Neem Karoli Baba Ashrams & Sacred Places in India
A guide to the important ashrams, temples and places associated with Maharaj Ji.
Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj Ji)
Neem Karoli Baba is remembered by devotees for a simple spiritual message centred on devotion, compassion, service and remembrance of God.
Neem Karoli Baba, lovingly called Maharaj Ji by his devotees, remains one of the most widely remembered Indian saints of the modern era. His teachings emphasised love, selfless service, feeding others and remembrance of God. Several ashrams, temples and sacred places across India are closely associated with his life and spiritual work.
1. Kainchi Dham, Uttarakhand
The most famous Neem Karoli Baba ashram
Kainchi Dham is the best-known center associated with Neem Karoli Baba. Wikimedia Commons identifies it as an ashram, temple and pilgrimage site founded by Baba, with an inception date of 15 June 1964.
- Location: Kainchi, Nainital district, Uttarakhand
- Associated deity: Lord Hanuman
- Established: 1964
- Setting: Kumaon Himalayan foothills
Kainchi Dham is particularly busy around its annual June 15 celebration. For visitors, it is both a pilgrimage destination and a place to experience the Himalayan environment associated with Maharaj Ji.
2. Vrindavan Ashram, Uttar Pradesh
Neem Karoli Baba’s Mahasamadhi shrine
The Vrindavan Ashram is one of the most important places in the Neem Karoli Baba tradition because it contains his Mahasamadhi shrine. Current pilgrimage sources place the ashram on the Vrindavan Parikrama route and associate the first temple there with 1967.
- Location: Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh
- Importance: Mahasamadhi shrine
- Tradition: Hanuman and Ram bhakti
3. Bhumiyadhar Ashram, Uttarakhand
A quieter Himalayan spiritual centre
Bhumiyadhar is described by Neem Karoli Baba pilgrimage sources as one of the earlier Himalayan places associated with Maharaj Ji, before the establishment of Kainchi Dham. It is known for its quieter atmosphere and Hanuman temple.
For visitors
Bhumiyadhar can be considered by travellers who want to explore places connected with Baba beyond the much busier Kainchi Dham.
4. Kakrighat, Uttarakhand
Kakrighat lies beside the Kosi River and has a much older spiritual history. It is also associated with Swami Vivekananda, who is traditionally remembered as having had a profound spiritual experience here. Neem Karoli Baba is associated with the later establishment of Hanuman and Shiva worship at the site.
Associated with: Neem Karoli Baba, Hanuman and Shiva worship, and the Vivekananda meditation tradition
5. Hanuman Garhi, Nainital
Hanuman Garhi is one of Nainital’s best-known Hanuman temples and is strongly associated with Neem Karoli Baba in pilgrimage traditions. It is located on the Haldwani–Nainital road and is known for its prominent Hanuman shrine and Himalayan views.
6. Hanuman Setu, Lucknow
Hanuman Setu is an important Hanuman temple in Lucknow associated with Maharaj Ji. BNK Mission records that Baba established a small ashram and Hanuman idol at the site, with the larger temple later inaugurated in 1967.
7. Panki, Kanpur
The Panki Hanuman Temple in Kanpur is another location associated with Neem Karoli Baba. It is frequently included in pilgrimage guides to places connected with Maharaj Ji. For a careful IndiaKaGuide article, it is better to describe Panki as a place associated with Baba unless a stronger institutional source establishes a specific founding claim.
8. Akbarpur and Neeb Karori Village
Akbarpur — birthplace
Akbarpur in the Firozabad region is described by current Neem Karoli Baba pilgrimage sources as Maharaj Ji’s birthplace. It should be presented as a sacred biographical place, rather than automatically calling it an ashram.
Neeb Karori Village
The village of Neeb Karori in Farrukhabad district is closely connected with the name by which Maharaj Ji became known. Sources associated with the tradition describe a cave and temple site connected with his early spiritual life.
Neem Karoli Baba’s teachings
These four short principles are widely associated with the Neem Karoli Baba tradition and provide a simple way to understand why devotees continue to visit his ashrams and temples.
Are there really 108 Neem Karoli Baba ashrams?
You may find websites claiming that Neem Karoli Baba established 108 ashrams. We would not recommend presenting that number as a definitive historical fact. Different directories count different categories of places, and the stronger sources do not provide one universally accepted total.
A more accurate statement is that numerous ashrams, temples and sacred places in India and abroad are associated with Neem Karoli Baba and his devotees.
Planning a Neem Karoli Baba pilgrimage
- Check current darshan and temple timings before travelling.
- Respect local ashram rules, dress expectations and photography restrictions.
- Expect heavy crowds at Kainchi Dham around major festivals and June 15.
- Keep travel plans flexible in Himalayan areas because weather and road conditions can change.
- For lesser-known places, verify the location locally before starting the journey.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most famous Neem Karoli Baba ashram?
Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand is the most famous and internationally recognised ashram associated with Neem Karoli Baba.
Where is Neem Karoli Baba’s samadhi?
His Mahasamadhi shrine is at the Vrindavan Ashram in Uttar Pradesh.
Is Kainchi Dham the birthplace of Neem Karoli Baba?
No. Kainchi Dham is an important ashram associated with him. His birthplace is traditionally identified as Akbarpur in the Firozabad region of Uttar Pradesh.
How many Neem Karoli Baba ashrams are there?
There is no universally accepted historical count. Different sources use different definitions and include temples, ashrams, samadhi shrines and associated places.
Sources & image credits
Factual reference: BNK Mission and current Neem Karoli Baba pilgrimage directories. citeturn0search1turn0search4turn0search7
Kainchi Dham image: “Kaichi dham.jpg” by Wikimedia Commons contributor; CC BY-SA 4.0. citeturn1search9
Vrindavan image: “Neem Karoli Baba, samadhi mandir, Vrindavan ashram..jpg” by Hphome2014; CC BY-SA 4.0. citeturn1search0
Additional public-domain Neem Karoli Baba image: “Neemkaroli 14.jpg” by Prabhard. citeturn1search6