Photos show the The Himalayas region. See the retreat's own site for its rooms and grounds.
Shyamla Tal, near Sukhidhang (Champawat district), Uttarakhand
Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal
Donation stays and Vedanta retreats at a lakeside monastery
- Ashram
- Spiritual
- Meditation
- Mountains
- Lakeside
- Forest
Details checked on the official site, October 2026. We never take bookings or commissions.
A Ramakrishna Order ashram beside the small Shyamla Tal lake in the Champawat hills, started over a century ago by Swami Virajananda as a place for meditation. Devotees may stay 2–7 nights on donation during its spring and autumn guest sessions and join periodic Vedanta retreats led by the monks.
Great for
- spiritual seekers
- couples
- families
Maybe not for
- Private luxury or room service
Founded by Swami Virajananda, a disciple of Swami Vivekananda who later headed the Ramakrishna Order
Monks lead periodic retreats of scriptural discourse and meditation in spring and autumn
The ashram also runs a charitable dispensary and rural education work that guests can see
Reviews elsewhereGoogle Maps
Price and programmes
By donation
pay what you can
- Stay
- Meals
Donation-based; registration fee or donation paid online in advance, amount not published
Courses here are free or by donation. Never pay an agent or another website to book.
Indicative. Checked on the official site, October 2026.
Courses or any-day stays · apply on their site
- Guest stay for devotees (shrine routine, meditation, reflection)2–7 nights
- Spiritual retreats with Vedanta discourses and meditation, led by monksVaries (Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov)
Rooms: Ashram guest-house rooms, allotted on arrival according to availability
Programme names and lengths change. Check the retreat's calendar for current dates.
When to go
Best Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Guests are received only from mid-March to mid-June and mid-September to mid-November; nights are cool in the hills, so bring warm layers
- Summer · Mar–May
- Post-monsoon · Oct–Nov
Weather by month
3° to 28°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 Shyamla Tal, near Sukhidhang (Champawat district), 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
Pantnagar (PGH), about 125 km by road via Tanakpur (roughly 4 hr)By train
Tanakpur, about 25 km by hill road (around 1 hr)From big cities
- ~390 km from Delhi NCR, best to fly
- ~1,490 km from Kolkata, best to fly
- ~1,780 km from Hyderabad, best to fly
From your town
See the drive, the nearest airports and the easiest way to get to Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal from where you live. The trip estimate below uses it too.
Estimate your trip
Free or by donation: just the travel to plan
- Stay at Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal
- 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; Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal's own quote is final.
Before you book
Arrival
Fixed courses, or arrive any dayBooking
Apply on their site
Not stated on their site: couples, phones, food, taxes. Ask the retreat before you book.
Good to know
- Bookings only through the online form or by email, never by phone; a confirmation letter follows once the form and registration fee arrive
- The ashram does not give rooms to single guests (one page says single women), so plan to come with family or a companion
- Departure is at 8 am right after breakfast; bring a torch, an umbrella and warm clothes
Read before you go
Contact Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal
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)- Office
- +91 93688 40233
- shyamlatal@rkmm.org
From Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal's official website, checked Oct 2026.Their contact page
Questions people ask
How much does a stay at Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal cost?
Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal asks for a donation of your choice rather than a fixed rate. Donation-based; registration fee or donation paid online in advance, amount not published.
What's the minimum stay?
The shortest stay is 2 nights.
When is the best time to visit Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal?
The best months are Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Guests are received only from mid-March to mid-June and mid-September to mid-November; nights are cool in the hills, so bring warm layers.
How do I get to Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal?
Nearest airport: Pantnagar (PGH), about 125 km by road via Tanakpur (roughly 4 hr). By train: Tanakpur, about 25 km by hill road (around 1 hr). Times are rough estimates by road.
1 more questionsFewer questions
How do I book Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal?
You book directly with Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal, by applying on their official website. There are fixed-date courses, and you can also arrive any day for a regular stay. RetreatAdvisors doesn't take bookings or commissions.
Answered from our research on Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal'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 Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamla Tal before booking.
- Photo: Akshansh Kumar, Unsplash
- Photo: Mohit Khatri, Unsplash
- Photo: Abhinav, Unsplash
- Photo: Sreehari Devadas, Unsplash
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By donation
Courses or any-day stays · apply on their site · best Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov