Dhamma Arunachala

Dhamma Arunachala, meaning 'the unshakable, powerful radiance of Dhamma', is at Perumbakkam village in Chengam taluk, Tiruvannamalai district. The centre's site places it in a quiet rural village 3 to 4 km from Arunachala hill and 10 km by road from Tiruvannamalai town, about four hours (close to 200 km) from both Chennai and Bangalore. Buses run to Tiruvannamalai from Chennai's Koyambedu terminus, from Bangalore and from Madurai, Salem, Erode and Coimbatore; from the bus stand, students take an auto-rickshaw. Founded in 2014 on 12 acres, it is described on its own site as now fully developed, though dhamma.org still calls it a centre being established. It houses 70 students (40 men and 30 women) in private rooms with bathrooms, and has two soundproof meditation halls and a three-storey building of 80 meditation cells. Buildings use earth from the land (rammed earth, earthen blocks, domes and vaults), and the centre uses solar power and biogas, reuses treated wastewater and grows food in a kitchen garden; about 6,000 trees have been planted. Courses are taught in English and Tamil. The site says about twenty 10-day courses are held a year, with Satipatthana Sutta and 3-day courses for old students; as of 2026 the schedule also lists Special 10-day, 20-day, 30-day and 45-day courses.

How to apply

Apply online through the centre's page on dhamma.org (in Nepal, start from np.dhamma.org). New students must first complete a 10-day course, and there is no charge.

What is taught here

Donation-funded 10-day courses taught with S. N. Goenka's recorded instructions, in the line of Sayagyi U Ba Khin, at centres in Nepal and worldwide. Read about Goenka (U Ba Khin).