Urali Kanchan, Nisargopchar Ashram....
A time comes in life of everybody that you realise that suddenly you have lost your health.. and all this happens so fast !!
A typical patient says- " I was perfectly alright a couple of years back... But last few years the work pressure was tremendous... and I was definately getting stressed... and one fine day I got symptoms of fatigue, breathlessness and Pains came up... Investigations were all borderline and they gave strong warning signals of impending danger !!
Isnt this a story of Many of us ?? The answer is Yes... !! Even i experienced it !!
Me, as a doctor have adviced so many patients about life style disorders... But this time i had to take a
decision for Myself... Not that I had any major issues... but i wanted to be the way I was 10 years back...
After a bit of Research, i decided to go to Nisrgopchar Ashram, Urali Kanchan... I will now be sharing
all my wonderful experiences here.. There are not many blogs on this, and when i searched i found limited
Feedbacks... So I am going to answer many questions which may arise in the minds of people who wish to come here...
1) Where is it ?
In Urali, popularly Called as Urali Kanchan, about 30 Km from Pune Station on The Pune- Solapur Road.
2) How to Do the Booking ?
The Nisargopchar Kendra ( Now I refer to it as Ashram ) has its website- http://nisargopcharashram.org/
where a lot of Info is given. The Ashram is Visited by many and its difficult to get a room on short notice.
You may call up on the numbers and book in advance.. Telephonic bookings ask for Bank transfer of
the advance, so that authenticity is maintained.
3) How to reach ?
By Train- Uruli station is hardly 1 Km away. The Udyan Express and Hyderabad Express stop here.
Many other trains/ Mails/ Passengers too stop. People coming from Mumbai may consider this option.
Its very convinient. Pune Station is a Bigger station and is 30 Km away. Pune connects to almost all
parts of India.
Ricshaw charges Rs 30 till gate and Rs 50 till your room.
By Road- Pune Solapur Road. 30 K from Pune.
If you get your vehicle, there is a lot of parking Inside.
By Air- Pune Airport is the Closest.
4) About the Ashram Precinct-
Its a Sprawling campus, with a lot of Greenery, lot of place to walk. nicely arranged cottages, treatment
centres, office, Medical Check up centre, Library, Meditation Hall, Yoga Hall, Canteen, Community
Hall...
Its Big, yet not too big... Its compact yet not suffocating !!
The Layout and architecture is well thought... and as I said, everything is in a comfortable walking
distance..
5) The First Day !!
As always, the first day is always full of excitement !! whether its the first day of school, college
or the first date !! Here too there were people along with us, who too were not knowing a thing..
but then as we met other patients, some of them who were getting discharged, we started coming
to know about things.. The procedure Involved A undertaking signing, request for admission, detailed
medical history to be filled by the patient, attaching some medical reports of relevance.After filling this,
you Pay the advance and deposit, which is nominal. Then the Doctors see you... and after a detailed
History and examination, suggest a diet and treatment Plan for you...
And thus you are In the premises.... in your Room !!!
6) Daily Routine- ( Its variable, but this is the general Plan & What we followed)
5.15 am - Yoga for Freshers
6.25 am - Yoga for Advanced
6 - 6.45 - Morning walk
6.45 am- Herbal Tea ( Kadha)
7 am - 7.45 am- Massage followed by Steam.
8 am - Enema
8.15 am- Mud Bath
9 am - Juice/ Kadha
9.15 am- Immersion Bath/ Tub Bath/ Hip Bath
930- 10.30 am - Relax, Read, Introspect..
10.30 - 11.30 am- Lunch Time
10 - 12 pm - Doctors Visit, Library, Physiotherapy, Pain Management.
12.30 - 2 Pm- Rest
2.15 Pm - Yoga for special Medical conditions. Eye Pack.
3- 5 pm- Accupressure, Accupuncture, Neurotherapy, Medical consultations.
All hydrotherapy as indicated.
4.30 Pm - Lectures on Diet/ Pranayama/ Vipasshana.. any health topic.
5.30 pm - 6.30 Pm - Dinner Time
6.30 - 7.30 pm- Light walk.
7.30 pm - 8.15 Pm- Pranayam/ Meditation/ Relaxation...
8.15 Pm onwards- Reading, introspection.... Silence Time ( Maun)
9.30 Pm - Everybody is in Bed to sleep !!
7) The Food...
The basis of the therapy is..... Less Food, little or no spice, Little Salt, more natural food...
Very little Oil.... Lots of Salads, Fruits and Lots of Water...
" If one has to live long... then he must not eat too much" !!
First few days were a bit difficult to adjust to the "Salt-less food" but after some time we started
enjoying it....
The Diet is highly customized, but many people come for Obesity/ Diabetes...
7 am - Herbal Tea ( Pls Note Tea is a Strict NO ) + Milk + Jaggery water
9 am - Juice- Papaya, Dudhi, Aamla, Haldi...( as per instructions)
10. 30 am - Lunch ( Soup, Salad, 1 Vegetable, Bhakri,Chutney, Butter Milk) , Fruits
3 Pm - Herbal Tea/ Kadha
5.30 Pm - Dinner ( the same like lunch) , Fruits..
" The Food is costumized as per your Problems. The obesity people are kept on Soup and vegetables
or fruits... once a day.. or for a few days...
8) The Overall Atmosphere-
Everybody here has come to get their heath back.... People here talk about good health... the
general discussions here are about food and exercise... which is Good... The authorities discourage
general talks... Mobile phones... and Chit chatting !! People come here for a purpose and all are
engrossed in self... !! The Teachers and the doctors are very helpful and answer all your questions...
But its not like a school where you are under a scanner all the time.. They set you free !!
Its up to you to make the best of it.... nobody will ever check on you .... But well all of us are grown
ups... and Should we Fool ourselves ??
9) The Rooms, Rent & Other costs-
By and large its a very Clean place... The Kitchen too is very clean and so are the treatment rooms.
One cant expect a Star Hotel set up, but lot of efforts are taken to keep it clean...
The rooms start at Rs 150 Per head per day to Rs 800 per head per day, inclusive of Stay and treatment.
The massage and Food is not included. Massage is around 50 - 90 Rs for a 45 min session. Rs 50 for a
50 Kg person and 90 for a 90 Kg person. For a very heavy person is slightly more. Food and Drinks
will be around Rs 100 per day, which is very reasonable.
The higher denomination rooms are ofcourse better, with 24 hr Hot water and bigger space. But the simple rooms too are clean. and well ventilated... People with humble resources can also enjoy a good stay
food and treatment here....
There is No Discrimination....
10 ) Conclusion-
People come here for 7, 14, 21 days... even a month...
Its a very good stay... Good Facility and Great Value for money... Its non- commertial.. and you can
make it out once you come here....
We saw people from all sections/ all age groups/ different areas of India, world coming here.... and
leaving with a smile.... Leaving with Reduced weight.... and Planning a Next visit soon !!
Even I will come here... soon...
Thanks Mahatma Gandhiji ( Founder), Manibhai Desai & The entire Staff of Nisargopchar Ashram..
for showing us a New Direction !!
