This blog post has been updated in October 2022 to help people planning early for the 2023 Mahashivratri event. For ticket prices and other such details you can refer to this blog: https://maproute.in/isha-mahashivratri-2023-what-we-know-so-far/

COVID seems to be gone and dusted as of now. Assuming that won’t change. We have a burst of accommodation options near Alandurai which is just a few kms from Isha ashram so hopefully it will help better accommodate the tens of thousands of visitors to Isha for Mahashivratri in 2023. Here I have elaborated on the many options to stay inside the Isha Yoga Center for the mega event, that obviously has its own perks especially for Isha meditators. After that, I have listed out the external options to stay reasonably close to the ashram.

In case you aren’t aware of the this event, I have written a detailed blog post on it: Isha Mahashivratri you can read it to understand more about the event. In this blog post, I will tell you about your accommodation options.

But first, a little context on the Isha Mahashivratri

Isha’s Mahashivratri event has massive viewership across the world. And for us Isha meditators, it is really a big occasion. Sadhguru has offered multiple sadhanas that we can do. There is the Shivanga sadhana for men and women. And also the specific Mahashivratri sadhana. A lot of people are diligently following this for 40 days and arriving at the event in a different state of mind altogether. The male Shivanga participants walk from places like Chennai all the way to the Isha center – this is 40 days of Mahashivratri Pilgrimage – know more about it here! So it is a very intense and no-holds-barred kind of time. Many volunteers will work long hours for months to make the event happen. They may not even sleep for 2 or 3 nights in a row.

Apart from this sadhana madness that is happening, the ashram is literally going crazy because hundred thousands of people will arrive from different parts of the world. Rules become stricter and a lot of people & places aren’t accessible as they often are at other times. So, if this is your first visit to the Isha ashram, I don’t really know whether this is the best time. If I had very limited visits, I personally would like to visit ashram during a quieter time rather than opt for this mega bustling time. However, since I visit often, I usually make it a point to visit during this event as well.

Now that I have given you this low down,

Can you stay in Isha Ashram for Mahashivratri?

Well, there are a few different options that I know of:

Stay Inside the ashram with Grace of Yoga Workshop

Updated Oct 2023:

Program ‘Grace of Yoga’ with in-person attendance options:  https://isha.sadhguru.org/us/en/yoga-meditation/grace-of-yoga

Starts at a whopping 3.25 lakhs for in-person attendance. There are some cheaper options for in-person attendance. And then there are online participation in this program which costs much lesser at 7500 INR.

This system of conducting premium programs which include accommodation in the ashram, Sadhguru sathsangs and MSR event reserved seating has been introduced in 2020.

(I visited this event way back in 2006-2008. At that time there was always space for people. Many people came in unplanned, unregistered. As long as they didn’t fuss about bedding, space was made. But now times have changed. Not sure if one can blame the admin though, because I doubt they have the space. Like, literally.)

Bunk at your Isha Yoga Friend’s Apartment

A few people have bought apartments inside the ashram. If your friend / relative / whatever happens to be one such then you can try to bunk there. But from what I understand most of them get multiple requests. And the apartments are small. So it also tends to be full … well you can try this option if possible.

And no, don’t ask me, I don’t have an apartment inside.

Stay outside the Isha Yoga Center

The next option is staying outside the ashram. (there is another option to stay inside but I will come to it later.). Here you need to understand that the ashram is 30kms from Coimbatore city. Between the actual city and the ashram there are a lot of smaller villages which are now developing and offering some stay options. So, if you stay here, don’t except the Coimbatore city amenities to be available. However, these are overall good places, safe and well-connected with buses and other transport options. Locals are fairly friendly but mostly speak only Tamil.

NKP Lodge – I have stayed here and it’s clean and adequate for one or two night stay – main road

Celebrity Resort – haven’t been here, but might be OK – main road

Dwara – heard good things about it, seems luxury. Good reviews of its restaurant – not main road

New ones I am seeing in this area (and they seem to have great reviews!) :

Raja Residency , Aryas Residency, Linga Stays,  Chakra Stay ,Jai Shree Ram Residency –are all on the main road. You will get a public transport also to Isha. Or Rickshaws and all would also be easier to use.

Royal Castle Homestay, Shree Bharat Residency , Om Shanthi Lodge –are not on the main road, you have to check with them how the transport will be managed. Some public transport may be available… but I can’t say of the frequency and all that.

