Dayananda Ashram (Arsha Vidya)
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand · temple
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Dayananda Ashram — formally the Sri Gangadhareswar Trust and better known to scholars as the Arsha Vidya Pitham — is one of Rishikesh's most respected centres for the traditional study of Advaita Vedanta and Sanskrit. It stands beside the Ganga at Purani Jhadi, a quiet riverside pocket of Muni Ki Reti now often called Swami Dayananda Nagar. The name Arsha Vidya means "the knowledge of the rishis," and the ashram exists to keep alive the ancient teacher-to-student method (guru-shishya parampara) in which core Vedanta texts and their supporting works are taught alongside Paninian Sanskrit grammar and Vedic chanting.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Madras Cafe (near Ram Jhula) – long-running pure-vegetarian institution known for South Indian dosas, thalis and its herbal 'Hello to the Queen' dessert; reliably satvik.
- ✦Chotiwala (Ram Jhula / Swarg Ashram side) – a landmark pure-vegetarian thali and North Indian restaurant popular with pilgrims for decades; confirm which branch as several use the name.
- ✦Muni Ki Reti and Ram Jhula market stalls – numerous pure-veg cafes and thali houses serving chole-bhature, parathas, South Indian tiffin and filter coffee; the whole town is vegetarian and alcohol-free.
- ✦Ashram bhojanalaya – simple satvik meals are served to residents and registered course participants; day visitors should ask at the ashram office rather than assume open dining.
About
Dayananda Ashram — formally the Sri Gangadhareswar Trust and better known to scholars as the Arsha Vidya Pitham — is one of Rishikesh's most respected centres for the traditional study of Advaita Vedanta and Sanskrit.
- It stands beside the Ganga at Purani Jhadi, a quiet riverside pocket of Muni Ki Reti now often called Swami Dayananda Nagar.
- The name Arsha Vidya means "the knowledge of the rishis," and the ashram exists to keep alive the ancient teacher-to-student method (guru-shishya parampara) in which core Vedanta texts and their supporting works are taught alongside Paninian Sanskrit grammar and Vedic chanting.
- The ashram's story begins in 1963, when a young monk named Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1930–2015) came to Rishikesh on a study-pilgrimage and lived in a simple grass hut at Purani Jhadi while studying the Brahma Sutras under Swami Tarananda Giri at the nearby Kailash Ashram.
- From that hut grew a full teaching institution, established through the 1960s and expanded over the following decades into a large riverside campus with a temple, lecture halls, a library and residential quarters.
- Swami Dayananda went on to found sister Arsha Vidya Gurukulams in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) and Saylorsburg (Pennsylvania, USA), making the Rishikesh ashram the spiritual anchor of a worldwide teaching lineage.
- He spent his final years here and attained mahasamadhi at the ashram in 2015.
- At the heart of the campus is the Sri Gangadhareswar temple, and the daily rhythm is shaped by Vedic chanting, discourses (satsang) and quiet study rather than by mass tourism.
- Long and short residential courses in Vedanta and Sanskrit — many taught in clear English — draw serious seekers from India and abroad, while day visitors are welcome to sit by the river, attend the evening Ganga aarti performed at the ashram ghat, and observe the calm, disciplined atmosphere.
- The ashram is open to all, regardless of faith, and asks only for modest dress, quiet conduct and shoes removed before the temple.
- For vegetarian travellers the setting is effortless: Rishikesh is a strictly vegetarian, alcohol-free holy town by law, and the ashram itself serves simple satvik meals to its residents and course participants (visitors should ask at the office rather than assume open dining).
- Just outside, the Muni Ki Reti and Ram Jhula lanes are lined with dependable pure-vegetarian cafes and thali houses, so a morning of study or a riverside aarti pairs naturally with an unhurried satvik meal.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Purani Jhadi (Swami Dayananda Nagar), Muni Ki Reti, on the banks of the Ganga, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249137
How to Reach: Purani Jhadi (Swami Dayananda Nagar), Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh. About 3 km from Rishikesh bus stand and 4 km from Rishikesh railway station; an auto-rickshaw or shared vikram from the town centre or Ram Jhula costs roughly ₹40–120 depending on distance and sharing. Jolly Grant (Dehradun) airport is about 18–21 km away by taxi. From Ram Jhula the ashram is a short ride or an easy walk along the river road.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dayananda Ashram (Arsha Vidya) in Rishikesh known for?
It is one of Rishikesh's leading centres for the traditional study of Advaita Vedanta and Sanskrit, founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1930–2015). Known as the Arsha Vidya Pitham — 'the knowledge of the rishis' — it teaches classical Vedanta texts, Paninian Sanskrit grammar and Vedic chanting in the ancient teacher-to-student tradition, much of it in clear English, on a peaceful campus beside the Ganga.
Is there an entry fee for Dayananda Ashram?
No, there is no entry fee to visit the temple and riverside grounds — the ashram is open to everyone regardless of faith. Residential Vedanta and Sanskrit courses are arranged separately through the ashram office, and any course or accommodation charges are handled there. Please confirm current arrangements locally.
How do I reach Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh?
The ashram is at Purani Jhadi (Swami Dayananda Nagar), Muni Ki Reti, about 3 km from the Rishikesh bus stand and 4 km from the railway station. An auto-rickshaw or shared vikram from the town centre or Ram Jhula costs roughly ₹40–120, and from Ram Jhula it is a short ride or an easy riverside walk. Jolly Grant (Dehradun) airport is about 18–21 km away by taxi.
Can visitors attend the Ganga aarti or sit by the river here?
Yes. Day visitors are welcome to sit by the Ganga on the ashram grounds and to attend the evening aarti performed at the ashram ghat around sunset. The atmosphere is quiet and study-focused rather than crowded, so please dress modestly, keep noise low, and remove your shoes before entering the temple.
Is vegetarian food available near Dayananda Ashram?
Very easily — Rishikesh is a strictly vegetarian and alcohol-free holy town. The ashram serves simple satvik meals to its residents and course participants (ask at the office if you are a day visitor). Just outside, the Muni Ki Reti and Ram Jhula lanes have dependable pure-vegetarian options such as Madras Cafe for South Indian tiffin and Chotiwala for classic thalis.
Who was Swami Dayananda Saraswati, the ashram's founder?
Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1930–2015) was a renowned traditional teacher of Advaita Vedanta. He first came to Purani Jhadi in 1963, living in a grass hut while studying the Brahma Sutras, and went on to build this ashram and found sister Arsha Vidya Gurukulams in Coimbatore and Pennsylvania. He spent his final years here and attained mahasamadhi at the ashram in 2015. He is remembered as an influential expositor of Vedanta to students across the world.