Somewhere in the Himalayas we have a sweet little new place called ​Chaitanya Tapovan
Everything started late in 2015 when my good friend, Omprakash and I went to visit a couple of friends who live in a beautiful place not far from the Himalayan town Uttarkashi. During the visit they've mentioned that there's a nice piece of property not far from theirs which is standing for sale, and suggested that we go and check it out. I said to myself sarcastically, 'Yea, this is exactly what I need right now.... Indian bureaucracy, construction work, responsibility.... No way!' But out of curiosity and politeness we went to see the place...
It took us about five seconds to forget all about the hardships and the headache involved in purchasing and building such a place, and to decide to go for it all the way.
​It took us some time to work out the bureaucracy and to purchase the land along with the two buildings that were already standing there. Next, we have started the renovation and remodelling of these buildings to make them fit for our needs. One building was remodelled to be my (S Kashi) home, and the other building is being renovated to house a care-taker in one room, and a guest in the other. When Omprakash will return to India, we'll construct a separate unit for him.

Apart from the striking beauty, there is a very loud silence that is heard and felt deeply by anyone who visits
The place is a magic! it is a small property of about half an acre sitting on a majestic Himalayan mountain slope overlooking the Ganga river. A beautiful little spring-fed stream runs through the middle of the property, with two smaller springs on the south side. All around us, there are mountain peaks with forests of pine, cedar and deodar which are covered with snow during the winter. The property itself and surrounding area is agricultural land, cultivated by farmers from the nearby village of Sangrali. Apart from the striking beauty of the place, there is a very loud silence that is heard and felt deeply by anyone who visits. It is the perfect place for a small ashram, dedicated to a peaceful life of contemplation and spiritual practice.

Spiritual seekers will be welcomed to stay, practice and grow in a supporting environment
Every year, a number of people contact me, asking me for a place to stay and do Sadhana (spiritual practice). They want a quiet place where they can practice and learn with a teacher, free from outside distractions. In the past, I used to send them the the ashram of Nanima in Sainj, but that ashram was washed away during the floods of 2013. Now I feel the call to provide the opportunity for sincere seekers in Chaitanya Tapovan. We don't want to conduct courses and retreats in our place. These will create too much noise and distraction. Yet, we do want to facilitate a place for those who are serious about their practice and studies. Therefore, we are planning to build a couple of cabins on our property in the near future. Spiritual seekers who are looking for such an opportunity will be welcomed to stay, practice and grow in a supporting environment.

A special inaguration ceremony is just around the corner
In the beginning of June, we had the inauguration ceremony of the ashram. It was a traditional three-day function in which the Devata (idol) of the village came to stay at the ashram, and a bunch of priests, pundits, and other villagers will conduct  Pujas (ceremonies), and traditional prayers. On the last day of the function, we will have a Sadhu Bhandara (feeding of holy people), and a feast for all the villagers of Sangrali. It is going to be a very unique and mystic experience, and I want to invite you to participate in it if you can come over. Just send us a contact form and let us know that you wish to come. We'll send you all the relevant information.​​

Meet our first two permanent residents of the Ashram
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​We are pleased to introduce our first two permanent residents of the Ashram. Their names are Chai and Shila. They have come to us from two remote Himalayan villages when they were just 2-3 months old. They are very happy with the Ashram life where their only duties are to eat, sleep, and play... Even in this tender age they are taking seriously their role in the Ashram and bark on unknown strangers.

How can you help...?
Purchasing the property and constructing the buildings turned out to be very costly (according to our means). We will start to construct the guest units only after raising the money required to build them. We estimate that each unit will cost about $25,000. If you are inspired by what we are doing and you wish to contribute to this important cause, please give your donation through the PayPal link below, or contact us for other options for sending a donation. Thank you very much.​ 

Swami Kashi