The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram is a traditional yoga ashram at Neyyar Dam, outside Trivandrum in Kerala. It runs a year-round Yoga Vacation program and the well-known month-long Teachers' Training Course, built around a fixed daily schedule of meditation, chanting, asana and talks. It's best for people who want real ashram discipline, not a spa holiday.
What it's like
This is a working ashram, and it feels like one. The Dhanwantari Ashram belongs to the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta organization, the lineage of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh and his disciple Swami Vishnudevananda, who took the teachings abroad and opened the first Sivananda centres and ashrams. Kerala Tourism lists the Neyyar Dam ashram as established in 1978, and it remains the Indian organization's main address today.
Days follow a set rhythm. You start and end with satsang: silent meditation, chanting and a reading or talk. In between come two asana and pranayama classes built on sun salutations and the 12 classical postures, a lecture on yogic philosophy or lifestyle, and a short spell of karma yoga, like helping in the kitchen or garden. Meals are fresh South Indian vegetarian food, served as brunch and dinner. Guests are expected to stay on site and join the program, with Fridays as a free day for trips out, and the ashram usually organizes a supervised outing.
The programs
Yoga Vacation. The ashram's open-door program runs year-round, and you can join it without prior experience. It covers the daily schedule above, with chances to ask teachers for individual guidance. The minimum stay is three days, and many people stay much longer.
Teachers' Training Course (TTC). Swami Vishnudevananda created this course in 1969, and it's still the lineage's flagship. It's an intensive 28-day residential training covering asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, anatomy, yoga nutrition, kriyas, teaching practice, the Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta. The organization lists accreditation and affiliations including India's AYUSH Ministry and Yoga Alliance.
Further study. There's also an Advanced TTC, a Sadhana Intensive, meditation courses and children's camps across the Indian ashrams. Ayurveda treatments and panchakarma detox programs are run through the Sivananda Institute of Health, which works alongside the ashrams.
Dates and current rates are on the official site. Daily rates at the ashrams cover classes, food and accommodation.
Who it suits (and who it doesn't)
It suits you if you want to learn yoga properly, in a clear and traditional sequence, and you're happy to live by a timetable. Complete beginners are welcome, and so are people preparing for the TTC.
It's not the place for a lazy beach week. Attendance, early mornings, shared spaces and ashram guidelines are part of the deal, and Wi-Fi only runs at set times outside classes. During the busy season from October to March, the ashram generally advises against bringing children under seven.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), and Trivandrum Central railway station connects to the rest of India. From either, you'll finish the trip by taxi or bus on rural roads, and mobile signal can be patchy, so download maps and keep the ashram's contact details handy. Single and shared rooms need booking ahead, with check-in from 2pm; dormitory beds can be taken on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need yoga experience to attend?
No. The Yoga Vacation is open to beginners, and practices are introduced step by step.
How long do I have to stay?
The minimum stay at the Indian ashrams is three days. The Teachers' Training Course is a 28-day program.
What kind of rooms are there?
Dormitories, shared rooms and single rooms. Rooms need advance booking, while dormitory places can be taken on arrival.
Can I leave the ashram during my stay?
Guests are asked to stay on site, but Friday is a free day, and the ashram runs organized day trips to nearby places.
What should I bring?
Comfortable clothes, sandals, toiletries, towels, a yoga mat, a shawl for cool evenings, a water bottle and a torch. Basics are also sold in the ashram shop.
