Favorite ashram in India?

ddranetz

Friends,

I'm going to India for the first time in September '08 and will tour around for about a year I think (until I'm out of money )

Many thanks to everyone on IndiaMike for all the great information I've gotten here.

I'm a committed yogi, having spent many years of serious practice here in America with Buddhist and Advaita teachers. I'm looking forward to spending a lot of time in Indian ashrams and am open to all yoga and hindu traditions and practices.

However, there is so much, I really don't no where to start. Have you encountered any gurus that you thought were realized? Any ashrams that stand out for you as a place to go if you're serious about sadhana?

Thanks in advance.

mousourik

You can consider Belur Math in Kolkata. It was established by Swami Vivekanada and definitely it stands out from the rest for its integrity.
Other options can be Ramkrishna Mission in Kolkata and Auroville in Pondicherry.

Atma_raga

I have been in one ashram near Haridwar, it is Shantikunj. I think, it is nice place to stay there, to study yoga, sanskrit, ayurveda etc. Here is those website, about ashram and those 'Divine Culture University':
http://www.awgp.org/gamma/Establishments

photos from Shantikunj: