Parmarth Niketan, Ashram in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India

Parmarth Niketan is an ashram on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh, founded in 1942 and the largest in the city with more than 1000 rooms. Its long, low buildings have pale yellow walls and flat red rooflines, with rows of dark rectangular windows and doors behind tall, narrow trees. The garden holds white pointed arches, yellow flowers and grey umbrella-shaped canopies, and a 14-foot Shiva statue stands by the river.

The ashram was founded in 1942 by Swami Shukdevanand Saraswati and has grown into a center for spiritual teachings. Under the leadership of Swami Chidanand Saraswati, it has become known as a place for yoga and meditation practice.

Each evening at sunset, priests perform the Ganga Aarti on the riverbank, and hundreds of visitors and pilgrims gather to light oil lamps and sing. The ashram also plants the Kalpavriksha, the wish-fulfilling tree of Hindu tradition, in its courtyard, set there by Vijaypal Baghel of Himalaya Vahini.

The site offers basic to comfortable rooms with vegetarian meals included in guest rates. Visitors should prepare for warm and humid days and bring comfortable clothes and insect repellent.

A 14-foot Shiva statue stands on the ashram's Ganges bank, and the Kalpavriksha, the wish-fulfilling tree of Hindu tradition, was planted in the courtyard by Vijaypal Baghel of Himalaya Vahini. The ashram is also the headquarters of the Swami Shukdevanand Trust, registered in 1962 under the Societies Registration Act.