Vipassana 10-Day Course in India: Free, How to Apply & Centres (Checked 2026-10-23)

Is Vipassana free? How dhamma.org 10-day courses in India work: cost and donations, daily timetable, rules, how to apply online, and official centre links.

Updated 2026-10-23

In short: Vipassana 10-day courses in S.N. Goenka's tradition at dhamma.org centres in India charge nothing for teaching, room or food. They run on donations from past students. The course spans 12 days, in noble silence, with about ten hours of meditation a day. You apply online for a specific course through dhamma.org's course search.

Every fact below is from dhamma.org or a centre page linked from it, last checked 2026-10-23.

Is Vipassana free? What it costs

Yes. In dhamma.org's words: "There is no charge for either the teaching, or for room and board." All courses are run "on a strictly voluntary donation basis". dhamma.org Q&A

The rule on giving is strict. Donations are accepted only from people who have completed at least one 10-day course in this tradition; a first-timer may give at the end of the course, for a future one. Teachers and organisers receive no payment. Code of Discipline So a "booking fee" or "seat charge" is a red flag. For other no-cost stays, see our free ashram stays guide and what ashram stays cost.

What the 10 days are like

The 10-day course is the minimum introduction to the technique. It spans 12 calendar days with arrival and departure, and you agree to stay for all of it, inside the course boundaries. Code of Discipline Teaching is through recordings of S.N. Goenka in English or Hindi, with translation into a local language. Q&A

Daily timetable

Course timetable as published by dhamma.org, checked 2026-10-23
Time	Activity
4:00 am	Wake-up bell
4:30–6:30 am	Meditate in the hall or your room
6:30–8:00 am	Breakfast break
8:00–9:00 am	Group meditation
9:00–11:00 am	Meditate in the hall or your room
11:00 am–12 noon	Lunch break
12 noon–1:00 pm	Rest and interviews with the teacher
1:00–2:30 pm	Meditate in the hall or your room
2:30–3:30 pm	Group meditation
3:30–5:00 pm	Meditate in the hall or your room
5:00–6:00 pm	Tea break
6:00–7:00 pm	Group meditation
7:00–8:15 pm	Teacher's discourse
8:15–9:00 pm	Group meditation
9:00–9:30 pm	Question time
9:30 pm	Lights out

Rules you agree to

Five precepts for the whole course: no killing, stealing, sexual activity, lying or intoxicants. Old students keep three more.
Noble Silence, including gestures and notes, until the morning of the last full day. You may speak to the teacher and management.
Men and women are completely separated, couples and families included.
Phones, smartwatches and other devices are handed in until the course ends. No reading or writing materials, music or cameras.
Simple vegetarian meals; no fasting. Mention a prescribed diet on your application.
Simple, modest clothing: no shorts, short skirts, leggings or sleeveless tops.
No prayer, rituals, mantras, other meditation techniques or strenuous exercise during the course; walking in designated areas is fine.

Full Code of Discipline Chairs are provided if you can't sit on the floor. Q&A For general manners in spiritual centres, see ashram etiquette for first-timers.

Who should not apply yet

dhamma.org is plain about this: Vipassana is not a cure or a therapy, and the teachers are not medical or counselling practitioners. It does not recommend courses for people with significant mental health issues, because old symptoms can resurface even when currently stable. Declare your mental health history and any medicines on the application. Q&A Code of Discipline

How to apply / register online

Open dhamma.org course search and filter by country, centre or dates.
Pick a course and click Apply to open the online application form.
Read the Introduction to the Technique and the Code of Discipline.
Fill in every section of the form, including health and medication questions, and submit.
Wait for notification, usually by email. dhamma.org warns it can take several weeks.
If accepted, confirm that you will attend. That secures your place.

These steps are as described on the course search page. We don't print course dates; check each centre's schedule. Shorter courses exist for old students; check dhamma.org.

