The practice of meditation in India dates back to ancient civilisations when people used to meditate to attain enlightenment. The practice of meditation has roots both in Hinduism and Buddhism and is said to help people understand the true nature of themselves as well as the world by achieving a higher state of consciousness. Currently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day meditation retreat at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, and this is not his first foray! PM Modi spent a night before the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections in a meditation cave near the Kedarnath Shrine. But did you know he is not the only one?
Foreigners have always been fascinated by the exotic land of India. Over the years many famous international celebrities have travelled to the country to meditate, practice yoga and attain some form of enlightenment.
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Let's learn about 5 meditation retreats across India that hosted global celebs over the years.
Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs travelled to India on a spiritual retreat for seven months in the 1970s and made his way to Nainital in search of Neem Karoli Baba. Later on, he advised Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to visit the place and the latter made the journey during the early days of Facebook.
Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison visited Rishikesh in the 1960s with the aim of studying Transcendental Meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
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The legendary singer visited the quaint village in a remote corner of Kumaon Hills in the late 1960s. The quiet town is the perfect place for relaxation, meditation and self-introspection.
Hollywood actor Julia Roberts visited the Hari Mandir Ashram near the Pataudi Palace for the shooting of her movie Eat Pray Love. Following her trip to India, back in 2010, she became a practising Hindu and in an interview with Elle mentioned that her husband and their three children go to temples to 'chant, pray and celebrate'.
In 2013, then Prince Charles and Camilla Parker visited the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand and participated in the world-famous 'Ganga Aarti'. The ashram is a spiritual haven that arranges daily activities such as meditation classes, yoga classes and 'satsang'.
India has made the practice of meditation global. Thousands of people travel to the country every year to visit these calming meditation retreats to unwind and take a break from their stressful lives, so why don't you take inspiration from them and visit a meditation retreat for your next vacation?
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