Today, Venky and I visited Kanha Shantivanam, the global headquarters of Shri Ramchandra Mission, a non-profit organization that provides spiritual training known as ‘Heartfulness’.    This place was inaugurated by President, just about 2 years ago.

The 1,400-acre Kanha Shantivanam is located about 40 km from the city center. This once barren, rocky, dry, and drought-prone area is now a green oasis with half a million trees. It is a completely self-sufficient and sustainable ecosystem.  This center can host over 40,000 people with a self-sustained kitchen that can make food for 1,00,000 people a day.  

It’s definitely a must-visit place for many reasons:  Yatra Garden, Large Meditation Hall, Mini Rain Forest,  Massive Horticulture Nursery.

This is a slice of the Western Ghats, inside Kanha Shantivanam.   You can experience and witness the dense plantation and healthy growth of some endangered species, which are endemic to Kerala and Karnataka, which are seen in during the trek around condensed forests of the Western Ghats

In a span of about four to five years, the rain forest, spread over five to six acres at Kanha Shanti Vanam is now home to vulnerable and critically endangered species besides increasing the green cover in the region.

All the hard work, intuition, and commitment by Kanha Shanti Vanam volunteers have resulted in achieving the impossible task of raising rain forest in about six acres. The rain forest is not only home to some rare tree species but is turning home to several migratory birds, which take shelter in large numbers, thanks to the fruits, nuts, and seeds.

Besides producing the tissue culture of endangered species like red sanders, and Syzygium Travncocrium (Kerala Jamun), the Centre is producing teak and other species tissues.

The Yatra Garden is a place of silent contemplation and reflection, where you spend time in a series of beautiful gardens that have been designed in the form of a journey. This journey, the Yatra, represents the spiritual journey through the chakras of energy in the human system. As you walk from one habitat to the next, you will experience first-hand the various qualities of each of the chakras. In every garden, you will find benches and sitting areas so that you may contemplate, meditate, read and absorb the various conditions of each stage on the journey.

Apart from the Tree Conservation Centre, a nursery was set up back five years ago and another nursery is being set up on nine acres. In addition to these, a 100-acre mega nursery is also being developed on the premises.