How Much Does It Cost to Stay at an Ashram in India? (Official Rates, Checked 2026-10-23)

Free, donation or fixed rate: what 36 ashrams in India charge for a stay, from official pages only, what's included, the extra costs, and how to pay safely.

Updated 2026-10-23

In short: Ashram stays in India range from free to several thousand rupees a day. Sri Ramanasramam, Shantikunj, Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh, RSSB Beas (during satsang periods) and Dhamma Giri charge nothing. Sivananda yoga-vacation ashrams publish ₹500–₹3,500 per night with meals and classes. Patanjali Yog Gram publishes ₹5,500–₹11,000 a day with therapy. Many publish no rates, so ask the ashram directly.

Every figure below is as published on the ashram's own page, last checked 2026-10-23.

The short answer: four ways ashrams charge

Free. No charge for the room and often the meals too. Shantikunj in Haridwar is free, with shared rooms given on arrival.
Donation. You give what is asked or what you can. Sri Ram Ashram publishes a requested amount per night.
Fixed rate. A set price, often with classes and meals. Sivananda Madurai lists dorm beds from ₹500 a night.
Ask the ashram. No public price. Amritapuri and many others tell you when you apply.

Prices below are not comparable one-to-one. A free shared room, a yoga-vacation bed with two classes, and a therapy package are different things, so each row says what the price covers.

Ashram stay costs compared (all 36)

Grouped by how each ashram charges. "Not published" means we found no price on the official page; it does not mean free. Figures are copied as published, not rounded.

