Thank you — we look forward
to welcoming you to Tapas at Ekam
Namaste, and congratulations on taking this sacred step. You are about to embark on one of the most profound inner journeys of your life — an advanced quest to enlightenment, guided by Enlightened Masters Sri Preethaji & Sri Krishnaji, at our Sattva Campus, Ekam.
This page is your complete preparation guide. Please read every section carefully before you travel, and return to it often. Review each section so you do not miss critical information that may slow your check-in or affect your participation in the program.
What This Page Covers
Reporting on Arrival
On arrival, please visit the registration counter at your campus to receive your dormitory or room assignment, bed number, and name tag.
Sattva Campus
Report to the Sattva Campus Office upon arrival to complete your registration and collect your room assignment and name tag.
View on Google MapsEkam — Sattva Campus
Ekam City, Vellikonda Foothills, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
The Tapas Practice
Tapas is a deep, immersive practice. These guidelines protect the sacred container of the program for you and for every fellow seeker.
Silence is mandatory throughout Tapas
Please refrain from verbal conversation, unnecessary gestures, and written communication. Mauna supports inner reflection and the deepest possible transformation.
Mobile phones are not permitted
Phones are prohibited throughout the program. One designated time per week will be allowed for any necessary phone calls.
Only essential items inside the hall
Only your name tag, a handkerchief, and your translation device are allowed inside. Water bottles, bags, phones, and other belongings must be left outside.
Carry your ID card for entry. No note-taking, recording, or photography during sessions. Please be punctual.
Full attendance in all sessions
Participation in all sessions is mandatory. Full attendance is essential to receive the complete benefit of the transformative Tapas journey, unless excused by your Dasas.
Documents to Bring
Please submit the following at the registration desk. Bring printed copies of the forms below along with your identification documents.
Check-in & Check-out
Arrive the evening before Day 1
Classes begin early on Day 1. Please plan to arrive the previous evening so you are settled in comfortably and begin the journey rested and unhurried.
Program ends 6:00 PM on the final day
The Tapas course concludes at 6:00 PM on the final day, and full participation is required until then. Accommodation check-out is available the following day, with breakfast provided the following morning.
What to Bring
Please dress modestly and comfortably throughout the program. Avoid tight-fitting or revealing clothing.
White or off-white, loose cotton clothing — tops with sleeves and bottoms covering the knees. You may need warm clothes, as the meditation halls, Ekam, and the Meditation Nights can be cool.
Comfortable yoga attire for morning sessions. A shawl and trek shoes for the campus and forest trails.
Moisturiser, lip balm, sunscreen, and personal toiletries. Please note that makeup is not allowed.
Flashlight, umbrella, alarm clock, organic mosquito repellent, and any personal medications.
A reusable water bottle, notebook, and pen.
A Rudraksha Mala (108 beads) for chanting. Earphones with a round pin and 3.5 mm stereo jack if you are using translation services (see below).
Please avoid perfumes, colognes, or heavily scented products throughout the program, out of respect for fellow seekers and to accommodate sensitivities.
Most of these items are also available for purchase at the Yogi Boutique on campus — appropriate cotton clothing, yoga mats and cork bricks, notebooks and pens, organic mosquito repellent, organic shawls, eye masks, umbrellas, bamboo water bottles, Ekam organic bags, natural toiletries, and Srimurthis. Payments at Yogi Boutique & Cafe Yogi can be made by credit/debit card, QR code, or cash (INR only).
Translation Services & Lockers
Translation is available in Russian (additional cost applies).
If you are taking translation services, you must bring earphones with a round pin and a 3.5 mm stereo jack.
Locker keys for the lockers at Ekam will be provided during registration. Lockers are available at the Sattva Campus. Please bring your own lock or purchase one on campus.
Please keep translation sets and locker keys secure — fines apply for loss or damage.
Dining at Ekam
Three sattvic meals each day, designed to support and enhance your Tapas journey.
Yogi Dining
Three sattvic meals daily — buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner — prepared for your Tapas journey. Lunch is eaten in silence as part of the practice.
Cafe Yogi
Coffees, teas, local beverages, and a juice bar with creative smoothies, alongside healthy snacks aligned with your spiritual journey.
Campus Facilities & Services
First-aid clinics are available at the Ekam and Sattva campuses.
Laundry services are available at Sattva. Place your laundry in the designated bag at the specified location every two days.
Available at the Sattva Campus. Bring your own lock or purchase one on campus.
Yogi Boutique gift shop, Cafe Yogi, concierge desk, and English-speaking staff across all campuses.
Special Ceremonies & Sessions
Transformative experiences available with additional registration.
