Meditation at Igatpuri, India
“Experience the serenity of meditation at Igatpuri amidst the lush monsoon landscapes near Mumbai. As the cool streams flow and wildflowers bloom, Igatpuri emerges as the ideal destination for a peaceful weekend escape, offering a dramatic backdrop of nature’s beauty and tranquility.”
Locating Igatpuri
The distance between Mumbai and Igatpuri is 130 kilometers, or about two hours by car. Or, one can take a Central Railway-based train from Mumbai to reach Igatpuri in about 2.5 hours, making it an easy day trip out of the city.
By road, drivers will follow the Mumbai-Nasik highway, passing milestone places such as Thane (known as the City of Lakes), Kalyan bypass, and Kasara along the way. If one decides to take up the train route, then any Central Railway train heading from Mumbai to Nasik city would do. Pre-booking the train ticket is highly recommended to avoid last-minute hassles. But if one decides at the eleventh hour, without a pre-booked train ticket, then one option would be catching a Mumbai local train from CS Terminus (V. T. Station) that ends at Kasara. From Kasara one can then take public transport or a cab/rikshaw to the nearby Igatpuri. Kasara-Igatpuri by road is just 18 kilometres, or 16 minutes away.
Replica of Ashoka Pillar at the Dhamma Giri Museum, Igatpuri
En route to Igatpuri
As Thane city ends and the country sides starts, the greenery, the mist and far off mountain views, set the mood for enjoying the surrounding monsoon landscapes, and the rain only adds to the mesmerizing ambience. On the way to Igatpuri one witnesses a lot of waterfalls and views of valley, especially while driving through the Kasara ghat. Kasara ghat (plateau) is also known as the Thal ghat. As one ascends the Kasara plateau one feels the ears balancing the pressure caused by the change in altitude. For about 15 minutes the winding roads in the ghat offer marvelous views of the Sahyadri mountain ranges of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. On the way, tourists are seen resting at snack stalls that offer roasted corn and tea.
The end of Kasara Ghat is the arrival of Igatpuri town. Due to its elevation, Igatpuri has got hill station status. The pure air, the mist, and the mountain ranges around have the potential to inspire an artist to paint, click amazing photographs or pen down a poem.
Beautiful country landscapes surround Igatpuri
Exploring Igatpuri
Igatpuri (formerly known as Egutpoora) is geographically blessed with pleasant weather. This makes the region in and around Igatpuri to be tourist friendly particularly the Arthur Lake, Kalsubai Peak, Dhammagiri Vipassana Meditation Centre, Amruteshwar Temple, Ratangad and Tringalwadi Fort, the five-waterfall site and the Camel Valley, to name a few. There are a lot of tourist attractions to explore, but visiting them all in one day is practically impossible. Many tourists, mostly from Mumbai and Nasik, prefer to visit more frequently (due to the short distance) throughout the year, allowing them to take their sweet time and explore more deeply.
During my recent visit to Igatpuri, I chose to visit the Dhamma Giri Vipassana Mediation Centre.
All in all, it’s worth a visit to the Dhamma Giri Vipassana Meditation Center at Igatpuri, particularly if one is interested in seeking awareness of the life of ‘The Buddha’ or to learn about Vipassana Meditation approach or to merely spend time in the calm and tranquil premise that surrounds the vicinity of the Meditation Center.
Feeling enlightened and enriched under the Myanmar Gate, Igatpuri
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BeSeeingYou In: Igatpuri, India.
Good to Know: Igatpuri has a misty ambiance and, during monsoon season, it’s a visual treat to witness a lot of mini waterfalls all around the landscapes.
WOW! Factor: The Myanmar Gate at the entrance of the Dhamma Giri Vipassana Meditation Center, Igatpuri.
Tip: The art museum at Dhamma Giri is open from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. throughout the week. Visiting tourists are not allowed entry to the Meditation Centre area.
Author Bio: Shraddha C Sankulkar
