The Campus
Painting our main hall with geru, a natural colour.
The main office and physical campus are in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. The campus is based in Tapovan Ashram, a holistic, organic centre located in a beautiful and isolated valley 30 kilometres away from the city of Udaipur.
The Ashram has an organic farm, herb gardens and an ayurvedic healing centre. Away from the noise and pollution of city life, it offers a serene and beautiful environment for reflection, self-exploration and healing. For wildlife lovers, there are exciting opportunities for bird-watching, nature treks and trails, swimming in the ponds nearby, and even be lucky enough to sight a snake (or two)! One gets to witness a variety of flora and fauna thriving in the hills surrounding the Ashram, including foxes, hyenas, and leopards.
We have developed a small library, a multimedia lab, residential facilities and a community kitchen there. Accommodation is basic but clean, and khojis are encouraged to be as eco-friendly as possible while in the campus. There are no hi-tech electronic devices like TV, broadband internet, AC etc. The rooms have simple beds, light and fan, some storage space and a toilet.
The mainstream education system is designed in such a way that the learners’ relationship with their environment is usually excluded – that they do not have any responsibility and relationship with the food they eat, the energy they consume or the waste they generate. Reclaiming our physical spaces and taking responsibility for their maintenance and growth is an essential part of our program. There are no servants or peons at Swaraj University.
Hence, all the khojis and faculty on campus take part in the designing and developing of community spaces like the kitchen, library, dorms, outdoor classrooms, organic farm and shouldering community responsibilities like cooking, cleaning and thinking of what we purchase/consume and how it impacts our environment.
The Ashram has an organic farm, herb gardens and an ayurvedic healing centre. Away from the noise and pollution of city life, it offers a serene and beautiful environment for reflection, self-exploration and healing. For wildlife lovers, there are exciting opportunities for bird-watching, nature treks and trails, swimming in the ponds nearby, and even be lucky enough to sight a snake (or two)! One gets to witness a variety of flora and fauna thriving in the hills surrounding the Ashram, including foxes, hyenas, and leopards.
We have developed a small library, a multimedia lab, residential facilities and a community kitchen there. Accommodation is basic but clean, and khojis are encouraged to be as eco-friendly as possible while in the campus. There are no hi-tech electronic devices like TV, broadband internet, AC etc. The rooms have simple beds, light and fan, some storage space and a toilet.
The mainstream education system is designed in such a way that the learners’ relationship with their environment is usually excluded – that they do not have any responsibility and relationship with the food they eat, the energy they consume or the waste they generate. Reclaiming our physical spaces and taking responsibility for their maintenance and growth is an essential part of our program. There are no servants or peons at Swaraj University.
Hence, all the khojis and faculty on campus take part in the designing and developing of community spaces like the kitchen, library, dorms, outdoor classrooms, organic farm and shouldering community responsibilities like cooking, cleaning and thinking of what we purchase/consume and how it impacts our environment.
Directions to Tapovan Ashram
Tapovan Ashram is located to the south of Udaipur city. It is about 12 km from the railway station / bus stand and about 35 km from the airport. The general directions for a taxi / auto driver would be Tapovan Ashram, Naya Kheda, about 2 kms in from Balicha on the Ahmedabad highway.
From Udaipur railway station or bus stand
As of May 2012, a small auto-rickshaw should charge around INR 170 from the station / bus stand to the ashram during daylight hours.
When coming by road from Ahmedabad
From Udaipur airport
Taxis should be available and should charge around INR 700 as of May 2012
From Udaipur railway station or bus stand
As of May 2012, a small auto-rickshaw should charge around INR 170 from the station / bus stand to the ashram during daylight hours.
- Turn left (south) on the road out of the station.
- Keep going along that road (about 7 km) past Govardhan Vilas up to the Ahmedabad highway
- Turn right towards Ahmedabad on the highway and go southward for about 3 km passing Balicha on the way.
- To your left you will see the cream coloured board of Paras Hill Resort hotel.
- Bang opposite a broad turn right through the gap in the divider on the highway onto a small country road that leads in.
- Tapovan is 2 km in on the left side along this winding road. Ask local people for directions in case of doubt.
When coming by road from Ahmedabad
- Keep alert when you pass the Welcome to Udaipur gate along the highway.
- About 2 to 3 km later you will see a cream coloured hotel with minarets to your right a little up the hillside.
- Keep looking out to the right side of the road for the signboard of the hotel Paras Hill Resort.
- Right where you see it turn left off the highway onto a small country road that leads in.
- Tapovan is 2 km in on the left side along this winding road. Ask local people for directions in case of doubt.
From Udaipur airport
Taxis should be available and should charge around INR 700 as of May 2012
- Take the bypass towards Ahmedabad.
- Keep looking for the road coming from Govardhan Vilas to the right on the highway and continue southward on the highway for about 3 km passing Balicha on the way.
- To your left you will see the cream coloured board of Paras Hill Resort hotel.
- Bang opposite this board turn right through the gap in the divider on the highway onto a small country road that leads in.
- Tapovan is 2 km in on the left side along this winding road. Ask local people for directions in case of doubt.