Ekam Namakaranam
A sacred name-giving ceremony.
Ekam Homa
A fire ritual for cleansing and connection, conducted during Tapas.
Travel to Ekam
Ekam is served by two airports. Chennai International Airport is larger and offers the widest international connections. Tirupati Airport is closer to Ekam but operates domestic flights only.
Chennai International Airport (MAA)
Chennai is South India's busiest international gateway, with direct flights from over 60 destinations across 19 countries.
Distance by Road to Sattva Campus
Approximately 82 km, about 3 hours.
Tirupati Airport (TIR)
The closer airport — well suited for travellers connecting from within India, since Tirupati operates domestic flights only (Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, New Delhi, and more).
Distance by Road to Sattva Campus
Approximately 50 km, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
From Either Airport to Ekam
Pre-paid Ekam shuttles operate between both airports and the campuses. To organise your transport from the airport or your hotel, please write to [email protected] at least 72 hours in advance.
India e-Tourist Visa
Eligible foreigners from over 160 countries can obtain an Indian e-Tourist Visa through the official portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in. This visa category expressly permits attendance at short cultural or yoga-style courses such as Ekam programmes.
Apply at least four days before departure: upload a passport photo and data page, pay the fee online, and the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is typically emailed within 72 hours. Present the printed ETA with the same passport at immigration — valid for at least six months with two blank pages.
India e-Arrival Card
Complete India's e-Arrival Card (digital disembarkation card) online up to 72 hours before your flight at boi.gov.in or via the Su-Swagatam mobile app. Submit and save the QR-coded confirmation. Failure to present a filed e-Arrival Card can delay clearance.
Weather for Your Tapas Days
Forecast for your retreat dates at Ekam, Vellikonda Foothills.
Loading weather data…
The Land — Sattva
Sattva Campus sits in the Vellikonda foothills — the sacred ground on which your Tapas unfolds.
Sattva Campus — Ekam City
Sattva Campus is 82 km from Chennai International Airport, nestled at the foothills of the ancient Vellikonda Range — a stretch of mountains forming the eastern flank of the Eastern Ghats in southeastern Andhra Pradesh. Majestic hills rise out of expansive open plains in a harmonious blend of rugged terrain and tranquil beauty.
With these mountains estimated to be over 500 million years old, the area carries a profound sense of timelessness. Misty mornings reveal layers of hills bathed in golden light; evenings turn the sky crimson behind the ancient peaks.
A walk through Sattva Campus
Beyond Tapas
Places worth visiting if you extend your stay.
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
Perched atop the seven Seshachalam hills at 853 metres — one of Hinduism's most visited pilgrimage sites, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (Balaji), with soaring gopurams and the legendary laddu prasadam.
Ubbalamadugu (Tada) Falls
Approximately 40 minutes by road from Sattva Campus. A forest trek leads up to the source, ending at a natural swimming pool fed by the falls.
Lokaa Foundation's World Village Tour
A half-day immersion into Krishnapuram, India's first sustainable model village in the Eastern Ghats — eco-friendly homes, organic farming, and zero-waste systems.
Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary
Winter flamingo sightings, with the best viewing season between January and February.
Oneness Ayurveda
Extend your healing journey with a deeply restorative purification process designed to cleanse, harmonise, and rejuvenate.
Panchakarma Detox Retreat
8-day or 16-day deep detoxification programmes for international and Indian seekers.
Daily Rituals
Abhyanga, Shirodhara, and the Face Ritual — available as standalone treatments.
For more information, visit onenessayurveda.org
Sustainability & Alli Clothing
Eco-friendly practices
Bring reusable water bottles and avoid single-use plastics or disposable items. Refilling stations are available across the campuses.
A fragrance-free environment
Please avoid perfumes, colognes, or heavily scented products to accommodate sensitivities.
Lokaa Foundation's Alli Clothing initiative
This sustainable project upcycles clothing with embroidery by local people employed here in India. We invite you to contribute any extra article of clothing you won't be wearing in the foreseeable future — Lokaa volunteers will collect donations at our designated counter on campus during Tapas.
Our Shared Commitment
Stay on campus throughout Tapas to fully immerse in its energy.
Smoking, alcohol, and narcotics are strictly prohibited to maintain harmony.
Foster kindness, respect, and understanding as we share this sacred journey.
Quick Reference
Indian Rupee (INR). Card, QR, and cash (INR only) accepted at Yogi Boutique & Cafe Yogi.
May this Tapas bring profound transformation, joy, and deep connection to your life.
For travel and transport arrangements, write to [email protected].
For all other inquiries, please write to [email protected].