Photos show the Central & East India region. See the retreat's own site for its rooms and grounds.
Dhori Ghat, Ema village, Kanpur–Prayagraj road (about 22 km from Kanpur), Uttar Pradesh
Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)
Free 10-day silent Vipassana beside the Ganga near Kanpur
- Retreat centre
- Meditation
- Silent retreat
- Spiritual
- Riverside
- Countryside
Details checked on the official site, October 2026. We never take bookings or commissions.
Dhamma Kalyana is Kanpur’s Vipassana centre, on the bank of the Ganga at Dhori Ghat near Ema village, about 22 km from the city off the Prayagraj road. It holds free 10-day silent courses in the S.N. Goenka tradition twice a month, with single rooms and attached bathrooms for about 100 students.
Our take · editors' note
Suits: Suits meditators wanting a free 10-day Vipassana course in Hindi and English with single rooms with attached bath, on the Ganga about 22 km from Kanpur.
Maybe not for: Not for anyone wanting phone access, talking or a flexible schedule; 10-day courses usually start on the 5th and 20th and need the full 12 days.
Great for
- first-timers
- digital detox
- spiritual seekers
Maybe not for
- Short breaks (11-night minimum)
- Staying reachable by phone
Beside the Ganga at Dhori Ghat, among farmland about 22 km from Kanpur
Every student gets a single room with an attached bathroom
10-day courses usually start on the 5th and 20th of each month
Reviews elsewhereGoogle Maps
Price and dates
Free
donation-based
- Stay
- Meals
- Meditation
10-day course is free incl. food and lodging; only past students may donate
Courses here are free or by donation. Never pay an agent or another website to book.
Indicative. Checked on the official site, October 2026.
Fixed course dates · apply on their site
- 10-day Vipassana course11 nights
- Short 1–3 day courses (past students only)1 to 3
- Satipatthana Sutta and special 10-day courses (past students)8 to 11
Rooms: Single rooms with attached bathrooms for about 100 students
Programme names and lengths change. Check the retreat's calendar for current dates.
Practical facts
Classes in · Single rooms · Women · Age
Classes in
Hindi, EnglishSingle rooms
AvailableWomen
Men and women live, eat and sit in fully separate areas for the whole course; 66 rooms for women.Age
Teens aged 15–19 have a separate 7-day course
Upcoming dates
- Nov5
10-day Vipassana course
Open5–16 Nov · 11 nights
Hindi, English
Open - Nov20
Special 10-day course for old students
Open20 Nov – 1 Dec · 11 nights
Hindi, English
Open - Nov22
Satipatthana Sutta course for old students
Open22–30 Nov · 8 nights
Hindi, English
Open - Dec5
10-day Vipassana course
Open5–16 Dec · 11 nights
Hindi, English
Open
From Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)'s published schedule, checked October 2026. Open, full and wait-list labels are as of October 2026; after three weeks we show “Check site” instead. Dates change: confirm on the official site before you plan travel.
A typical day
4:00 am wake-up bell … 8:15–9:30 pm group meditation, open questions; lights out 9:30
- 4:00 amWake-up bell
- 4:30–6:30 amMeditation in the hall or your room
- 6:30–8:00 amBreakfast and rest
- 8:00–9:00 amGroup meditation in the hall
- 9:00–11:00 amMeditation in the hall or room, as the teacher directs
- 11:00 am–12 noonLunch break
- 12 noon–1:00 pmRest; private questions to the teacher
- 1:00–2:30 pmMeditation in the hall or your room
- 2:30–3:30 pmGroup meditation in the hall
- 3:30–5:00 pmMeditation in the hall or room, as the teacher directs
- 5:00–6:00 pmTea break (tea and fruit for new students)
- 6:00–7:00 pmGroup meditation in the hall
- 7:00–8:15 pmRecorded evening talk by S.N. Goenka
- 8:15–9:30 pmGroup meditation, open questions; lights out 9:30
As the retreat describes it. Schedules change with the season and the programme.
What's included
Included
- Teaching, room and meals at no charge
- Simple vegetarian breakfast and lunch
- Tea at 5 pm, with fruit for new students
- Meditation cushions; chairs if you can't sit on the floor
- Single room with attached bathroom
Not included
- Evening meal (only tea at 5 pm)
- Washing machines; small items are hand-washed in breaks
When to go
Best Oct–Mar. Oct–Mar is pleasant (Dec–Jan is cold and foggy); Apr–Jun is very hot; Jul–Sep is monsoon
- Winter · Dec–Feb
- Post-monsoon · Oct–Nov
Weather by month
9° to 40°C through the year · wettest in August
Average daily high and low (°C) and rain for the month (mm).
