HomeVisitors to Prasanthi Nilayam are welcome in the ashram. Swami has given up His physical body, but the spiritual life of the ashram continues. Generally, devotees are welcome to stay for about 10 days at a time; the limit is places so that more devotees may visit and have accommodations on the ashram.
Is there room? Generally, if you come during a period where no festival is going on (see the calendar), it should be possible to get accommodations on the ashram. If you come alone, you may be put in a room with others (of the same sex, naturally). If all rooms are filled, you may be given a place in a "shed", which houses about 75 people, but this usually happens only during festival times. Rooms in hotels and private residences are available outside the ashram, but it is preferable to stay in the ashram.
Single people under 25: Please note that the ashram policy is NOT to give accommodations to single people under the age of 25 (unless they come with a group or a family). However, they may participate in all programmes: darshan, bhajans, use canteens, shops, etc.
Reservations: It is not possible to make reservations in advance. You may write to the address given below, but they will in general not respond. Large groups may be able to make arrangements in advance, preferably by talking to the people in the accommodations office well before the planned time of arrival.
People traveling alone. A person traveling alone is generally given a room with other people.
Cost: Room are quite inexpensive by western standards --2-3 US dollars per day. All payments are made in cash (rupees).
Facilities: Most of the rooms have two cots, a small table, two chairs, and a bathroom. The accommodations are simple and not luxurious. The cots may have a sheet and a pillow on them. But be prepared and bring your own. Check here for what necessities to bring.
Address: Accommodations; Prasanthi Nilayam; Anantapur Dt., A.P; 515-134; INDIA
Length of stay: Generally, rooms are allotted for up to 10 days; extensions are handled on a case-by-case basis. Restrictions on length of stay are required so that more devotees may have a chance to visit Prasanthi Nilayam.
Keys: Your room may have only one key for the lock. You can use your own lock with several keys if you wish --they can be purchased in the general store or outside the ashram.
Returning keys and receipt: Don't lose the receipt for your room. Return it and the key to the room to the office as you leave the ashram at the end of your stay. Please leave the room clean and tidy, switching off all lights and closing all taps, doors, and windows.
Use of the room: Cooking is not permitted in rooms that have no separate kitchens. No locked portion of any room must be opened on any account. All rights of admission or allotment are reserved by the ashram.
Accommodations for visitors to India return to top of page
Please proceed first to the Public Relations Office table in North Building 8. Registration of passports is done here for the convenience of handling large numbers, parking, and unloading. Registration of passports is a mandatory (government) requirement. It involves checking visas, date of entry into India, age, marital status, and record of previous visits.
Please bring an extra passport/visa photograph (those under 18 exempted). If you don't have one with you, they will take your picture on a digital camera attached to a computer.
After registration, go to the Accommodation Office (also in North Building 8) for assignment of rooms/dormitories and thereafter occupy them.
Hours are: 7:30AM to 8PM.
Accommodations for citizens of India return to top of page
Go to the Accomodations office for Indian citizens, adjacent to the Public Relations Office, upon arrival. It is open from 6-00 A.M. to 8.30 P.M.