Published ashram stay costs, last checked 2026-10-23
Ashram	City	Model	Published price	What's included	Official source
Free (5)
Sri Ramanasramam	Tiruvannamalai	Free	Free; donations encouraged	Room and meals. Apply ahead; the ashram says only about 25% of requests can be accepted	source
Divine Life Society – Sivananda Ashram	Rishikesh	Free	Free for permitted visitors	Room and meals. Written application; no online room bookings	source
Shantikunj	Haridwar	Free	Free	Shared group accommodation only, given on arrival if space allows; no reservations	source
Radha Soami Satsang Beas (Dera)	Beas	Free	Free: hostels, sarais and langar meals; no fees for any services	Only during designated satsang periods, for resident Indians, NRIs and initiated non-Indians; by request form	source
Dhamma Giri (Vipassana)	Igatpuri	Free	No charge	Teaching, food and lodging on a course; donations only from people who have completed one	source
Donation (3)
Sri Ram Ashram	Haridwar	Requested donation	Per person per night: adults $25; children 3–18 $20; students $20; approved temporary volunteers $10	Room, three meals, chai/snack, cleaning, internet. Foreign guests pay online in USD	source
Tushita Meditation Centre	Dharamkot	Donation with guideline minimum	Guideline minimum ₹8,600 for a 10-day residential course in a large dorm; non-refundable deposit ₹2,000; duvet rental ₹400 per course	Course participants only; not a guest house	source
Sri Ma Anandamayi Ashram (SSMAIC)	Kankhal	Expected daily contribution	Not published	SSMAIC: paid in cash on arrival or during the stay. Main ashram charges not published	source
Fixed published rates (10)
Shri Saibaba Sansthan	Shirdi	Fixed (per room per day)	Dharmashala hall ₹20; 3-bed non-AC ₹200–₹500; 3-bed AC ₹600–₹900; 2-person AC ₹800	Room only. Prasadalaya meals free in the ground-floor hall; first-floor table halls ₹50 per person	source
Sivananda Kutir	Uttarkashi	Fixed (per night)	Dorm ₹700; twin bunk ₹1,200; twin ₹1,500 (USD rates for international guests)	Room, yoga classes, satsangs, sattvic meals. Minimum 7 nights	source
Sivananda Dhanwantari Ashram	Neyyar Dam	Fixed (per night)	Tent/dorm ₹560 to twin AC ₹1,700; 22–31 Dec ₹620–₹2,140 (USD for foreigners and NRIs)	Room, two yoga classes, satsangs, two vegetarian meals. Minimum 3 nights	source
Sivananda Meenakshi Ashram	Madurai	Fixed (per night)	Dorm ₹500 to single AC ₹3,500 (USD for foreigners and NRIs)	Room, classes, satsangs, vegetarian meals. First 3 nights non-refundable	source
Kaivalyadhama	Lonavala	Fixed (per week)	Single, common bath ₹9,870–₹11,200; single, attached bath ₹14,700–₹16,100; executive, deluxe and AC rooms cost more	Room and meals, tax included	source
The Yoga Institute	Mumbai	Fixed (7-day camp)	Residential ₹16,500 per person, triple sharing; non-residential ₹10,000 (fees labelled 2024)	Course fee and 4 meals a day. Non-refundable	source
Patanjali Yog Gram	Haridwar	Fixed (per day)	₹5,500 (1 person, Maharishi) to ₹11,000 (Rajrishi, 1–2 persons); ₹300 one-time registration per person	Room, meals, prescribed therapies. Kits, tests, medicines and some therapies extra	source
Phool Chatti Ashram	Rishikesh	Fixed (7-day retreat)	Single non-AC ₹32,000 to shared double AC ₹60,000 for 2	Retreat programme; price includes a ₹10,000 booking fee per person. Massages extra	source
OSHO International Meditation Resort	Pune	Fixed (per night)	Guesthouse 1 Nov–15 Dec 2026: single ₹4,250, double ₹4,750, + 5% GST	Room only. Meditation pass, registration and gate pass extra	source
Prasanthi Nilayam	Puttaparthi	Fixed (per room per night)	₹500 (basic) / ₹1,200 (renovated, non-AC) / ₹1,500 (renovated, AC), taxes included	Room only. Online booking for families, not solo travellers; closed for November	source
Not published (18)
Isha Yoga Center	Coimbatore	Contact ashram (volunteer dorm free)	Cottages: not published (live booking portal only); dorm free for eligible volunteers	Volunteers 18+ who have done Inner Engineering Completion, 5–180 days	source
Parmarth Niketan	Rishikesh	Rates on booking portal	Not published (shown on app.parmarth.org for your dates)	Book only via parmarth.org	source
Amritapuri	Kerala	Contact ashram	Not published	Meals come with accommodation	source
Art of Living International Center	Bengaluru	Contact ashram	Not published	–	source
Auroville	Tamil Nadu	Varies by guest house	Not published, plus a guest contribution (amount not published)	Book via guesthouses.auroville.org	source
Sri Aurobindo Ashram	Puducherry	Contact guest house	Not published	No phone, TV, Wi-Fi or room service in rooms	source
ISKCON Bangalore	Bengaluru	Contact Yatri Nivas	Not published	Vegetarian meals for guests	source
ISKCON Vrindavan	Vrindavan	Contact guest house	Not published	Use only the official guest-house pages	source
ISKCON Mayapur	Mayapur	Official booking pages	Not published	–	source
Fogla Ashram	Vrindavan	Contact ashram	Not published	No online booking; never asks for app/UPI prepayment	source
Bihar School of Yoga	Munger	Contact ashram	Not published	Shared rooms, common bathrooms, communal meals	source
Belur Math	Howrah	Contact	Not published	–	source
YSS Ranchi Ashram	Ranchi	Request accommodation	Not published	–	source
Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama	Kankhal	Contact	Not published	–	source
Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama	Vrindavan	Contact	Not published	–	source
Shri Prem Nagar Ashram	Haridwar	Contact	Not published	–	source
Brahma Kumaris Shantivan	Abu Road	Courses free; stay terms not published	Not published	Courses and programmes are free	source
Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram	Ahmedabad	Visit only, no stay	No overnight stay (day visits only); admission free	Day visits only	–

Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram offers day visits only, with no overnight stay. Badrika Ashram, Dol Ashram and Amarkantak are not covered yet.

[IMAGE: owner-sourced, CC/PD with author+licence+source]

Free ashram stays (and the catch)

Free doesn't mean walk in and get a private room. Sri Ramanasramam gives accommodation and meals free but says it can accept only about 25% of requests, so apply early. official page The Divine Life Society in Rishikesh houses permitted visitors free after a written application. application form Shantikunj gives shared group space only, with no reservations. official page At Dhamma Giri the stay is part of a Vipassana course, and donations are accepted only from people who have completed one. official page RSSB Beas provides hostels, sarais and langar meals free, but only during designated satsang periods and only for resident Indians, NRIs and initiated non-Indians. RSSB FAQ

Expect shared rooms, fixed schedules and house rules. Our free ashram stays guide covers each one in depth, and Vipassana centres are listed separately.