Vipassana centres in India by region

The dhamma.org directory lists many centres in India. A few of the most-searched, with official links: full directory

Selected dhamma.org centres in India, checked 2026-10-23
Centre	Location	Course schedule	Centre website
Dhamma Giri	Igatpuri, Maharashtra	dhamma.org schedule	giri.dhamma.org
Dhamma Pattana	Gorai Village, Borivali (West), Mumbai	dhamma.org schedule	pattana.dhamma.org
Dhamma Sota	Delhi (listed under Haryana)	dhamma.org schedule	sota.dhamma.org
Dhamma Sikhara	Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh	dhamma.org schedule	sikhara.dhamma.org
Dhamma Salila	Dehradun, Uttarakhand	dhamma.org schedule	salila.dhamma.org
Dhamma Bodhi	Bodh Gaya, Bihar	dhamma.org schedule	bodhi.dhamma.org

No Rishikesh centre appears in the directory; Dhamma Salila in Dehradun is the one listed for Uttarakhand. Not on the list: Tushita in Dharamkot teaches a different, Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Browse more in Vipassana, silent retreats, meditation and Buddhism.

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

Igatpuri (Dhamma Giri): the best-known centre

Dhamma Giri is in Igatpuri, Maharashtra. Its dhamma.org schedule page lists 10-day and other courses, each with its own online application form. Dhamma Giri schedule The directory also lists Dhamma Tapovana at Igatpuri. More in Maharashtra.

What to bring

Enough simple, modest clothing for 10 days. There are no washing machines; small items can be hand-washed in breaks.
Any medicines, declared on your application form.
Leave at home: books, notebooks, religious objects, crystals or rosaries, and valuables. Phones go to management.

Code of Discipline See our ashram packing list for general tips.

Booking safety

Apply only through dhamma.org or the centre site linked from it. Courses are free, so anyone asking for a "booking fee", "seat guarantee" or UPI payment is not this tradition.
Paid "Vipassana retreat" packages, often in Rishikesh or Goa, are different products and not dhamma.org courses.
We found no official page that offers WhatsApp or agent bookings. Ignore anyone selling seats.
Foreign travellers: bring your passport and visa, and ask the centre what registration it needs.

Questions? Ask on our Q&A.

Questions people ask

Is Vipassana free in India?

Yes. dhamma.org says there is no charge for the teaching, or for room and board, and that all courses run on a strictly voluntary donation basis. Donations are accepted only from people who have completed at least one 10-day course; first-timers may give at the end of their course.

How much does a 10-day Vipassana course cost?

Nothing. The fee is zero for teaching, food and lodging at centres in this tradition. If you benefit, you may donate at the end for a future course, according to your means. Teachers receive no payment. Anyone asking for a booking fee is not part of dhamma.org.

How do I register for Vipassana online?

Search for a course on dhamma.org, pick a centre and dates, and click Apply to open the online form. Read the Code of Discipline, fill in every section and submit. Then wait: replies come by email and can take several weeks. If accepted, you must confirm to secure your place.

Can I apply for Dhamma Giri Igatpuri online?

Yes. Dhamma Giri's schedule page on dhamma.org lists its courses, and each one links to an online application form. Apply for a specific course there and wait for the centre's email. Don't pay anyone to book a seat for you.

What is the daily schedule on a Vipassana course?

The wake-up bell rings at 4 am and lights go out at 9:30 pm. There are about ten hours of meditation a day, broken by meals, rest and a tea break, with a recorded discourse by S.N. Goenka in the evening. The full timetable is in dhamma.org's Code of Discipline.

Can I leave a Vipassana course in the middle?

You commit to staying for the whole course before you apply. dhamma.org notes the 10-day course spans 12 calendar days, counting the arrival and departure days, so plan your travel and leave around that.

Is Vipassana a religion?

dhamma.org says it is not a religion and that there is no question of conversion. People of many faiths and none attend. During the course, though, you set aside prayer, rituals and other practices, and leave religious objects at home or with the management.

Is Vipassana safe if I have anxiety or depression?

dhamma.org says Vipassana is not a cure or therapy, and it does not recommend courses for people with significant mental health issues, since old symptoms can resurface. If your condition is overwhelming, work with a health professional first. Always declare your history on the application.

Is there a Vipassana centre in Rishikesh?

Not in the dhamma.org directory we checked. The only centre listed in Uttarakhand is Dhamma Salila in Dehradun. Paid 'Vipassana retreats' in Rishikesh are separate businesses, not dhamma.org courses.

What should I bring to a 10-day Vipassana course?

Simple, modest, comfortable clothes for 10 days, as there are no washing machines, though small items can be hand-washed. Declare any medicines on your form. Leave behind books, notebooks, religious objects and valuables; phones and other devices are handed in until the course ends.

Course rules and schedules can change. Confirm on dhamma.org before you travel. Last checked 2026-10-23.