Apart from this, sometimes on Airbnb I see some farmhouses, you can check if that makes sense for you around the Isha Yoga Center. (Not on Airbnb yet? Use this referral link to get 3025 INR off)

Transport to and from Isha ashram, especially during Mahashivratri you HAVE to think this THROUGH!

Easier for hotels on the main road. There is a high frequency of buses and auto rickshaws and such. However, pls note, buses and these transport options may NOT be available on Mahashivratri evening. I would say, after 3 pm, the road gets fully jammed with vehicles heading to the ashram. So, either you head to ashram nice and early in the day, before 2 pm. Otherwise, you can WALK or try to hitchhike in any of the vehicles that have space and welcome for you.

Ola, Uber and Red Taxi are unreliable. They are there, but usually they come on round trips from Coimbatore, so you may not find them. Try Red Taxi over Ola/Uber for better chances. Also, beware of drivers asking for extra charges after you sit in the car. Because technically this area is outside of Coimbatore city limits, so while they are not wrong about out-station charges, the app usually charges a bit more per kilometre automatically. So, no random over charging can be done by the driver.

Stay in Coimbatore City (But the transport might be a Nightmare!)

If none of the three above work for you, then you can opt for an accommodation in Coimbatore city. One I can recommend is a service apartment called Horizon Heights near Brookefields mall. I haven’t stayed there but my friend who has, recommends it. Plus, it is very near RS Puram, which is like the heart of the city.

Or you can search any other options on Airbnb or Booking.com or whatever you use…

Transport to the Isha ashram from Coimbatore City (for Mahashivratri)

Will take about an hour or more in public bus. However on Mahashivratri evening, these will be jam packed, I would suggest you avoid it.

There are a few buses heading to Isha Center every 20 or so minutes from Gandhipuram or Town Hall bus stand, whichever is closer for you. The 14D, 59A, 5J are three. Some others may also go there, so look out for what the conductor is shouting. 14E, 14A, 59 – all go very near there. When in doubt go and ask him. There will probably be extra buses of MSR – but road is fully jammed after 3pm!!

If he is shouting Siruvani or Perur – it is towards Isha Yoga Center. So you could take those buses and then get off a bit earlier on and take an auto or something. They tend to be fairly genial. Locals are also helpful but they often only speak Tamil. Just speak slowly and clearly so they can understand.

Or you can take a private Taxi. The ashram taxi will cost you approx 800 INR one way. You can also take a local auto rickshaw but they all ask exhorbitant prices. And for MSR, they will most likely double or even triple the rate. Not entirely unsurprising cause roads get fully jammed, so they end up spending way more time.

Pro Tip: Plan to reach ashram before 2 pm!! Not only this gives you a BTS kind of look into the event planning. But this is the only way to avoid the road which gets fully jammed up post 3pm. However, do note, that in 2023 Isha Center did not open up for the early comers. So, some of my friends had to literally just sit in roadside corners or random areas to wait for the event to officially open at 4pm. Some friends who chose to come later, after 4 pm never ended up reaching the venue because of the traffic jam.

The Good News: Mahashivratri is an all night event!

Since Mahashivratri is a full night event, you need to come to the ashram latest by 3pm in the afternoon, and then stay back all day, until next day morning 6 AM. You will get toilets, food, water and other basic facilities in the ashram. Some people even get shawls or yoga mats and catch a snoozer in some crowded corner 😉

Ideally, you take up some sadhana and will be too meditative to realise how time passed by. And honestly, I think it is really great to be out the whole day, and night. Less of a comfortable cocoon around ourselves and more of natural elements. 🙂

And now,

Fine Print about staying inside the ashram for Mahashivratri – Volunteer Dorms 😉

So there are the normal free dorm accommodations made available for some groups of people.

One are volunteers: those who will actually volunteer for the event.

Two are other volunteers (not exactly sure who qualifies for this): they go via their department head and ask for a dorm (I guess you need to have an Isha ‘department head’ you are working with)

Three are sadhana participants: like the Shivanga participants who just walked all the way from Chennai!

Four are groups of which I don’t know, but am sure they exist.

Ok, thanks.

That’s all on this.

Hope it helps.

In case visiting the ashram doesn’t happen, there is always the live web-stream and (the most important) our inner experience. 🙂