Ma Anandamayi Ashram, Kankhal
Haridwar, Uttarakhand · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
The Ma Anandamayi Ashram at Kankhal is the principal Haridwar seat of the Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha, the spiritual body devoted to Sri Ma Anandamayi (1896-1982), one of twentieth-century India's most revered mystics. Born Nirmala Sundari in Kheora, Bengal (in present-day Bangladesh), she came to be known as Anandamayi Ma, "the Bliss-Permeated Mother," and drew a remarkable circle of devotees that included saints, scholars and public figures across India. Her teaching was famously simple and non-sectarian, centred on love of the divine and self-enquiry, and she travelled ceaselessly rather than founding a fixed sect. After her passing on 27 August 1982, a samadhi shrine was raised in the courtyard of this Kankhal ashram, and it has since become a place of quiet, continuous pilgrimage.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Ashram and Kankhal satvik bhojanalayas - simple pure-vegetarian thalis, many cooked without onion or garlic; timings vary, so ask locally.
- ✦Pure-vegetarian sweet and snack shops around Daksha Mahadev Temple - kachori, samosa, jalebi and milk sweets for pilgrims (all-vegetarian quarter).
- ✦Vegetarian dhabas along the Kankhal-Har Ki Pauri road - dependable North Indian veg fare; confirm freshness and hours at the counter.
- ✦Har Ki Pauri area eateries (a short auto ride) - Haridwar's well-known pure-vegetarian restaurants and mishtan bhandars for a fuller meal.
About
The Ma Anandamayi Ashram at Kankhal is the principal Haridwar seat of the Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha, the spiritual body devoted to Sri Ma Anandamayi (1896-1982), one of twentieth-century India's most revered mystics.
- Born Nirmala Sundari in Kheora, Bengal (in present-day Bangladesh), she came to be known as Anandamayi Ma, "the Bliss-Permeated Mother," and drew a remarkable circle of devotees that included saints, scholars and public figures across India.
- Her teaching was famously simple and non-sectarian, centred on love of the divine and self-enquiry, and she travelled ceaselessly rather than founding a fixed sect.
- After her passing on 27 August 1982, a samadhi shrine was raised in the courtyard of this Kankhal ashram, and it has since become a place of quiet, continuous pilgrimage.
- The heart of the complex is the white-marble samadhi mandir enshrining Ma's resting place, kept luminous and spotless, where devotees offer flowers, sit in silent meditation and join the daily rounds of kirtan and arati.
- Around it the ashram gathers a cluster of dharmic spaces: a small museum and archive preserving Ma's personal effects, photographs and writings; yagnashalas where fire rituals are performed on festival days; and the Shankaracharya Hall used for discourses, scriptural recitation and the ashram's larger gatherings.
- The atmosphere is deliberately unshowy - long verandahs, shaded courtyards and the murmur of chanting - reflecting Ma's own emphasis on inner stillness over spectacle.
- Kankhal itself is one of Haridwar's most sacred quarters, home to the ancient Daksha Mahadev Temple and a dense weave of ashrams strung along the Ganga canal, making the Anandamayi Ashram a natural stop on a slow, walkable spiritual circuit.
- Each winter the Sangha hosts the Samyam Mahavrata, a week of collective meditation, silence, religious discourse and devotional music that draws devotees from across the country - the most vibrant time to witness the ashram's living tradition.
- For vegetarian travellers the setting could not be simpler: Haridwar and Kankhal are wholly vegetarian and alcohol-free by long custom, and the ashram environs follow strict satvik norms, with much of the food cooked without onion or garlic.
- Visitors are welcomed to observe respectfully - remove footwear, dress modestly, keep silence in the shrine and ask before photographing - and the surrounding Kankhal lanes offer simple pure-vegetarian bhojanalayas and sweet shops serving the pilgrim community.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha, near Daksha Mahadev Temple, Kankhal, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 249408
How to Reach: In Kankhal, about 4 km south of Har Ki Pauri, close to the Daksha Mahadev Temple. From Har Ki Pauri an auto-rickshaw or shared vikram costs about ₹40-80 (15-20 minutes); from Haridwar Junction railway station it is roughly ₹80-120 by auto (20-25 minutes). There is no metro in Haridwar - auto-rickshaw, cycle-rickshaw or a short walk from Daksha temple are the usual options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the timings of the Ma Anandamayi Ashram in Kankhal?
The ashram is reported to be open roughly from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, usually with a midday break, and arati is held in the morning and evening. Timings can shift around festivals and the winter congregation, so it is best to confirm locally before visiting.
Is there an entry fee for the Ma Anandamayi Ashram?
No, entry is free. As a living dharmic ashram and samadhi shrine, it is open to all visitors regardless of faith, with no admission ticket. Donations to the Sangha are voluntary.
Who was Ma Anandamayi and why is this ashram important?
Sri Ma Anandamayi (1896-1982), born Nirmala Sundari in Bengal, was one of twentieth-century India's most revered mystics, known as the Bliss-Permeated Mother for her simple, non-sectarian teaching of love of the divine and self-enquiry. After her passing in 1982, a white-marble samadhi shrine was raised in the courtyard of this Kankhal ashram, which is now the principal Haridwar seat of the Shree Shree Anandamayee Sangha and a place of continuous pilgrimage.
What can you see at the ashram?
The centrepiece is the white-marble samadhi mandir enshrining Ma's resting place, where devotees meditate and join kirtan and arati. The complex also includes a small museum and archive with her photographs, writings and personal effects, yagnashalas for fire rituals on festival days, and the Shankaracharya Hall used for discourses and gatherings. The mood is calm and unshowy - most visitors spend 30 to 60 minutes.
How do I reach the ashram in Kankhal?
It sits in Kankhal, about 4 km south of Har Ki Pauri and close to the Daksha Mahadev Temple. An auto-rickshaw or shared vikram from Har Ki Pauri costs about ₹40-80 (15-20 minutes), and an auto from Haridwar Junction is roughly ₹80-120 (20-25 minutes). Haridwar has no metro, so auto-rickshaw or a short walk from Daksha temple is the usual way.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the ashram?
Kankhal and Haridwar are entirely vegetarian and alcohol-free, so everything nearby is pure-veg. Simple satvik bhojanalayas near the ashram serve thalis, often cooked without onion or garlic, and the shops around Daksha Mahadev Temple offer kachori, samosa, jalebi and milk sweets. For a fuller meal, Haridwar's well-known pure-vegetarian restaurants near Har Ki Pauri are a short auto ride away.