India Guide
Maharashtra
Osho International Meditation Resort
Telephone: 0212/2401 9999
Website: www.osho.com
Address: 17 Koregaon Park Rd, 2km east of the railway station
Price: Rs10
Opening time: Guided tours daily 9.15am & 2pm; book the day before 9.30am–1pm & 2–4pm
Pune is the headquarters of the infamous Osho International Meditation Resort. Set amid forty acres of landscaped gardens and woodland, the ashram of the now-deceased New Age guru, Shri Bagwan Rajneesh (aka "Osho"), comprises a dreamy playground of cafés, marble walkways, swimming pools, saunas and clinics, with a shop selling the Master's enormous list of books, DVDs and CDs. Its Multiversity offers courses at in therapies and meditation techniques (1–3 days; US$80–100 per day), and 45-minute lunchtime demos.
This ecofriendly bubble follows a strict door policy: visitors who wish to spend longer than the short guided tours must produce two passport photos and an HIV-negative certificate no less than thirty days old. If you don't have one and still want to stay there, you'll have to take an on-the-spot HIV test at the ashram clinic as part of your induction – the registration, HIV test and initial day-pass package costs Rs1350 for foreigners, after which it's Rs500 per day. You'll also need two robes (maroon for daywear, white for evenings).