Vishwa Shanti Ashram, Bangalore

Location: Located in Arasinakunte village on Bangalore – Tumkur highway near Nelamangala town.

Address: Vishwa Shanthi Ashram, Arasinakunte, Nelamangala Taluk, Bangalore- 562123

Distance: 25 km

Journey time: 1 hr or little more depending on traffic

How to reach there: Bus BMTC bus from Majestic or private vehicle.

Route: Bangalore – Rajkumar road – Rajajinagar – Yeshwantpur – Tumkur road – Arshinakunte

Where to stay: No facility

Where to eat: You can try roadside dhabas.

Language spoken: Kannada. Hindi or English is understood.

Vishwa Shanti Ashram is a intentionally kept secret on the Bangalore tourism circuit. Spread over 15 acres of land, Vishwa Shanti Ashram was established by Sant Keshavadas in 1982.

Sant Keshavadas was born on 22/07/1934 in the small village of Bhadragiri, Karnataka, India to a Hindu Vaishnava family. He was educated with a BA degree from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College in 1956 and a Law degree from Udupi Law College in 1958. He has many disciples in the US, Trinidad, Nepal and South India.

Once you enter the premises, you will be able to see the tall (36 ft) statue of Vijaya Vittala, another form of Lord Vishnu. On the right hand side you will require to open your shoes (Rs 2 per pair of shoes). Side by is Gayatri devi and temples navagraha. On the right hand side is the temple of Santoshi mata. You can see a nicely designed Tusli plant pot there. To go inside further, you will need to pay an entrance fee of Rs 10 per head. Camera charge Rs 20.

Here, on the right hand side you can see 7 women depicting 7 rivers flowing from the mountain. On the left hand is the Bhagavad Gita Mandir. The architecture of the temple is Lord Krishna advising Arjuna on a chariot during the battle of Kurukshetra. Inside the temple is the Vishwaroopa idol, a form of Lord Vishnu. Inside the temple all verses of Bhagavad Gita is written on black granite plate in Hindi, English and kannada. Below is a devi temple. One can offer archana or puja here. This temple was inagurated in 1990.

To view more pictures, visit Travelingbeats Photo Gallery.

Official website: http://www.vishwashantiashram.org/