Tranquililty at the Isha Centre in Coimbatore, India

The Adi Yogi Shiva bust is a popular attraction at Isha Centre, Coimbatore. Reels, videos, and photos of the Adi Yogi Shiva bust captivate anyone who sees it. Haven’t you seen it? Visitors flocking to the area to take a selfie at the Isha Centre is a normal sight. What many do not see is the purpose, programs, and activities at the Isha Centre, Coimbatore. Beyond the captivating Adi Yogi Shiva bust, Isha Centre is a tranquil space for meditation, yoga, and other wellbeing practices.

About the Founder of Isha Centre

The Isha Centre is founded and owned by the Isha Foundation, which was established by Jaggi Vasudev, also known as Sadhguru. He is an Indian yoga trainer, spiritual Guru, speaker, author, and environmentalist. His early years of life were like those of a simple layman. After his graduation, he started a poultry farm, and later entered into construction business. He used to be a frequent traveller. At the age of 25, he began to experience spiritual interventions. After a series of such experiences, he decided to switch his lifestyle towards practising and teaching Yoga. Thus, in 1983, he began practising and teaching his style of Yoga sessions to the public. Gradually, his activities grew and spread to different realms like spirituality, environment, and human wellbeing.

About the Isha Centre in Coimbatore

Isha Centre in Coimbatore was established in 1992 to advocate its spiritual, educational, and environmental activities. Imparting well-being to the inmates through various yoga and rejuvenation programs remains the central point of focus.

My friend @sudheesh_kochathi, who visited the centre recently, expressed his gratification and delight at having stayed there. According to him, if you are looking for a phase in your life that requires a complete respite from the hectic routine, Isha Centre is the place. When you check into the facility, you are required to submit your mobile phones. The length of your stay coincides with your detachment from all electronic gadgets and the virtual world. As long as you are at the Isha centre, all the tension and problems associated with your daily life are cut off from your life.

That being said, don’t assume booking an accommodation within the facility is a cakewalk. Most of the time, you are required to book your accommodation in advance. Unless you are an inmate staying within the facility, you have no access to the classes offered.

Food and Accommodation

Even if you have no plan to participate in any programs offered by the centre, you can still avail yourself of the accommodation. Under different headings, there are different types of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned rooms available. Decent, attached rooms are available at an affordable tariff. Booking the accommodation is a simple procedure if rooms are available. There upon your stay will be memorable too, as long as you abide by the rules. Depending on the accommodation you have booked, you will need to use battery-operated vehicles or buses to commute to the Ashram.

Healthy vegetarian food from our organic farms or sourced locally fills the menu. The South Indian cuisine consists of rice, millets, vegetables, and fruits. Food is served two times daily.

Programs and Classes

Yoga classes, meditation sessions, health programs, Kalarippayattu, and many other short and long courses are offered at Isha Centre. There is a rejuvenation centre where ayurvedic treatments are offered. What is important is that if you plan to attend any of these, you have to book your accommodation within the facility.

The centre also fosters community support and extends its support to local farmers and villages. Apart from classes and programs, you have the opportunity to visit the farm, kitchen facility, local market, vegetable garden, and the delightful environment.

Other Facilities

You can visit the canteen and the cafeteria, where you can buy vegetarian food and beverages. Two stores to buy unique jewellery, statues, herbal and natural products. Gift items, clothes, and medicines are also available. There is an Isha library as well.

A small temple, Chandrakund, Suryakund, Unique statues of Linga, Trimurti, Nandi, Yogeshwar linga are must-visit spots. You can take a holy dip in the Chandrakund or Suryakund.

Adi Yogi Bust

Symbolizing Lord Shiva “Adi Yogi,” is a 112 feet tall structure constructed from 20,000 iron plates weighing over 500 tons in total. It is designed by Sadhguru himself. During the day, you have the opportunity to walk around near the bust and explore it. As you near the structure, you are required to remove your footwear from a distinct area. There is a light show held at the spot every night that is watched by hundreds of people.

By 7.30, the laser show commences. And it lasts for around 20 minutes. Because of that, there will be a huge crowd already seated in the open space. Hence, it will not be possible to go near the structure in the evenings. The Maha Shivaratri celebration at the spot is famous. The ambiance is filled with night-long mantra chanting, rituals, and light shows.

Fee: If you are planning to enter the campus just to see around a bit and take photos in front of the Adi Yogi Bust, you only have to pay for the vehicle parking charge. Else entrance is all free. From the parking area, the statue is situated almost two kilometres away. Either you have to walk the stretch or take a ride on the oxcart.

Photography: Permitted at the Adi Yogi statue area; however, restrictions apply within other parts of the yoga centre.

How to Get There?

The nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport, located approximately 45km away from the centre. Nearly 30 kilometres away is Coimbatore Railway Station. And the centre is well connected by roads linking to all the nearby cities and towns.

Well, when you think of top tourist destinations in the South Indian states, you can certainly think of adding Isha Centre as one of the options. Beyond the recreational values, a short stay at the centre can do wonders for your well-being as a person.