Vipassana International Academy, Igatpuri - Timings, Best time to Visit

At a distance of 2 km from Igatpuri Railway Station, the Vipassana International Academy is a renowned meditation center located in Igatpuri, Maharashtra. Also known as Dhammagiri Meditation Centre, it is considered as the world's largest meditation center and among the prime places to visit in Igatpuri.

Founded in 1976 AD by S. N. Goenka, Dhammagiri Meditation Centre is known to offer various courses on Vipassana, an ancient meditation technique which was rediscovered by Gautama Buddha around 2,500 years ago as a treatment for general illness. The founder of Vipassana International Academy, S N Goenka used to teach Vipassana meditation, which was taught by his teacher U Ba Khin, at this centre. The Vipassana meditation is the self-purification process, which starts with by concentrating your mind by observing your breathing pattern. The meditation will benefit your mind and body and you will start experiencing egolessness, mental purification and the truth of impermanence. The technique is not related to any religion so that anyone can participate in this meditation irrespective of their caste, creed.

The Vipassana Meditation Center at Igatpuri is the main center of global Vipassana Organization. The entrance to the center is marked as Myanmar Gate. The center's pagoda has over 400 cells for individual meditation. This academy is known for offering a 10 day meditation course and people from across the world visit this place to attend it. Around 600 people can take part in this course at a time. Complete silence has to be maintained during the entire 10 days. Also, one will not have any contact with the outside world and will have to refrain from talking or communicating with other participants. The course, food and accommodation are free of cost and the course is conducted solely on the donations given by one of the teacher or from those who have finished at least one 10-day course.

Timings: 9.30 AM - 4.30 PM

Entry: Free