Sivananda Ashram India Kerala vs Rishikesh: Which One Is Best for You? (2025 Guide)

The Sivananda Yoga tradition is one of the most respected yoga lineages in the world. Across India, two of its most famous spiritual centers are the Sivananda Ashram India Rishikesh and the Sivananda Ashram India Kerala. Both offer powerful yogic environments rooted in the ancient teachings of Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda—but they provide very different experiences depending on what a traveler seeks.

If you’re deciding which place to visit for yoga, meditation, or spiritual growth, this detailed guide compares both locations, highlights their unique features, and explains the differences in Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh courses, yoga hall timings, and overall vibe.

🧘 Overview of Sivananda Yoga Ashrams in India

There are two major ashrams under the global Sivananda lineage:

1. Sivananda Ashram India Rishikesh

Run by the Divine Life Society (DLS), this ashram stays close to the classical teachings of Swami Sivananda Saraswati. It is located in the Swarg Ashram area beside the Ganga.

2. Sivananda Ashram India Kerala (Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwanthari Ashram)

Located near Neyyar Dam, Kerala, this ashram was established by Swami Vishnudevananda and is known for its residential TTCs (Teacher Training Courses).

Both are rooted in the same yogic heritage but differ in structure, environment, and teaching focus.

🌄 Sivananda Ashram India Rishikesh: Himalayan Spiritual Vibe

The Sivananda Yoga Ashram India located in Rishikesh is ideal for meditators, spiritual seekers, and travelers looking for authentic yogic living. This is where Swami Sivananda lived and taught, making it an incredibly powerful spiritual center.

Yoga Hall Timings (Extracted From Your Image):

Your attached image shows the ashram’s Yoga Hall schedule:

Gents: 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM (Except Sunday)
Ladies: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

These timings reflect the traditional, disciplined structure of the ashram.

🧘‍♂️ Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh Yoga Course Options

Rishikesh offers a variety of programs for beginners and long-term seekers. Popular Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh yoga course options include:

Classical Hatha Yoga
Pranayama & Meditation
Beginners Yoga Program
Yoga-Vedanta Study Programs
Satsang & Chanting
Silent Retreats

These Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh courses are deeply rooted in spiritual teachings rather than commercial certification.

Free Sivananda Yoga Ashram Rishikesh Daily Schedule

❤️ Free Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh Experience

Many travelers love that the Rishikesh ashram is a free yoga ashram in Rishikesh. It offers:

Donation-based or free yoga sessions
Free morning & evening satsang
Free meditation halls
Free access to Ganga banks for self-practice

The Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh free yoga classes make it highly accessible for budget travelers and serious seekers.

🌿 Atmosphere at Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh

Quiet, spiritual, and ideal for meditation
Surrounded by Himalayan foothills
Located beside the holy Ganga
Focuses on self-study, discipline, and silence
Attracts international seekers, monks, and longtime practitioners

It feels like stepping into a genuine yogic hermitage.

Sivananda Ashram India Kerala

Nestled in the lush, tropical surroundings of Neyyar Dam in Thiruvananthapuram, the Sivananda Ashram India Kerala—officially known as the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwanthari Ashram—is one of the most respected yoga centres in the world. It offers an immersive, transformative yogic lifestyle rooted in the teachings of Swami Sivananda and his disciple Swami Vishnudevananda.

This ashram attracts thousands of students every year for yoga vacations, Ayurveda healing, and internationally recognized Teacher Training Courses (TTC). If you want a deep, life-changing yogic experience in a serene natural environment, the Sivananda Ashram India Kerala is an ideal destination.

🧘 About Sivananda Ashram India Kerala

Founded in 1978, the Kerala ashram is part of the global Sivananda organization. Spread across acres of greenery, coconut palms, forests, and hills, it sits beside the beautiful Neyyar Dam Reservoir. The atmosphere is peaceful, deeply spiritual, and perfect for intensive yoga training.

The ashram follows the 5 Points of Yoga laid down by Swami Vishnudevananda:

Proper Exercise (Asanas)
Proper Breathing (Pranayama)
Proper Relaxation
Proper Diet (Vegetarian, Sattvic)
Positive Thinking & Meditation

These form the foundation of daily life at the ashram.

🌴 Location & Ambience

The ashram is located in:

📍 Neyyar Dam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

It is surrounded by:

Forested hills
A large lake
Wildlife sanctuary areas
Fresh tropical air
Soothing natural silence

Unlike Himalayan ashrams, the Kerala centre offers a warm, tropical environment—perfect for year-round yoga, detox, and rejuvenation.