Best monthsRain: dry to very wetHighs: cool to hot
Long-term averages (1981–2010) for the area around Dhori Ghat, Ema village, Kanpur–Prayagraj road (about 22 km from Kanpur), on a grid of about 1 km; any one year can differ. Data: CHELSA V2.1 (Karger et al., 2017), CC0.
Getting there
Nearest airport
Kanpur (KNU), ~30 min drive; Lucknow (LKO), ~2.5 hrBy train
Kanpur Central, ~45 min by road (about 22 km)From big cities
- ~550 km from Delhi NCR, best to fly
- ~1,220 km from Kolkata, best to fly
- ~1,380 km from Hyderabad, best to fly
From your town
See the drive, the nearest airports and the easiest way to get to Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre) from where you live. The trip estimate below uses it too.
Estimate your trip
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- Stay at Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)
- Free · donation of your choice
Rough estimate from the published starting price; set your town in “From your town” above to add the drive. Rooms, seasons and programmes change the total; Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)'s own quote is final.
Before you book
Arrival
Fixed course dates onlyCouples
Couples stay separatelyPhones
Phones handed inFood
Vegetarian foodBooking
Apply on their site
Not stated on their site: taxes. Ask the retreat before you book.
Good to know
- Apply online for a specific date; registering early is advised
- Complete silence and no devices for the whole course
- Short and special courses are only for past students
What to pack
1 thing the retreat asks you to bring, plus 2 tips
The retreat asks you to bring
Also useful
General tips for the setting and the months people go, not from the retreat.
Tick things off as you pack. Nothing here is saved.
Day, inclusions, packing and facts from Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)'s official information, checked October 2026: dhamma.org/en/about/code, dhamma.org/en/about/qanda, dhamma.org/en/schedules/schkalyana, kalyana.vridhamma.org, kalyana.vridhamma.org/about, kalyana.dhamma.org/en/contact/. Ask them if anything matters for your stay.
Read before you go
Contact Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)
Ask about dates, rooms and programmes directly. They take bookings themselves; nothing passes through us.
Courses here are by application
Apply on their official site; they confirm a place by email. Please don't send them booking enquiries.
Apply on their site (opens in a new tab)- Phone
- +91 73885 43793
- Phone
- +91 73885 43795
From Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)'s official website, checked Oct 2026.
Questions people ask
How much does a stay at Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre) cost?
Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre) doesn't charge a fixed fee; it runs on donations. 10-day course is free incl. food and lodging; only past students may donate.
What's included in the price?
The official site lists: Teaching, room and meals at no charge; Simple vegetarian breakfast and lunch; Tea at 5 pm, with fruit for new students; Meditation cushions; chairs if you can't sit on the floor; Single room with attached bathroom. Not included: Evening meal (only tea at 5 pm); Washing machines; small items are hand-washed in breaks.
What's the minimum stay?
Stays follow fixed course dates, and the shortest is 11 nights.
When is the best time to visit Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)?
The best months are Oct–Mar. Oct–Mar is pleasant (Dec–Jan is cold and foggy); Apr–Jun is very hot; Jul–Sep is monsoon.
9 more questionsFewer questions
How do I get to Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)?
Nearest airport: Kanpur (KNU), ~30 min drive; Lucknow (LKO), ~2.5 hr. By train: Kanpur Central, ~45 min by road (about 22 km). Times are rough estimates by road.
Can couples stay together?
No. Couples stay in separate rooms at Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre).
Can I use my phone?
Phones are handed in at Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre), so plan to be unreachable during your stay.
What food is served?
The food is vegetarian.
How do I book Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)?
You book directly with Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre), by applying on their official website. Courses run on fixed dates, so check their calendar first. RetreatAdvisors doesn't take bookings or commissions.
What should women travellers know?
Men and women live, eat and sit in fully separate areas for the whole course; 66 rooms for women.
What language are classes in?
Classes are taught in Hindi and English.
Are single rooms available?
Yes, private single rooms are available.
Is there an age limit?
As the retreat states it: Teens aged 15–19 have a separate 7-day course.
Answered from our research on Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre)'s official information. Details change, so confirm prices, dates and policies with them before you book.
Researched from the retreat's official website and public sources. Details change, so confirm prices, dates and policies with Dhamma Kalyana (Kanpur International Vipassana Meditation Centre) before booking.
- Photo: Yogi Madhav, Unsplash
- Photo: Olga Pukhalskaya, Unsplash
- Photo: Milan Popovic, Unsplash
- Photo: Jared Rice, Unsplash
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