Rishikesh and Haridwar ashram cost per day

DLS Sivananda Ashram: free for permitted visitors; it never takes online room bookings.
Parmarth Niketan: rates appear on its official portal for your dates. official page
Phool Chatti: 7-day retreats only, ₹32,000 (single non-AC), ₹38,000 (single AC), ₹54,000 (shared non-AC, 2 people), ₹60,000 (shared AC, 2 people), each including a ₹10,000 booking fee per person. Extra nights: single non-AC ₹5,000, single AC ₹6,000, shared non-AC ₹7,000 and shared AC ₹8,000 (2 people). official page
Shantikunj: free, shared, on arrival.
Sri Ram Ashram: requested donation of $25 per adult per night, $20 for children 3–18 and students, $10 for approved temporary volunteers, covering room, three meals, chai and internet. official page
Patanjali Yog Gram: a therapy stay, see the wellness section below.
RKM Sevashrama Kankhal, Shri Prem Nagar Ashram and Sri Ma Anandamayi Ashram: not published. The Anandamayi International Center asks for an expected daily contribution in cash.

For families, see Rishikesh ashrams for families. Our best ashrams in Rishikesh guide compares the stays in more detail. More in Uttarakhand.

Isha Yoga Center: what a stay costs

Isha Yoga Center has fixed cottage rates (standard, AC, deluxe, executive and family rooms), but shows them only on its live booking portal, cottage.isha.in for Indian visitors and visit.isha.in for overseas visitors. booking portal Prices change with dates and room type, so we don't print one. Stays are for programmes, volunteering or meditation, not general tourism.

Volunteering is free. People aged 18 and over who have completed the Inner Engineering Completion programme can stay in the dorm at no cost for 5 to 180 days. Isha volunteering page More ashrams in Tamil Nadu, and see volunteer stays.

Yoga-vacation and wellness ashrams (fixed fees)

These prices bundle a programme, so a per-night figure here buys more than a bed. Check what's included before comparing.

Sivananda yoga vacations. Uttarkashi: dorm ₹700, twin bunk ₹1,200, twin ₹1,500 a night, minimum 7 nights. official page Neyyar Dam: tent or dorm ₹560, twin with common bath ₹1,100, twin ₹1,380, single with common bath ₹1,500, twin AC ₹1,700; ₹620–₹2,140 over Christmas (22–31 Dec, minimum 3 nights). official page Madurai: dorm ₹500, twin ₹1,500, single ₹2,000, twin AC ₹2,500, single AC ₹3,500. official page Rates cover the room, yoga classes, satsangs and vegetarian meals. Foreign nationals and NRIs pay in USD.
Kaivalyadhama. Weekly, meals and tax included: single with common bath ₹9,870–₹11,200; single with attached bath ₹14,700–₹16,100. Executive, deluxe and AC rooms cost more. tariff page
The Yoga Institute. 7-day Health Camp: residential ₹16,500 per person in triple sharing, with course and four meals a day. The fee is still labelled 2024 on the page. official page
OSHO Resort. Guesthouse from 1 November 2026: single ₹4,250, double ₹4,750 a night plus 5% GST; ₹4,500 / ₹5,000 from 16 December. The meditation pass is extra. official page
Patanjali Yog Gram. Per day, room plus treatment and diet: Nisarg ₹6,500, Tapasvi ₹7,000, Maharishi ₹8,000 for 2 or ₹5,500 for 1, Rajrishi ₹11,000. Registration ₹300 per person. official page

See all yoga-vacation ashrams.

