Not just Kainchi Dham: 3 other places with ashrams associated Neem Karoli Baba |
Neem Karoli Baba, fondly known as Maharajji, is associated most famously with Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand—a pilgrimage site that attracts thousands each year. But did you know that beyond the now-iconic ashram lies a quieter spiritual trail: a set of lesser-known places where Maharajji either built ashrams, meditated for long periods, or established temples that continue to draw devotees seeking peace and inner clarity? So, here we bring to you three other places that are associated with ashrams or temples established by Neem Karoli Baba that remain significant for seekers.
Vrindavan Ashram
Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji) left his body at Vrindaban in 1973, at what is now the Neeb Karori Baba Vrindavan Ashram, established in 1967 on Parikrama Marg near Mathura Road. The ashram is home to a number of temples, including those honouring Hanuman, Durga, Sita-Ram, Shivaji, and Maharajji’s Mahasamadhi Mandir, which hosts the Mahasamadhi Bhandara every September.
Maharajji had a nine-day yajna conducted here during Chaitra Navratra (1973) prior to his death, and he determined the sacred location for his cremation and memorial. He died at the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital on September 10, 1973. Following Pagal Baba’s instructions, devotees burnt his remains inside the ashram on a sandalwood platform on Ananta Chaturdashi (11 September).A unique commemorative temple was later built on that exact site, blending architectural elements of a temple, mosque, church, gurdwara, and pagoda, reflecting the belief that Maharajji belonged to all.Read more: From Assam to Kerala: How Indian states got their names
Baba Neem Karoli Ashram , Delhi
Maharajji inaugurated the Delhi Ashram in the summer of 1973, shortly before his mahasamadhi. Many well-known photos and books about him originate here. The ashram is located near Mehrauli, about a 30-minute drive from New Delhi, on Mandi Road toward Jonapur. Morning and evening arati are performed daily, and the grounds include beautiful gardens. Devotees may stay at the ashram, but advance permission and a letter of introduction are required.
Neem Karoli Ashram, Kakrighat, Almora
It’s situated on the banks of the River Kosi, between Almora and Ranikhet. It’s a site visited and meditated upon by saints like Neem Karoli Baba, Sombari Baba, Panjabi Baba, and even Swami Vivekananda, who meditated here in 1890 under a Pipal tree.Read more: 5 places in India that look completely different at 6 AM and 6 PMKakrighat has multiple spiritual meanings. For Neem Karoli Baba, this riverbank site was a haven for long periods of meditation and serious spiritual practice. Many devotees believe he experienced greater degrees of realisation here. Kakrighat’s link to several saints and its natural location give it a particular spiritual dimension.These lesser-known locations offer you other options to explore the more subdued, contemplative aspect of Neem Karoli Baba’s legacy, locations where seekers can feel a connection free from the influence of crowds, surrounded by the tranquil settings that influenced his spiritual practice.
