Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune

The Osho Ashram now known as the OSHO International Meditation Resort in Pune is an iconic landmark located in Koregaon Park. Pune was the birthplace of the movement led by Rajneesh Chandra Mohan Jain Osho who propagated the teachings and philosophy of one’s sexuality and spirituality. We bet you’ve all seen the Netflix docu-series called ‘Wild Wild Country’ (if not, please do!) where many scenes of his followers building the Ashram in 1947 have been clearly captured to understand. But, here’s a fun fact, it is not actually an ashram, it is actually a meditation centre. It focuses on multiple meditative techniques like Osho Kundalini meditation, Osho Nataraj, and Osho Nadabrahma, to name a few. 

Chief patron: Osho Philosophy: That the ‘new man' or ‘homo novus' is someone who is at home in this world and the spiritual one. The place: A garden with tall trees, plenty of black marble and wide open spaces. Against this stark vista of green and black, spend your mornings in deliciously relaxing one-hour drop-in sessions of Tai Chi, Chi Gong and Zen archery. There are 10 meditation sessions every day, starting at 6am. There's an Olympic-size pool, spa, gym, cyber café, tennis courts and three dining areas with everything from Asian mains to coffees and pastries. In addition to a small bank, the campus has a store (Galleria) where residents can buy the maroon and white robes required for meditation, magazines and more. And as night falls, the place comes alive with meditations under the full moon, music performances and movie screenings. Getting in: Anyone can go as long as they can pay for the stay and pass the HIV/AIDS test, but bringing children is not encouraged.

If you’ve ever wondered why the guru decided to Pune to build his ashram, well, so do we. The truth is Osho has become synonymous with Pune. People from all over the world fly down to be a part of the ashrams and tourists line up as well. To be part of the program you need a valid passport, photos, documents and also submit yourself to an ‘on the spot HIV test’. The guests are also required to follow a strict dress code - maroon robes during the day and plain white robes during the evenings. You can take a day tour of the ashram, as well as visit the Osho Teerth Park, not to mention buy a couple of colourful Osho chappals and robes in the bargain. 

There is a lot of mystery and intrigue attached to this meditation centre for example what really goes on inside and people have been left to deduce on their own. But to truly rejuvenate and relax the facilities are surrounded with natural beauty the amenities are pristine and a little bit luxurious too. They have a spa, jacuzzi, tennis courts, annual music festivals and much more to make their stay at the centre more comfortable. We like the sound of that! Today, the ashram sees around 15,000 visitors every year and largely contributes to the tourism of the city.