Aranya Sangharama now has a resident monastic community and also has an opportunity for a limited number of people interested in living the daily schedule of a monastery to join the resident monks. This is a preparatory phase before the formal opening of the monastery in February 2025. Lay men and women that are interested in spending a few days at Sangharama partaking of the daily schedule may send an email to [email protected] expressing their interest, indicating dates. Based on availability of space as well as overall conditions in the monastery we will revert back to you about the possible dates and duration of visit.

PLEASE NOTE : Those interested in visiting for the 8-10 February inauguration event, kindly register using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2wmehWw1tkaGZ94zQrMWtiIOUfSYk6vRRyjORPA-YdjyxWg/viewform. The regular monastery visit procedure will apply for all visits before 8 February and after 10 February.

Currently the daily schedule is the following: 

• • 5:30am – 7am : Morning chanting and meditation 
  • 7am : Simple breakfast 
  • 8am : Pindapatta / alms round 
  • Work period and self-practice time. 
  • 11am : Meal   
  • Clean up, followed by self -practice. 
  • 4pm : Tea and other allowable drinks
  • 7pm to 8:30 pm – Evening chanting and meditation. 

Visitors are expected to join the regular monastery schedule. 

Currently accommodation in the monastery is very limited. Apart from male and female dormitories in the main monastery building, the monastery also has a rented some accommodation about 800 meters from the main building. Visitors can be accommodated in either of the lodgings based on the prevalent situation. We request the cooperation of the visitors in this regard and encourage you to make the best use of whatever lodging is assigned. May this enable the cultivation of mental flexibility, especially if things are not exactly in line with one’s preferences.

Please carry some form of government issued identification (ADHAR card, passport etc) as a copy of this is necessary to be retained in the monastery records for overnight visitors. 

Initial period of stay is 3 days which is extendable based on the overall adaptability to the monastery routine, culture and so on.

Aranya Sangharama is entirely vegetarian. Kindly refrain from brining meat, fish or eggs in the premises. Further, please do not smoke in the monastery.

There is not a particular meditation or other practice prescribed or formally taught in the monastery. Lay guests are encouraged, as Ajahn Chah emphasized, to try to develop spiritual qualities such as diligent effort, joy, contentment, patience and faith attitude in all aspects of daily life. There are also opportunities to discuss Dhamma with the resident monks and also undertake independent Dhamma study. 

Getting there

Aranya Sangharama (https://maps.app.goo.gl/9sStL4H1GGuvK5pY8) is located in Village Rampur Gainda, Tehsil Bilaspur, Dist. Yamunanagar in the state of Haryana.

The nearest airports are in Delhi and Chandigarh. The monastery is also accessible from the railheads of Yamunanagar (40 kms) and Ambala (60 kms). 

The nearest public transport bus stand is in Ranjitpur (4 kms). There are buses from Yamunanagar and Ambala to Ranjitpur.