Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda, Bihar
Nalanda Vipassana Centre
Monthly 10-day Vipassana beside the ruins of Nalanda
Details checked on the official site, October 2026 · We never take bookings or commissions
This Vipassana centre runs on the campus of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, beside a lake next to the Xuanzang Memorial Hall and about 1 km from the ruins of ancient Nalanda. Under an agreement signed in January 2026 it hosts one free 10-day silent course a month in the S.N. Goenka tradition, for about 50 students.
On a lakeside campus next to the Xuanzang Memorial Hall
About 1 km from the ruins of ancient Nalanda university
Courses began here under an agreement signed in January 2026
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.
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.
Great for
- spiritual seekers
- deep practice
- budget travellers
- first-timers
Maybe not for
- Short breaks: the minimum is 11 nights
- Anyone who needs to stay reachable by phone
Good to know before you go
- One 10-day course a month, always from the 3rd to the 14th
- Noble silence for the whole course; phones and valuables are handed in on arrival
- Campus belongs to Nava Nalanda Mahavihara; courses are run by Dhamma Bodhi
Programs & stays
Rooms: Shared rooms for about 35 men and 15 women; air-conditioned hall
Program names and lengths change. Check the retreat's calendar for current dates.
Reviews elsewhereGoogle Maps
When to go
Best Oct–Mar. Nov–Feb is cool and dry (foggy, cold nights in Dec–Jan); Apr–Jun is very hot; Jul–Sep is monsoon
- Winter · Dec–Feb
- Post-monsoon · Oct–Nov
Getting there
Nearest airportPatna (PAT) or Gaya (GAY), each about 2–3 hr by road
By trainNalanda or Rajgir station, a short drive
- ~560 km from Kolkata, best to fly
- ~1,220 km from Delhi NCR, best to fly
- ~1,520 km from Hyderabad, best to fly
- ~1,950 km from Chennai, best to fly
Researched from the retreat's official website and public sources. Details change, so confirm prices, dates and policies with Nalanda Vipassana Centre before booking.
- Photo: Sau22K, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Tabish q, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Jared Rice, Unsplash
- Photo: Lisa Hobbs, Unsplash
Run Nalanda Vipassana Centre? Claim this listing to correct details and answer questions as the official team.
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