Visiting
How to Reach
Shankar Prasad is located in the village of Bankikodla, five kilometres from the temple beach town, Gokarna, in Karnataka.
Directions
How to get to Shankar Prasad
Shankar Prasad Foundation, near Anandashram High School, Bankikodla village, 5 km from Gokarna, Karnataka 581319. Call or WhatsApp +91 80953 29129.
From Gokarna Road rail station, Gokarna Cross or Gokarna bus stand, take an auto-rickshaw to Bankikodla and ask for Shankar Prasad Ashram, just after Anandashram High School. Say “Hari Om”; the drivers know us. Send us your flight or train details and we will have a taxi waiting.
Goa, Mumbai, Mangalore or Bengaluru
Dabolim (Goa) is the easiest: a taxi to our doorstep takes about 3 hours (around ₹4,000). Manohar (Mopa, Goa) is about 5 hours. From Mumbai, Mangalore or Bengaluru, fly to Goa or come by train or bus.
Gokarna Road, Ankola or Kumta
Any train on the Konkan line. Gokarna Road is 20 minutes away by auto. Trains that stop there: Matsyagandha Express 12619 (daily), Madgaon–Mangalore Passenger 56641 (daily), Yesvantpur–Dibrugarh 15901 (Mon–Sat). Others stop at Ankola, 20 km away.
Gokarna Cross (Madangere)
Overnight sleeper buses run often from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Gokarna Cross. From there an auto or our driver brings you to Bankikodla. From Mumbai, prefer a bus that leaves after noon so you do not arrive at night.
All are welcome to visit, stay, or come for lunch. For a meal, or to meet someone in particular, please call ahead on +91 80953 29129. To stay, book your room here, or WhatsApp the same number if you prefer. Not sure of the route? WhatsApp us your location and we will guide you; here is the pin.
From your city
Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Bengaluru
Fly to Goa, then taxi
Recommended: Mumbai to Dabolim, then taxi to the ashram (3 hours). Or a direct train to Gokarna Road (limited seats, try the tourist quota at the station with your passport on the day). Or a Canara Pinto sleeper bus to Gokarna Cross, then auto or our driver.
Taxi, train or bus
Taxi to our doorstep, 3 hours. By train: bus or taxi to Madgaon Junction, then Matsyagandha 12619 or the 56641 Passenger to Gokarna Road (about 1½ hours), then auto. By bus: airport to Madgaon, then the 2 pm direct bus to Gokarna, then auto to Bankikodla.
Overnight train
Board at Ernakulam Junction at 20:05, arrive Gokarna Road 08:40 the next morning, then auto. Or fly Cochin to Goa and take the taxi. Or bus to Karwar, then taxi to Bankikodla or bus to Gokarna and auto.
Train or sleeper bus
Yesvantpur–Dibrugarh Express 15901 (Mon–Sat) from Krishnarajapuram or Yesvantpur to Gokarna Road, then auto. Or a government or private sleeper bus to Gokarna Cross, then auto. Flying is a roundabout route.
Local pickups
Our taxi drivers
Trusted village drivers. Please book in advance and send your flight or train details.
Vinayak
+91 95903 46804 · Goa airport to the ashram, about 3 hours, around ₹4,000.
Gaju
+91 93428 62122 · pickups from Gokarna Cross, Gokarna Road station or the bus stand. Ask for drop at Bankikodla, near Anandashram High School.
Fares
Autos are common and helpful; confirm the fare before boarding. From Gokarna Road station ₹150–250. From Gokarna Cross ₹150–200. From Gokarna town or bus stand ₹80–100.
Booking tickets
Buses & tickets
- Book trains early on Cleartrip, MakeMyTrip or Travelyaari; use the tourist quota if travelling last-minute.
- SRS and VRL run the Bengaluru route (srsbooking.com); other private buses are on redbus.in.
- Pack light if taking buses or trains.
Map of the ashram, Bankikodla
The map is shown by openstreetmap.org. Nothing is loaded from them until you press the button.
Directions in Google MapsOpen on OpenStreetMapQuestions
Where is Shankar Prasad Ashram?
In the village of Bankikodla, near Anand Ashram High School, five kilometres from the temple beach town of Gokarna, in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, India.
How do I get there?
The nearest railway station is Gokarna Road. From Gokarna Road station or Gokarna bus stand, take a taxi, auto or bus to Bankikodla, near Anand Ashram High School. Full directions by train, bus, road and air are on the How to Reach page.
Can I stay at the ashram?
Yes. The ashram hosts guests, part-time volunteers and full-time volunteers, in four buildings: Manasa, Ganesh Prasad, Kutir and Green House. Rooms and who may stay in them are listed on the Accommodation and Options for Staying pages.
What does a stay cost?
Rooms run from ₹300 to ₹3,000 a night, depending on the building and whether you come as a guest or a volunteer. Manasa is the simplest and least expensive; Green House is the newest. Current rates for every room are on the Accommodation page.
What is the daily routine?
The bell rings at 5:30 am, chanting and meditation at 5:45 am, free asana class at 7:00 am (Monday to Friday) or personal sadhana, breakfast at 8:30 am, then cleaning and karma yoga from 9:00 am. Chanting before lunch at 12:50 pm, lunch and rest at 1:00 pm, classes or sadhana through the afternoon, dinner at 7:00 pm, and chanting with meditation or satsang at 8:00 pm. Silence is kept after evening chanting until after breakfast the next day. The full timetable is on the Daily Schedule page.
Is there a weekly ceremony?
Yes. Havan, a Vedic fire ceremony for purification and healing, is held on Saturday at 5:30 pm. The mantras used are published on the Havan Mantras page.
Which tradition does the ashram follow?
The Satyananda Yoga tradition of the Bihar School of Yoga. The paramguru is Swami Sivananda. The resident teacher is Swami Yogaratna Saraswati.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, write to the ashram before arriving so a bed can be kept for you. Requests go through the Booking page, and the office confirms whether a bed is held.
I am coming from outside India. What do I need?
Bring your passport and visa. Indian law requires the ashram to report every foreign guest to the authorities on Form C within 24 hours of arrival, so the office will ask for these on arrival.