We felt so blessed to be welcomed for satsang inside the small cave house of a pure and gentle soul, Swami Swaswarupananda. Swami Swaswarupananda originally studied in Belur Math in Kolkata before moving to Uttarkashi some 15 years ago. Here he built his one room house as an extension from a natural cave in the […]

The beauty of Uttarkashi’s natural environment provides a harmonious and supportive setting for the spiritual way of life which persists since ancient times. There is an abundance of wildlife, the water and air are clean and clear, and the extensively terraced hills are cultivated by local farmers as they have been for centuries. Terraced hillsides […]

About seven kilometers up the river from Uttarkashi is the Shivananda Ashram led by Swami Premananda. Swami Satyananda and a few devotees dropped by for a joyful visit. The Shivananda Ashram provides medical care, education and other social services for the neighboring villagers, but even more impressive was the radiant bliss of Swami Premananda whose […]

Swamiji led a few devotees on a journey from Rishikesh to higher (and cooler) ground, the ancient city of Uttarkashi. The name Uttarkashi contains a reference to Benares, also once known as Kashi, or the City of Light, with its ancient Vishwanath Temple. Uttarkashi which has the Northern Vishwanath Temple can be translated as the […]

As Rishikesh sweltered under rising temperatures, the wild elephants from the Rajaji National Park headed to the river to drink and cool off. The National Park provides habitat for a variety of wild animals including tigers and lions, which local children claim to have seen. Shree Maa and Swamiji enjoyed watching the elephants, who visit […]