nearly 7 acres over time. The serene center hosts multiple halls and accommodations, currently undergoing upgrades to serve 75 male and 60 female students. Courses range from 10 days to specialized 45-day programs, empowering old students committed to deepening their practice. Two courses run each month, except during extended sessions. Special children’s courses aim to impart mindfulness to the younger generation. The center, nestled 1 km away from the main road, is accessible via public transportation from Hyderabad.

Phone: [+91] (40) 2424-0290
Address: Vipassana International Meditation Centre – Dhamma Khetta
12.6km. Ibrahimpatnam Road,
Gurramguda Bus Stop,
Hyderabad, Telangana 500 070, India

Website: https://www.khetta.dhamma.org/

Infographic: Top 5 Benefits Of Vipassana Meditation

Vipassana meditation has recently gained immense popularity, owing all to its benefits. It is best practiced under the supervision of an expert, as they can help you follow the right techniques. This form of mindful meditation helps purify your mind and develop values like empathy and compassion. It also offers several other benefits. The infographic below highlights the reasons you should practice Vipassana. Check it out.

top 5 benefits of vipassana meditation (infographic)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Vipassana meditation is perfect for you if you are plagued with depression and negative thoughts and you want to achieve some much-needed inner peace of mind from day-to-day anxiety. The Vipassana meditation centers in India listed above stick to the meditation techniques put forward by SN Goenka. Fortunately, all these centers take applications via their website and offer their courses free of cost, though participants can make donations after the course. Some of these centers also allow seasoned students to teach newcomers. For more information and the timeline of future courses, visit their respective websites.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the right age for Vipassana?

There is no exact right age to start practicing Vipassana. You can try it at any age. Children as young as 8 years old can start learning Vipassana. It can also be practiced by senior citizens of any age group, as long as they do not have psychological issues.

What happens in a 10 day Vipassana course?

A 10-day Vipassana course involves completely disconnecting from the outside world. The aim is to refocus your attention on the smallest objective sensations of your body and your corresponding emotions. You are encouraged to be present and alert and stop reacting to unnecessary external stimuli.

How many hours of meditation per day is Vipassana?

Generally Vipassana courses involve about 10 hours of meditation sessions throughout the day with breaks and rest periods.

Does Vipassana really work?

Vipassana is a way of training your mind and body to be under your control. If you trust the process and patiently practice it, it may help you channel your inner energies well.

When should you not do Vipassana?

If you are in psychological or emotional stress, refrain from practicing Vipassana as it involves experiencing your emotions intensely. You may encounter deeply buried pain and feel forced to face them if you aren’t ready. People usually break down while looking for answers and control through Vipassana.

Does Vipassana increase memory?

Vipassana may help improve your memory by helping you filter out unnecessary mental clogs and encouraging retention of relevant information.

Key Takeaways

Vipassana meditation centers help create self-awareness and boost overall well-being.
This technique was reintroduced in modern times by S.N. Goenka in 1969.
Centers such as Dhamma Pattana and Sikhara Dhamma are located in the mountains and hills to create a serene ambiance that can help cope with stress and find inner peace.

Immerse yourself in the ancient practice of yoga and find inner peace. Check out this video to discover the transformative power of Vipassana meditation!