If the picture has drawn you to read this, it is a picture from Dhyanalinga, a yogic temple near Coimbatore. This is the statue of Adiyogi which is 112.4 ft tall. It has been recognized as the Largest Best Sculpture by the Guinness World Records. The founder of Isha Foundation, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev designed the statue and was inaugurated by Narendra Modi in 2017. This statue is magnanimous and it is worth it! When you walk inside the premises of Isha Foundation, the first thing you notice is the huge statue overlooking the entire property. Surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, this statue is a sight to behold!
How to reach: You can reach Dhyanalinga from Coimbatore. Coimbatore is connected to various cities through air, rail and road. It takes about 40 minutes to reach Dhyanalinga from Coimbatore. You either need to book a cab from the hotel you are staying in, take public transport buses or book a local cab. Ola and Uber are available in Coimbatore but they will not ride you to Dhyanalinga. Hence, ask the hotel for the local cab service and they will drop you to the center for INR 900. Do not ask the cab and the driver to wait for you since they charge INR 1 per minute as a waiting fee. You will find ample of taxis from there to drop you back to the hotel for INR 900.
From the Adiyogi statue, you need to use the traditional bullock cart to reach the Dhyanalinga. The ticket for the same will be available right near the Adiyogi. Dhyanalinga is a temple inside the premises which has a huge dome and a lingam which is 13 mt in height. It is made of black granite stone and complete silence is maintained inside the temple. When you enter the temple, you are requested to sit and meditate for atleast 15 minutes and you can exit the temple only when the bell rings at the end of the 15 minutes. You may choose to sit longer. The temple welcomes all religions.
Apart from the Dhyanalinga, there is a Nandi outside the temple, a surya kund and chandra kund where three mercury lingams are immersed in water. People can take a dip before they go to the temple. There are changing rooms where you can change before and after the dip.
There is a Linga Bhairavi temple adjacent to the Dhyanalinga. Isha Foundation also has a canteen where basic food and tea, coffee can be found. There are cottages for those who would like to stay in the premises. They have meditation halls and an Isha shoppe. Do not expect a lot from the food, it is very basic. Also, keep in mind that there is a lot of walking to do. If you go in the hot months of Summer, you will find it very difficult to walk bare feet. Mobiles and cameras are not allowed and there are water facilities at regular distance.
Main Attractions:
1. Adiyogi statue
2. Suryakund and Chandrakund if you wish to take a dip.
3. Nandi
4. Linga Bhairavi Temple
5. Dhyanalinga
The entire tour can take about 1.5 hours unless you wish to stay longer and meditate. Even if you visit every location and take your own sweet time, it will take a maximum of 1.5 hours. If you are in Coimbatore for a single day, you can easily include the Isha Foundation in your itinerary.
Do not miss:
The Nada Aradhana
This is an offering of sound to the Dhyanalinga through drums, vocals and other musical instruments. There is utter silence in Dhyanalinga and the Nada Aradhana energizes the devotees with the sound of music. It is a 20 minute music offering usually starting at 11.45 AM to 12.10 PM and 5.45 PM to 6.10 PM. It is offered everyday and transforms the place from absolute silence to receptive to energy. Plan your visit to include the Nada Aradhana, it is a unique experience in itself.
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