Sivananda Ashram India Kerala Dining Hall

📚 Courses Offered at Sivananda Ashram Kerala

The Kerala ashram is world-famous for its structured and rigorous yoga education programs. Some of the most popular include:

⭐ 1. Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC – 200 Hour)

This is the ashram’s flagship course and one of the most recognized TTCs globally.

TTC includes:

Hatha Yoga practice
Pranayama
Meditation
Yogic philosophy
Anatomy & physiology
Bhagavad Gita study
Karma yoga
Ashram discipline & lifestyle

Students are awarded an internationally recognized certificate upon completion.

⭐ 2. Advanced Teacher Training Course (ATTC – 300 Hour)

A deeper and more intense training focused on advanced asanas, pranayama, and spiritual philosophy.

⭐ 3. Yoga Vacation Program

Perfect for travelers wanting:

Relaxation
Healing
Gentle yoga learning
Detox
Ashram living experience

Yoga Vacation programs are flexible and suitable for beginners.

⭐ 4. Satsang & Meditation Retreats

These retreats emphasize silence, spiritual practice, chanting, and peaceful living.

⭐ 5. Ayurveda & Wellness Programs

Because Kerala is known for Ayurveda, the ashram offers traditional treatments including:

Panchakarma
Herbal therapies
Massage
Detox plans
Diet consultations

This makes it ideal for wellness seekers.

📅 Daily Schedule at Sivananda Ashram Kerala

Life here is highly structured, following a disciplined timetable designed for physical, mental, and spiritual growth.

A typical day looks like:

5:20 AM: Wake-up bell
6:00–7:30 AM: Satsang (meditation, chanting, spiritual lecture)
8:00–10:00 AM: Yoga asana & pranayama class
10:00 AM: Vegetarian brunch
11:00–1:00 PM: Karma Yoga (selfless service)
1:30–4:00 PM: Workshops / philosophy class / rest
4:00–6:00 PM: Yoga asana class
6:00–7:30 PM: Evening Satsang
10:00 PM: Lights off

This rhythm supports deep transformation.

🍽️ Food & Diet

Meals follow a sattvic vegetarian diet, essential for yogic practice.

Typical food includes:

Rice
Dal
Sabzi (vegetable curry)
Salads
Herbal teas
Fruits

Meals are simple, nourishing, and prepared with spiritual intention.

🛌 Accommodation at Sivananda Ashram India Kerala

Rooms are clean, simple, and comfortable—designed to support yogic living.

Accommodation options:

Dormitories
Twin-shared rooms
Deluxe rooms (limited availability)
Private huts for long-term programs

Facilities include:

Clean bathrooms
Fans (AC rooms for special courses)
Mosquito nets
Quiet surroundings

The ambience is peaceful, with natural views from most rooms.

👥 Who Should Visit the Kerala Ashram?

This ashram is ideal for:

Yoga students seeking structured courses
TTC and ATTC aspirants
Ayurveda wellness seekers
Long-term yoga practitioners
Foreign travelers wanting certification
Spiritual seekers wanting routine & discipline
Anyone needing detox from modern life

If you want deep, transformative training, the Kerala centre is a perfect choice.

✈️ How to Reach Sivananda Ashram India Kerala

Nearest airport:

Trivandrum International Airport (35–40 km)

From there:

Prepaid taxi
Auto rickshaw
Ashram-arranged pickup (during TTC periods)

Nearest railway station:

Trivandrum Central Railway Station (~30 km)

Local buses also run towards Neyyar Dam.

🌟 Why Sivananda Ashram India Kerala Is Unique

Here’s what makes it stand out:

One of the best TTC schools in the world
Tropical natural setting
Strong discipline & structured yogic lifestyle
Ayurveda facilities
International student community
Authentic lineage & traditional yoga

You want authentic spiritual experience
You prefer quiet Himalayan environment
You want Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh free yoga classes
You prefer donation-based learning
You enjoy meditation and simplicity

Choose Sivananda Ashram India Kerala if:

You want a structured Yoga Teacher Training Course
You prefer tropical surroundings
You enjoy organized schedules
You want deeper physical yoga training
You want a certification recognized globally

🧘 Final Thoughts

Both the Sivananda Yoga Ashram India locations—Rishikesh and Kerala—carry the same spiritual roots but offer very different experiences. If your intention is spiritual cleansing, meditation, and authentic Ganga-side yoga, choose the Sivananda Ashram India Rishikesh. But if you want intensive TTC programs, structure, and tropical nature, the Sivananda Ashram India Kerala is the right choice.