Situated in one of the most picturesque spots of the Himalayas at a height of about 7000 ft., Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, was started by Swami Vivekananda in 1899. It is a branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur. The special object of the Ashrama, as its name implies, is to study, practise, and preach Advaita or the eternal truth of the Oneness of all existence. This centre has been entrusted with the publication and propagation of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda and Vedanta literature. It is also publishing Prabuddha Bharata, the oldest English monthly magazine in India, since the last 115 years.

Apart from being a monastery, this Ashrama runs a hospital called the Mayavati Charitable Hospital. It came into being in response to the pressing needs of the neighbouring villages, where live some of the poorest people of the country. Patients come here from distant places across hills and dales, sometimes trudging a distance of nearly 50 km. Their helplessness in sickness would touch any heart if only it were known. We run a 25 bed indoor hospital and an outdoor patients department in this out-of-the way place since 1903. All treatment is done free of charges. Moreover, Surgical Camps, Dental Camps, Urological Camps, Eye Camps etc. are held throughout the year to provide special care to the poor villagers of Kumaon region. We bring qualified doctors from different cities to conduct such medical camps.

In order to accommodate these doctors we are going to build two storeys over our existing single storied guest house. The new doctors’ quarters will have 8 rooms with attached baths and also a big hall above the rooms.

The expected cost of construction, as submitted by the architects, comes to Rs. 60 lakhs. Transportation cost is very high here because the materials have to be procured from 150 to 450 km away. The uplift of the backward and downtrodden has always been one of the key objectives of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, of which this Ashrama is a branch. It is needless to mention here that if this institution has attained to its present stature, it is because of love, sympathy, and benevolence of charitably inclined people like you. The donation has to be made in favour of ‘Advaita Ashrama’.
        
May the Lord help us work in a true spirit of worship.