Welcome to Aranya Sangharama
Aranya Sangharama is a forest monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah. It offers a quiet, supportive environment for contemplative practice and simple living, in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha. Visitors are encouraged to help preserve this atmosphere of serenity and mindfulness by observing the following guidelines during their stay. May your stay here be peaceful, mindful, and conducive to inner growth.

Please fill out this form to request a stay at Aranya Sangharama. Confirmations will be based on space availability and the monastery’s current situation: Form to request a stay

General Information

• Monastic Setting: Aranya Sangharama hosts a resident monastic community. A limited number of lay guests are welcome to experience the daily schedule of monastic life.
• How to Visit: Please fill out this form to request a stay at Aranya Sangharama. Confirmations will be based on space availability and the monastery’s current situation: Form to request a stay (If you face any issue in filling the form, please don’t hesitate to contact us through phone or email – see Contact us)
• Initial Stay: Up to 3 days (may be extended depending on the visitor’s adaptability to the monastery’s routine and culture).
• ID Requirement: Overnight guests must provide a government-issued photo ID that has proof of address (e.g. Aadhaar, passport).

Daily Schedule (Subject to minor variation)

• 5:30 – 7:00 AM: Morning chanting and meditation
• 7:00 AM: Simple breakfast
• 8:00 AM: Pindapāta (alms round)
• 8:45 AM: Meeting in Sala for announcements and seva volunteering
• 9:00 – 10:30 AM: Seva period (volunteering/service)
• 11:00 AM: Meet in Sala for meal blessing
• 12:00 – 5:00 PM: Quiet self-practice (Individual guidance / Dhamma conversation from one of the resident monks is possible during this period). Please speak to the guest monk to set up such a conversation).
• 5:00 – 6:00 PM: Tea and allowable refreshments (Nampāna)
• 7:00 – 8:30 PM: Evening chanting and meditation

Practice Guidelines
Observance of the Eight Precepts
All guests are expected to observe the Eight Precepts throughout their stay:

1. Refrain from killing living beings
2. Refrain from stealing
3. Refrain from sexual activity
4. Refrain from false or harmful speech
5. Refrain from intoxicating drinks or drugs
6. Refrain from eating after noon
7. Refrain from entertainment, beautification, and adornment
8. Refrain from using luxurious seats and beds

These precepts help create the internal and external conditions supportive of meditation, mindfulness, and renunciation.

• Medical Exceptions: If you have health concerns requiring food at night, kindly inform the guest monk. Quietness and discretion are requested if eating after noon.
• Nampāna: To support health within the bounds of the precepts, allowable drinks and light refreshments are available daily from 5:00–6:00 PM.

Self-Directed Practice
While there is little formal instruction offered at the monastery, guests are encouraged to engage in sincere, independent spiritual practice throughout the day.
Qualities such as effort, joy, patience, contentment, and faith—as emphasized by Ajahn Chah—are to be cultivated in daily life.
Practice is primarily self-directed, but guests are warmly encouraged to speak with the guest monk if they wish to request a Dhamma conversation or guidance from one of the resident monks. These conversations can offer valuable support in meditation, daily conduct, or understanding the Buddha’s teachings.

Accommodation

• Limited Space: Lodging is simple and may be assigned either in the main monastery building (male/female dormitories) or nearby rented rooms (~800 meters away), based on the prevailing situation.
• Flexibility Encouraged: Visitors are asked to accept accommodations with patience and a spirit of renunciation, even if conditions differ from personal preferences.

Silence, Mobile Phone and Computer Use

• Phones Off: To support a peaceful and focused environment, all mobile phones must be switched off and kept out of sight for the duration of your stay.
• Essential Use Only: If absolutely necessary, phone calls may be made discreetly from the monastery office with prior permission.
• Maintain Quietude: The use of phones, computers and other electronic devices is not permitted in public spaces or dormitories. We kindly ask all guests to help preserve the quiet, contemplative atmosphere of the monastery.
• Bring a Watch: As phones will not be accessible, we recommend bringing a simple wristwatch to keep track of time during your stay as well as an alarm clock should you need one.

Other Guidelines

• Vegetarian Only: Please do not bring meat, fish, or eggs into the monastery.
• No Smoking: Smoking is strictly prohibited anywhere on the monastery grounds.
• Minimize Socialising: Visitors are requested to refrain from unnecessary conversation, especially during meals or group sittings.
• Use of the kitchen: In order to maintain a supportive atmosphere in the monastery especially in view of the limited infrastructure, a Monastery staff person operates the kitchen. Visitors are requested to leave all kitchen duties to him.

Getting There
Address:
Aranya Sangharama, Village Rampur Gainda,
Tehsil Bilaspur, District Yamunanagar, Haryana, India
[Google Maps Link]

Nearest Airports

• Delhi (DEL)
• Chandigarh (IXC)

Nearest Railway Stations

• Yamunanagar (40 km)
• Ambala (60 km)

Nearest Bus Stand

• Ranjitpur (4 km): Buses to Ranjitpur are available from both Yamunanagar and Ambala.

Taxi Services
A local taxi operator is available near the monastery for travel to/from nearby towns such as Yamunanagar, Ambala, and Chandigarh:

• Mr. Anil
  📞 +91-9671496312
  📞 +91-9466525456 (also on WhatsApp)
• Padam Singh (Master Ji)
  📞 +91-8607084607

For travel to/from Delhi, you may contact:

• Aadriti Tours and Travels
  📞 +91-83979 94097

Additional Instructions if arriving by train at Yamunanagar Railway Station:

1. From the railway station, proceed to the Jagadhri Bus Stand. (Note: Yamunanagar has two bus stands – Yamunanagar and Jagadhri. You need to reach Jagadhri bus stand.)
2. From Jagadhri, take a bus to Ranjitpur, the nearest stop to the monastery.
   If a direct bus to Ranjitpur is unavailable (depending on the time of day), take a bus to Bilaspur instead. Bilaspur is well-connected with frequent buses.
3. Once in Bilaspur (or just before reaching), contact one of the local auto rickshaw drivers to bring you to the monastery (approx. 20 km):

• Rajendra 📞 +91-98124-94718
• Vishal 📞 +91-93549-01640

Donating to and Supporting the Monastery

• The monastery is supported and hosted by Aranya Vihara Trust, an Indian Public Charitable Trust.
• Any financial or in-kind donations to support the monastery are to be made to Aranya Vihara Trust. Please collect a receipt for your contribution (including in-kind donations) from the monastery office.
• We request that as far as possible financial donations may be made directly to the bank account of Aranya Vihara Trust.
• At this stage Aranya Vihara Trust does not have the necessary permission from the Government of India to receive financial or in-kind donations from non Indian citizens.