Christian Ashram South India route

kruhip

Namaste everyone!

Here's a bit of background - I just finished a three month Northern India route with my partner (including one month volunteering solo in Calcutta while he was in Ladakh doing likewise) - We also spent one week in yoga retreat at Phool Chatti Ashram (Rishikesh) and otherwise were in several Northern cities exploring Vedic, Buddhist and Sikh India - now we're in Nepal and plan to stay approximately one month. After that, we have the luxury of some added time (a little less than 3 weeks - end November - beginning December), We are contemplating getting another Indian visa in order to return and have a Christian Ashram experience in South India (which we didn't do the first time due to distance/time) -

We would like to fly from Kathmandu to South India and visit at least the two sites I list below - this is as much location info I have on them both - here are my questions -

1. I found the blogsite for the first, does anyone have any further contact or location info for either the first or second sites below?
2. Does anyone have any thoughts about either site or both together?

Destination One - Fly to Bangalore - visit Jyoti Sahi (Christian Art Ashram)

Destination Two - Train/plus other transport to Saccidananda Ashram/ Shantivanam (near Trichy, outside of Tiruchivapalli?) in Tamil Nadu

3. Are there any Christian ashram experiences recommended in Kerala? and/or Has anyone visited St. Thomas Church or have any related recommendations for a good South India Christian Orthodox experience? (Possible substitute as a destination or even destination three, although that would crunch time for sure - so if there is an airport, we'd fly in to save time)

Thank you!
- M

federica

Can't help you with own ashram experiences, but I've seen a documentation once about Kurisumala Ashram in the Vagamon hills in Kerala. Looked like a beautiful place for me.

Here's a link: http://www.vagamon.com/kurisumala/kurisumala.htm

kullukid

Shantivanam is an Ashram founded by Bede Griffiths a Benedictine monk who travelled to India in 1955. He wrote an excellent book called "Return to the Centre" which is well worth a read.
See Here;
http://www.bedegriffiths.com/shantivanam/
KK

federica

Kullukid, this name sounded so familiar to me. When I took a look at the recommended website, I found the following: He was actually the same who had lived in Kurisumala Ashram in Vagamon, too. Before he moved to Shantinavam.

As your link didn't work, I'll post one again to the website:
http://www.bedegriffiths.com

kullukid

Hi Federica, that's right but He moved from Kurisumala Ashram to Shantinavam because He found Kurisumala Ashram "Too Westernised" Thanks for the fix! KK