Hidden and extra costs

Registration: ₹300 per person at Patanjali Yog Gram.
GST: 5% on top of OSHO Guesthouse rates.
Passes: OSHO's meditation pass is ₹1,100 a day for resident Indians and ₹2,100 for international visitors; first-time visitors also pay ₹100 for a gate pass. OSHO FAQ
Deposits: ₹2,000 non-refundable at Tushita; locker (₹100) and chaddar (₹200) deposits at Sai Bhakta Niwas, Shirdi.
Meals: Shirdi Prasadalaya meals are free in the ground-floor hall; first-floor table halls are ₹50 per person. Prasadalaya page
Rentals: duvet ₹400 per course at Tushita. Tushita FAQ
Booking fees and non-refundable nights: Phool Chatti's ₹10,000 booking fee per person; the first 3 nights at Sivananda Madurai; Yoga Institute fees are non-refundable.
Extras: kits, tests, medicines and some therapies at Patanjali Yog Gram; Ayurvedic massages at Phool Chatti.

Plan the rest with our packing list, the etiquette guide and the best time to visit by region.

How to pay safely

Lookalike sites. Parmarth names parmarthniketanashramm.com and parmarthniketaanashram.org as unofficial. Fogla Ashram names foglaashram.co.in and fogla-ashram.in. DLS Rishikesh never takes online room bookings, and Shantikunj takes no reservations at all. Type the official address from our ashram page, not from an ad or a search result.
UPI and phone requests. Fogla says it never asks pilgrims to pay by Paytm, Google Pay, BHIM or any other app, and anyone asking you to prepay is a fraudster. Parmarth never asks for payment by phone or WhatsApp, and asks guests to insist on a receipt.
If an ashram is free, a "booking fee" is a scam.
Pay only on the official portal or at the ashram office, and keep the receipt. Don't send UPI payments to a personal number.

Questions people ask

How much does an ashram stay cost per day in India?

Several ashrams charge nothing. The three Sivananda yoga-vacation ashrams publish ₹500–₹3,500 a night with meals and classes. Shirdi Sansthan rooms run ₹200–₹900 a day (a dharmashala hall is ₹20). Patanjali Yog Gram publishes ₹5,500–₹11,000 a day, therapy included. Many ashrams publish no rate at all.

How much does it cost to stay at Isha Yoga Center?

Isha shows cottage prices only on its live booking portal (cottage.isha.in for Indian visitors, visit.isha.in for overseas visitors), for your dates. We don't print a figure. Volunteering is free, with a free dorm for eligible volunteers who have completed Inner Engineering.

What does an ashram in Rishikesh cost per day?

DLS Sivananda Ashram is free for permitted visitors who apply in writing. Parmarth Niketan shows its rates on its own booking portal. Phool Chatti sells 7-day retreats from ₹32,000 for a single non-AC room. Most other ashrams in the area don't publish rates.

Can I stay in an ashram for free?

Yes, at Sri Ramanasramam, Shantikunj, DLS Rishikesh, RSSB Beas (during satsang periods) and Dhamma Giri (during a Vipassana course). Each has conditions: written applications, shared rooms, limited places or set dates. See our free ashram stays guide for the details.

Is Shantikunj free to stay?

Yes. Shantikunj gives shared group accommodation free of cost, on arrival and subject to space. It takes no reservations, so any website charging you for a Shantikunj room is not official. Expect a shared space and to join the daily routine.

How much does OSHO ashram Pune cost?

From 1 November to 15 December 2026, the OSHO Guesthouse charges ₹4,250 single or ₹4,750 double per night, plus 5% GST. The daily meditation pass is extra: ₹1,100 a day for resident Indians and ₹2,100 for international visitors. Check osho.com before booking.

Do donation-based ashrams expect a fixed amount?

Some state one. Sri Ram Ashram requests $25 per adult per night, and Tushita asks for a guideline minimum of ₹8,600 for a 10-day course. The Anandamayi International Center asks for an expected daily contribution but doesn't publish the amount.

How much does it cost to stay at Amritapuri or the Art of Living ashram?

Neither publishes a price on the official pages we checked. Contact the ashram through its official website. At Amritapuri, meals come with accommodation. Be wary of third-party sites quoting a rate, since we found no official figure to check it against.

Why don't some ashrams list prices?

Many give rooms by application, by request form or on arrival, not as a hotel would. Ask through the official site or office, pay only there, and keep a receipt. A missing price is not a sign that the stay is free.

Prices are as published on each ashram's official page and change without notice. Confirm with the ashram before you travel. Last checked 2026-10-23.