Amongst wide-ranging tourism promininent in Nepal like adventure tourism, religious trourism, pleasure tourism, sports tourism etc. spiritual tourism is the one that has been camouflaged in Nepalese tourism industry. Medidation and yoga has been practiced for thousand of years, and it is as relevant today as it ever was. Not only in this part of the world these spiritual practices that has gained quite a recoznition in the western world. But this has remained only in movies, documentaries and book. We can see that our neighboring countries have moved ahead of us in spiritual tourism because of their timely promotion and we are still lagging behind since we have overlooked some of our prized tradition and culture.

The world at present is advancing very rapidly but the same time its inhabitants are going through different kind of urban ailments like agitation, frustration, was disharmony, dissatisfaction etc. decades ago, people had a simple life style with very fewer requirements. Neither they enjoyed advanced technological facilities to cure their deceases nor they were entwined in the complexities of urban change. All they knew was meditation, yoga, and other ayurvedic medications, which is still ayurvedic medications, which is still counted as the best natural medication.

Urban populace had forgotten all these medications for a while but now they have started feeling its need again. Nowadays, most of the people are into different form of meditation and yoga to get away from the worldly bedlam. It has especially in the western world.

Meditation is an ancient practice that has wonderful restorative powers and brings about inner balance and peace. Spiritualists of all countries who have had meditation experiences have given them various names as the Great Peace, the Devine Presense, Discovering the True Self, the Blooming of Soul, Second Birth, the Repose in Brahman, Entering into the one Reality, Cosmic Consciousness, Illumination, Direct Knowledge, Nirvana and so on. After meditation people felt that the inner world is more real than outer world.

Likewise, Yoga is the world’s oldest system of self-development and because it can help to improve ones physical, mental and spiritual well being, many people are finding it relevant and therapeutic today. Yoga is one of the six fundamental systems of Hindu philosophical thought and has its origin in the Vedas, and ancient collection of Sanskrit sacred hymns and poems, philosophical suppositions, ancient lore and ritualistic tradition which are believed to be over three and half a thousand years old. The ancient Yogis, the followers of Yoga were seekers of truth. They believed the physical body to be a container housing the soul. In yoga philosophy the mind is considered the driving force, and emotion and intelligence motivate the body into action.

Inspired by the landscape, elements, animals, birds, and plants, the Yogis developed movements and postures for physical health, and breathing and meditation practices to liberate the mind allowing the individual to connect with the higher self.

The setting of Nepal and its mystical beauty offers a great ambience for Meditation and Yoga and there are ample provisions for these spiritual practices in this abode of majestic Himalayas. There are various provision of these spiritual practice in Nepal and which are quite liked by the foreigners we well as the locals. To name a few, Vipassana Center, Osho Tapoban, Art of Living, Patanjali Yoga Center and many more are situated within and outside the valley.

Arogya Ashram is one of the oldest among all, which was established in Nepal in the year 1964. Founded by Yogacharya Dr. Kashi Raj Upadhyay, this institution is situated in Gaushala (near Pashupatinath Temple) and Bhatbhateni (near Bhatbhateni Department Store). This Ashram is unique institution designed to disseminate Yoga System Medicine and natural way of life and imports training theoretical practical techniques of all the eight aspects of yoga and natural health. In 2000, Dr Upadhyay and Prof. M Kawakami, Founder of Executive Director of the Essence School of Yoga, Tokyo, Japan had established the international school of yoga system of medicine and hospital with full scientific level under Arogya Ashram Administration.

One of the most popular meditation center in Nepal is Nepal Vipassana Center. Vipassana is one of the most ancient meditation techniques of the Indian sub-continent. It was rediscovered 2500 years ago by Gautam Buddha and is the essence of what he practiced and taught during his 45 years of ministry but 5 centuries after Buddha, the noble heritage of vipassana disappeared from everywhere but Myanmar, where it was preserved by a chain of devoted teachers. From generation to generation, over 2000 years, this dedicated lineage transmitted the technique in its pristine purity. Vipassana has been reinstroduced in India, Nepal along with more than 80 countries by Shri SN Goenka. In Nepal, it started in 1981 and is situated in Dharmashringa, Muhan Pokhari, Budhanilkantha at an altitude of 5200 ft.

Based on Buddhist philosophy, Vipassana is not only limited to Buddhist. Lots of locals, regional, and foreigners practice this meditation, a 10-day course that takes place twice every  month. Dharma Man Newa, Assistant Teacher of Vipassana says, “ lots of foreigner mostly travelers and sometimes expatriates too come here for meditation from different countries. We do have preaching in different language like English, Hindi, Nepali, Newari, French, German, etc. but sometime we have language problem since they don’t understand anyof the above but we try to arrange something for those kind of students.” According to the social worker at its city office, they get bookings via email from foreigners 4-5 months prior to the course and they send application form for the seat conformation.

Osho Tapoban, another popular name for the modern-day meditation is situated in the tranquil surroundings away from the chaos of the city. Situated amidst the jungle, this Tapoban was started after Osho left his body in 1990. initially, Osho’s work started in Nepal in the year 1978-1985 and now this place has become one of their preffered places to be in peace. As per Swami Krishna Mohan, “ We get lots of students who want to spend their time here as well as visitors too who want to get away from the disorder of the city. There is lots of participation from foreigner and they come repeatedly. During the normal days.” There are around 55 Osho centers in Nepal.

Evaluating the history and stand point of spiritual practice in Nepal, the promotion of spiritual tourism deems indispensable to expand the horizon of Nepalese tourism industry.

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