Visit the Holy Ashram of Saint Rang Avdhut at Nareshwar in Gujarat State of India

There are many beautiful picnic spots around the city of Vadodara in the Gujarat State, which can be visited as a one-day's outing or a picnic with family and friends. One such beautiful spot is Nareshwar, which is situated on the bank of the holy River Narmada. Nareshwar is around 36 miles away from the city of Vadodara, 100 miles away from the city of Ahmedabad, 12 miles from the town of Dabhoi, and only 7 miles from the town of Rajpipala. Thus, it is very easy to reach this picnic spot from any of major cities and towns of Gujarat State by State Transport buses or the hired car or vehicles. The four-sitter car or taxi can be hired at the rate of around Rs.800 ($20) per day on the basis of minimum 250 kilometers travel per day. The air-conditioned cars can be available at around Rs.1500 ($40) per day on the same basis of minimum 250 kilometers running per day.

There is an ashram here at Nareshwar, which was established by the great Saint Rang Avdhut. Saint Rang Avdhut, commonly known as Bapji, established this ashram before around 80 years and it has developed very well since then. The spiritual atmosphere of the ashram attracts thousands of visitors to this ashram. The ashram is situated in vast area of around six acres on the bank of holy river Narmada. There are separate independent rooms available for performing yoga, Dhyana, and pranayama. The Siddha yoga is taught here at the ashram regularly through various shibirs held. The River Narmada flows just below the ashram. The visitors can take leisurely bath here at the ghat of the ashram in the River Narmada. The entire area of the ashram is full of lush green trees and the beautiful garden all around it. There is also a full-fledged kitchen here at the ashram, which can provide a standard Gujarati food items to all the visitors free of cost. One can however make donations to the ashram depending upon their individual capacity. The regular coaching classes of yoga and pranayama are held here at the ashram all through the year. The ashram management also conducts the regular shibirs here. Though, great Saint Rang Avdhut is no more now, his thinking and philosophy is still alive through his followers who are handling the activities of this ashram through the trust very effectively. Though, the ashram welcomes all the visitors, the activities like music in large sound, playing cards and other games, and the running around the ashram is not permitted. It is more like a holy place, rather than the picnic spot.

There are clean and decent rooms also available at the ashram for staying night halt. However, the booking of such rooms may please be done in advance by contacting the ashram management. The rooms have attached toilet facilities and the charges are just nominal, around Rs.50 ($1.25) per day. There is a very nice library here at the ashram, which consists of around 15000 books, mainly on Vedas and the Hindu religion. The visitors can sit at the library and study or refer the books of their own choice. One point of caution is to take bath here in the River Narmada with great care as the River water here is deep and dangerous and there have been many incidents of people getting drowned in the River Narmada. Even the full-fledged swimmers also should not take the risk of going deep in to the river. It is also sometimes difficult to reach this ashram during the peak monsoon season due to frequent floods coming in the River Narmada, blocking all the roads to ashram. The best season to visit this calm and quiet place is during the winter months from November to March. Though, there are no modern luxuries available at ashram, one would certainly love to stay here to enjoy the peaceful and spiritual environment of the ashram.

I would urge all my AC readers and friends to visit this ashram at least once in their life. Once they do it, I am pretty confident that they will keep on visiting it again and again.