The Tureya Foundation's meditation retreat is tucked in the ancient city of Rameswaram, one of the Holy Cities of southern India. Rameswaram is renowned for its spiritual heritage and is considered one of the major pilgrimage sites of India. An island in the shape of a conch shell, Rameswaram is home to many spiritual traditions. The island also houses several temples, one of which was constructed in the 12 century AD and contains 40 natural wells which are used by the pilgrims as spiritually cleansing baths.

The Rameswaram Retreat is reserved for advanced yogic practices and hosts individuals who wish to plunge into the depths of their spiritual life. While the majority of our activities are held at the ashram in Kodaikanal, the Rameswaram retreat is an important vessel of the Tureya Community as it provides refuge to devotees and students who are dedicated to their individual practice and wish to fine tune this spiritual discipline and awareness. The meditation retreat in Rameswaram is an ideal location for contemplative practices, and with a private beach Tureya devotees find the space they need to move within and find peace in their mind, body, and soul.

According to the Puranas, Rameswaram is a significant location in Hindu tradition because it was the location in which Rama and Sita had been instructed to install a Sivalinga to worship Brahma and exalt themselves from the killing of the Bhramin Ravana. In the Ramayana, one of the spiritual epics of Hinduism, Rama's wife Sita is kidnapped by the evil king Ravana. Ravana takes Sita to his island in an attempt to distance himself from Rama and make Sita one of his brides. But Rama's friend Hanuman, ruler of the monkeys, is an amazing tracker (and super hero) and after searching the globe he manages to find Ravana's Kingdom. But only one problem remains; there is a vast ocean which makes it impossible for Rama and his troops to rescue Sita from the evil king. With great force and labor, Hanuman and his monkeys build a bridge from India to the Island and save Sita from the clutches of evil.

While most epics are considered stretched and rewritten stories of the past, Rama and Sita's tale hold its ground. In recent past NASA has identified a strange bridge which connects Sri Lanka to India, a bridge that is connected between Rameswaram and the Sri Lankan coast. This is no ordinary land bridge either, as it is made of a series of rock which is capable of floating above the ocean floor. Based upon studies which have shown the gradual rise in sea levels, it is possible that this floating bridge was once above the water and capable of being walked across. To the right is satellite a photo of the bridge.