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Photos show the Central & East India region. See the retreat's own site for its rooms and grounds.

Dhamnod, about 15 km from Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh

Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre

Name: 10-day Vipassana course, Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre
Start: 2026-12-18
End: 2026-12-29
Location: Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre

Small, quiet 10-day Vipassana centre near Ratlam

Retreat centre
Meditation
Silent retreat
Spiritual
Countryside

Details checked on the official site, October 2026. We never take bookings or commissions.

More in Madhya Pradesh More meditation retreats

A small Goenka-tradition Vipassana centre in a quiet valley near Dhamnod village, about 15 km from Ratlam. It holds free residential 10-day silent courses in Hindi and English, with a 40-seat hall and mostly single rooms, funded by donations from earlier students.

Our take · editors' note

Suits: Suits beginners wanting a small, secluded 10-day silent course in a valley 15 km from Ratlam, with some single rooms with attached baths and 7-day teen courses each summer.
Maybe not for: Not for anyone who rarely checks email (registration and updates are by email only), or who can't hand in their phone for the course.

Written by RetreatAdvisors editors from the retreat's official information, October 2026. Not a guest review, and nobody paid for it.

Great for

deep practice
spiritual seekers
digital detox

Maybe not for

Short breaks (11-night minimum)
Staying reachable by phone

Secluded campus in a valley behind a Sai temple, about 15 km from Ratlam
Dhamma hall seats about 40, so courses stay small
Running since 2003

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
3-day course (old students)3 nights
Teenager courses (May–June)8 nights

Rooms: Single-occupancy rooms and small dormitories with attached bathrooms

Programme names and lengths change. Check the retreat's calendar for current dates.

Practical facts

Classes in · Single rooms · Women · Age

Classes in
Hindi, English
Single rooms
Available
Women
Nine single rooms with attached toilets are set aside for women.
Age
Teen courses for ages 15–19

Upcoming dates

All dates in the calendar

Nov11
10-day Vipassana course
Open
11–22 Nov · 11 nights
Hindi, English
Open
Nov27
3-day course for old students
Open
27–30 Nov · 3 nights
Hindi, English
Open
Dec4
10-day Vipassana course
Open
4–15 Dec · 11 nights
Hindi, English
Open
Dec18
10-day Vipassana course
Open
18–29 Dec · 11 nights
Hindi, English
Open

All dates in the calendar Official schedule

From Dhamma Rata 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 sitting, then questions; lights out 9:30 pm

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 as the teacher directs
11:00 am–12 noonLunch break
12 noon–1:00 pmRest; time to meet 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 as the teacher directs
5:00–6:00 pmTea break (fruit for new students)
6:00–7:00 pmGroup meditation
7:00–8:15 pmRecorded evening discourse by S.N. Goenka
8:15–9:30 pmGroup sitting, then questions; lights out 9:30 pm

As the retreat describes it. Schedules change with the season and the programme.

What's included

Included

Course, lodging and simple vegetarian meals, at no charge
Single room with attached bathroom, or a dormitory bed
Base meditation cushion, pillow and one light fleece blanket
A chair if you can't sit on the floor

Not included

Washing machines (hand-wash small items in breaks)

When to go

Best Oct–Mar. Oct–Mar is dry and pleasant; Apr–Jun is hot; Jul–Sep is monsoon

Winter · Dec–Feb
Post-monsoon · Oct–Nov

Weather by month

12° to 38°C through the year · wettest in July

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 Dhamnod, about 15 km from Ratlam, 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
Indore (IDR), ~3 hr drive (about 140 km)
By train
Ratlam Jn, ~30 min drive (about 15 km)
From big cities
- ~720 km from Mumbai, best to fly
- ~830 km from Delhi NCR, best to fly
- ~1,040 km from Hyderabad, best to fly

From your town

See the drive, the nearest airports and the easiest way to get to Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre from where you live. The trip estimate below uses it too.

Estimate your trip

Free or by donation: just the travel to plan

Nights

People

Stay at Dhamma Rata 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 Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre's own quote is final.

Before you book

Arrival
Fixed course dates only
Couples
Couples stay separately
Phones
Phones handed in
Food
Vegetarian food
Booking
Apply on their site

Not stated on their site: taxes. Ask the retreat before you book.

Good to know

Apply online through the dhamma.org schedule and wait for confirmation
Phones, books and valuables are handed in for the whole course
The centre also serves meditators from nearby Banswara (Rajasthan) and Dahod (Gujarat)

What to pack

10 things the retreat asks you to bring

Day, inclusions, packing and facts from Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre's official information, checked October 2026: dhamma.org/en/schedules/schrata, rata.dhamma.org/en/the-centre/, rata.dhamma.org/en/course-checklist/, rata.dhamma.org/en/directions-to-the-centre/, dhamma.org/en/about/code, dhamma.org/en/about/qanda. Ask them if anything matters for your stay.

Read before you go

Contact Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre

Ask about dates, rooms and programmes directly. They take bookings themselves; nothing passes through us.

Call +91 87707 19165 Email

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

Centre: +91 87707 19165
Centre: +91 98275 61649
Email: info@rata.dhamma.org

From Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre's official website, checked Oct 2026.Their contact page

Questions people ask

How much does a stay at Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre cost?

Dhamma Rata 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: Course, lodging and simple vegetarian meals, at no charge; Single room with attached bathroom, or a dormitory bed; Base meditation cushion, pillow and one light fleece blanket; A chair if you can't sit on the floor. Not included: Washing machines (hand-wash small items 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 Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre?

The best months are Oct–Mar. Oct–Mar is dry and pleasant; Apr–Jun is hot; Jul–Sep is monsoon.

9 more questions

How do I get to Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre?

Nearest airport: Indore (IDR), ~3 hr drive (about 140 km). By train: Ratlam Jn, ~30 min drive (about 15 km). Times are rough estimates by road.

Can couples stay together?

No. Couples stay in separate rooms at Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre.

Can I use my phone?

Phones are handed in at Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre, so plan to be unreachable during your stay.

What food is served?

The food is vegetarian.

How do I book Dhamma Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre?

You book directly with Dhamma Rata 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?

Nine single rooms with attached toilets are set aside 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: Teen courses for ages 15–19.

Answered from our research on Dhamma Rata 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 Rata Vipassana Meditation Centre before booking.

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