The Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Ashram at Dwarahat was inaugurated in 1983. Nestled in the Himalayas near Ranikhet Cantonment, Dwarahat is a small town in the scenic state of Uttarakhand in north India. It has an average altitude of 1,500 m (5,000 ft.). The mountains surrounding Dwarahat are hallowed with memories of Mahavatar Babaji, the first in the line of YSS Gurus, who revived the ancient technique of Kriya Yoga in 1861 and made it available to the world through his exalted disciple Lahiri Mahasaya. The spiritual significance of this great event is vividly depicted by Paramahansa Yogananda in his spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi in the chapter “Materializing a Palace in the Himalayas.”
The YSS Ashram is located about 1.5 km from Dwarahat town and is surrounded by pine forests on all sides. On the right side of the road that goes from Dwarahat town to the Ashram is the Government Rest House where Sri Daya Mata (third President and Spiritual Head of YSS/SRF from 1955 until her passing in 
2010) had stayed during her visit to Mahavatar Babaji’s cave in 1963-64. Sri Daya Mata had a divine vision of Babaji here. Her experience with the great Guru is vividly described in her book Only Love in the chapter entitled “A Blessing from Mahavatar Babaji.”
Babaji's cave is the sacred place where Mahavatar Babaji initiated Lahiri Mahasaya into Kriya Yoga in 1861. All Kriyabans trace their lineage to this event.
The cave is located on the Dunagiri Mountains (below the Pandukholi temple), beyond the hamlet of Kukuchina (25 km from Dwarahat).
The trail leading up to the cave has been renovated and the climb takes about an hour. During the rains, a few streams along the way feed the Gogash river as described in the Autobiography of a Yogi.
YSS has also built a small shrine, Smriti Bhavan, close to Babaji's cave. Both these places are open for meditation to YSS/SRF devotees between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in summer (March 1 to September 30), and 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in winter (October 1 to February 28/29).
YSS/SRF Lesson students who practise Kriya Yoga meditation are welcome to stay at the ashram for their spiritual renewal by participating in the daily routine of the ashram.
Spiritual Programmes
The various spiritual activities at the Ashram include daily practice of the Energization Exercises and group meditations, Sunday satsangas, celebration of Yoganandaji’s birthday on January 5, Mahavatar Babaji’s Smriti Divas on July 25 (which also includes a Yatra from the Ashram to Babaji’s cave), and an annual Sadhana Sangam from September 26 to September 30. Functions are also held to commemorate the Avirbhav and Mahasamadhi anniversaries of the YSS Gurus.
Retreats
The Dwarahat Ashram welcomes all YSS/SRF devotees to participate in 
individual as well as group retreats conducted by sannyasis. The conducted retreats include periods of silence, the practice of the Energization Exercises and group meditation every morning and evening, review of the meditation techniques and classes on “How-to-Live” principles as taught by Paramahansa Yoganandaji.
The Ashram is open for individual retreats all year round. YSS/SRF Lesson students are requested to book their accommodation for both conducted and individual retreats well in advance.
Long Meditations
Devotees may join long meditations scheduled at YSS Dwarahat Ashram once a month, usually on a Sunday. These are conducted by YSS sannyasis. The programmes comprise of prayer, reading, chanting, and meditation. There is a break of half-an-hour in between.
The schedule for Long Meditations in 2024 can be accessed here.
Timings
Ashram Timings
|
Ashram Grounds |
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
|
Office hours |
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Group Meditation Timings (March 1 to October 31)
|
Daily (Except Thursday and Sunday) |
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
|
Thursday and Sunday |
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
|
Sunday Satsanga |
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. |
Group Meditation Timings (November 1 to February 28)
|
Daily (Except Thursday and Sunday) |
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
|
Thursday and Sunday |
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
|
Sunday Satsanga |
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
Cave Timings
|
Summer Timings March 1 to September 30 |
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
|
Winter Timings October 1 to February 28 |
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
Charitable Activities
“To serve mankind as one’s larger Self” is one of the goals of YSS. In keeping with this ideal, the Ashram organizes medical camps twice a year around April and October for the poor and needy residents of the neighbourhood. The Ashram also runs a charitable primary school for local children from kindergarten to fifth grade. For these children, a summer camp is organized annually by the Ashram during which the children participate in various events related to meditation, yoga, art, music, and sports.
Contact Us
Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Ashram - Dwarahat
DWARAHAT – 263653
Dist. Almora, Uttarakhand
Phones: 9756082167, 9411708541
Office hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
E-mail: [email protected]
