Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute & Research Center — Attraction in Maharashtra

Just summarizing for those who do not want to read through the whole thing:

Wouldn’t recommend this place if you’re looking for spiritual change, the programmes are not designed to cater to that. If you’re looking for ayurvedic treatments, based on other participants experience, it is worth it. Naturopathy is more like a spa. DO NOT VISIT DURING MONSOONS. You’re not allowed to leave the premises during your stay (minimum 7 days). RT-PCR is mandatory. The premium charges are only for the brand name! The yoga and relaxation programme is not worth it at all! Visit this place only if you want to take treatments under naturopathy or ayurveda.

I had been to Kaivalyadhama for their yoga and relaxation programme. Few points to note before you visit this place: RT-PCR is mandatory for all participants You’re not allowed to leave the premises during the stay, minimum 7 days stay is needed. DO NOT VISIT IN MONSOON. Every year due to heavy rains, the place gets water-logged, very difficult to go from one place to another within the premises and the extreme weather caused health issues to few participants. I personally had lot of mosquito bites on my legs and you can’t enjoy the nature and go for walks due to the heavy rains.

Coming to my personal experience, my aim was to look for a spiritual retreat, they offer naturopathy and ayuvedic treatments (for internal and external detox) which I was not interested in. It’s totally not worth it, it’s just a business. The schedule planned for yoga and relaxation has nothing for 6.5 hours in a day. And we aren’t allowed to even go out to kill that 6.5 hours. 80% of the asanas taught during the 7 days are same everyday, with 20% variations each day. The yoga teachers however are extremely good, kind natured and caring. There’s just one relaxation session (not meditation) for 45 mins a day It makes no sense to mandate 7 days stay for yoga and relaxation coz unlike naturopathy and ayurveda, their treatments require that many days to detox. They should allow 2-4 days as well. I booked a la carte session at naturopathy but then I didn’t want to do it, but they have no refund policy, I asked if it can be transferred to ayurveda if I want to take up something there, even that wasn’t allowed. They’re just money-minded. Food was excellent, just one complain is breakfast duration was just for 30 mins whereas evening herbal tea was 1 hour, they could make it vice versa. Met with Bhogal sir he was a gem of a person, exceptional knowledge and guided me through kriya yoga. They do have a library to get books issued. That was one of my saviours to kill time! Basic rooms (rooms with attached washroom) aren’t that great. If you do go for basic rooms ensure they’re on the ground floor, they’re newly painted and much better.

My mom had been to a smaller place for much lesser price for same number of days, which included massages, mud packs, sauna etc which is charged separately here in naturopathy. She had the whole day planned out with no spare time. Point being, a place which is run with the intention to serve others and ensure people get the best out of, will provide value for money with purest...

If this place had a 10 star I would give it. I had not heard of the place before I booked. I was searching for yoga retreats near Mumbai and found a few on the google. There were others which looked quite posh and attractive and I wanted to book, however were quite expensive, this one looked reasonably priced, so tried to look into more information. It is not easy to get information on their website but eventually booked it cos it was the oldest and was affiliated to a college. Landed in the place with very skeptical thoughts. It is a large nice place with lots of greenery (it was pouring rain every day when we were there so could not really enjoy the walks in the campus - it must be lovely in winter or summer ). There is nothing posh or glamorous about the place. It is basic but EXTRAORDINARILY CLEAN- SPIC AND SPAN.

As days went by, realized that by fluke I had booked the BEST PLACE for Yoga and Ayurveda. They are so well organized that everything runs smoothly, it shows that they have been doing this for a long time now. Despite that, they are treating each week like a new week with the same enthusiasm which is refreshing. People who are teaching Yoga ( we had Banwari sir) Pranayama ( Dr. Neeraj) and Dr. Jagdish (panchakarma) were fantastic. Here in Kaivailadham, I found who were teaching us believed and in fact were passionately practicing what they taught. Utpatti- shop was very useful with a lot of books and ayurvedic products to buy All the staff starting from reception, kitchen, therapists (my therapist vaishali was fantastic ), Ayurveda cooking course chef, trainers, cleaning staff–were all so pleasant and helpful, they made our stay very relaxing and rejuvenating. There was no bar to recording any thing that was taught which is a great boon as I am able to practice what they taught with the help of these recordings. There is not a trace of marketing done by anyone in the place at all which is refreshing to see in this day and era. This visit to Kaivalyadham is a mile stone in my life and it has changed the way I look at Yoga and Ayurveda. I have decided to practice what they taught me regularly (Niyam) and come back for a refresher week in 6 months time. If you are looking for a yoga retreat to change your life, look no further, this...

This is my second stay at Kaivalyadhama, Lonavala and I'm loving it. Its location amid the hills and beautiful natural ambience of the premises with its lush greenery and delightful bird calls is such that it relaxes one instantly. The programs are very carefully designed to suit individual constitutions. The thing that strikes immediately on arrival is that everything is perfectly streamlined to make the settling in easy for the participants. Every single person who works there, irrespective of status/position is very polite and friendly, quick to greet and give genuine smiles. This place is ideal both, for those with chronic health conditions, as well as for healthy individuals who want to maintain good health through time-tested yogic methods and wholesome diet. The yoga sessions are conducted expertly by excellent yoga masters. The Naturopathic and Ayurvedic sections are well managed. The team of doctors is excellent; we certainly get the reassuring feeling that we are in good hands. The staff at the treatment centers is ever courteous and respectful. They put us completely at ease during the treatments. The treatment areas and all other areas are always spotlessly clean. By the 4th day after arrival, I was already feeling physically rejuvenated, mentally relaxed and emotionally settled. Follow up advice in terms of lifestyle modifications and dietary changes are also given. Participants receive good grounding on yoga and all round heath through one-to-one consultations with the yoga experts and doctors and also through informative talks, videos, and literature.

I strongly recommend this place for all those who wish to reconnect with our ancient Indian system of positive health which leads to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Many thanks to the CEO Shri Subodh Tiwari-ji and all at Kdham. 🙏 Last but most important of all, one cannot but feel immense gratitude towards Swami Kuvalayananda whose lofty vision continues to benefit thousands of people from all over the...