In June 2018, on the occasion of International Day of Yoga, Indian Tourism and Ministry of Ayush invited delegates from across the globe to experience and explore India – participate in the IDY held in New Delhi and explore selected parts of the country that promotes yoga – the ancient form of mental, physical and spiritual exercise for wellbeing.
A troupe of 32 delegates from 12 different countries that included trained yoga instructors (yogi), journalists, media and travel promoters explored three different and special institutions that practiced and promoted yoga not just as a drill but as a way of life, and teaching and using yoga and yogi practices as a treatment to many patients.
The first leg of the tour after IDY New Delhi was Nisargopachar Ashram, located at Urli Kanchan near Pune, Maharashtra.
This institute is one of its kind learning and practising Naturopathy, or Cure by Nature. The institute takes a holistic approach towards curing certain chronic functional diseases- that is using the power of nature to cure a patient instead of using drugs.
The institute has a rich history of its providing benefits of Naturopathy to patients suffering from diseases such as Arthritis, Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, bronchitis, skin diseases, Asthma. Digestive and Gynaecological problems, neuromuscular disorders, obesity etc.
The institute was formed by Mahatma Gandhi in 1946 when he found about Nature Cure Centre near Pune and decided to establish an institution that will develop the rural area and also provide health benefits to generations to come. The institution was later managed and expanded by Dr Manibhai Desai, and the institution has grown exponentially over the last seven decades.
The 30-acre property has houses built for the patients to stay during their treatment, a small school, yoga centre, gardens growing organic fruits and vegetables to be used, medicinal plants, kitchens, guest houses etc.
The idea behind establishing this institution was to promote naturopathy and cure diseases that are chronic and to avoid the use of chemical-infused drugs and replace it using the power of nature, and yoga.
Naturopathy treatment includes colon irrigation, mud therapy, hydrotherapy, manipulative and massage therapy, neuro therapy, acupuncture, meditation etc.
The institution has guest houses for patients come to stay for their treatment for at least seven days and to a maximum of 60 days. Special routines are set for every patient depending on their case, treatment given through medicinal plants, exercises, yoga sessions, and special diets.
The food served to each patient is strictly vegetarian with organic vegetables grown in-house. The ashram has an indoor capacity of handling 200 patients a day.
“By following the laws of nature, one feels relaxed, rejuvenated and revitalised as a result of rest to various systems of body and detoxification. In naturopathy, we emphasise on the right way of living and management of health problems through simple lifestyle and natural therapies,” says Dr Abhishek Divekar, Director of Nisargopachar Ashram.
The institution treats at least 10,000 patients every year with inbound and outbound patients.
In the last eight years, the institution has trained over 2000 traditional health practitioners. These doctors go around to rural villages in different parts of the country and provide the knowledge, treatment and benefit of naturopathy and yoga.
With its work in Naturopathy, the institution has received international recognition and patients from all over the world, especially Japan, Italy, Brazil and France, Israel and Middle East countries.
Contact Nisargopachar Ashram:
Nisargopachar Gramsudhar Trust
Urulikanchan, Pune 412 202, Maharashtra, India
Phone : +91 20 2692 6298 | +91 20 2692 6230 | +91 20 2692 6250
Fax : +91 20 2692 6225
E-Mail : enquiry@nisargopcharashram.org
Website: www.nisargopcharashram.org
Reaching Nisargopachar Ashram:
Uruli Kanchan is a town situated on 25 acres of land with picturesque surrounding on Pune Solapur highway No. 9 and is 30 km east to the Pune city. From Pune and other big cities, train services stop at Urli Kanchan; there road access with cars, buses and rickshaws to the ashram.
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