In today’s world of stress and tension people are looking for a slice of peace. And if you are in search of a location where you can find some peace then you must visit the Global Vipassana Pagoda Mumbai. The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a meditation centre that gives in depth knowledge on the Vipassana techniques. There are various courses here that you can opt for to learn about meditation and relaxing. Furthermore the centre also provides knowledge on the teachings of Lord Buddha and preaches his ideologies. While you visit this location your mind will be refreshed. You can take a tour of this location or else opt for a course or join a class here as well.
So keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about the Global Vipassana Pagoda. It will be a helpful article for you if you are planning a trip to this location.
Global Vipassana Pagoda Mumbai
Location: Near Essel World, Gorai Village, Maharashtra
Timings: Global Vipassana Pagoda timing is from 9 am to 7 pm. Entry timing is till 6:30 pm.
Entry fee: There are no Global Vipassana Pagoda tickets and entry here is free.
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport to reach the Pagoda is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. From the airport the Pagoda is located at a distance of 41.3 km and it would take you around 1 hour and 25 minutes to reach there. You can opt for the city buses to reach there or opt for auto rickshaws as well. However to reach there conveniently you can take a car or hire a cab or a taxi as well.
By train
If you are travelling by train then the major railway station is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. From there the Pagoda is located at a distance of 62.3 km. It would take you around 2 hours and 13 minutes to reach there via Western Express Highway. Another major railway station to reach the Global Vipassana Pagoda is the Mumbai Central Railway Station. From there the Pagoda is located at a distance of 58.6 km. It would take you around 2 hours to reach there from the railway station. From the railway station you can get buses to reach there. Or else book a cab or take a taxi to reach the Global Vipassana Pagoda conveniently.
In terms of local railway station the nearest railway station is the Borivali Railway Station. The Borivali Railway Station is 25.8 km away from the Pagoda and you can reach there in about 1 hour. From the Borivali Station you can take an auto or a bus to reach the Pagoda. Or else you can also take a cab or a taxi to reach there as well. Furthermore, a ferry is another option that you can opt for if you are travelling from the Borivali Station. You will have to take a bus or an auto to reach Gorai Creek and from there you can opt for a ferry to reach there.
By road
Mumbai as a city is well connected through roadways and you can reach the city from any major cities or towns through roadways. While travelling from major cities and towns you can easily get buses to reach there. The nearest major bus stop is the Mumbai Central Bus Depot. From the bus stop the Pagoda is 58.9 km away and you can reach there in about 2 hours. You can get another bus to reach the Pagoda from there.
To travel from nearby locations you can also opt for the city buses or local transport like auto rickshaws as well. You can also travel through your own vehicle or take a cab or a taxi to drive through to reach the Pagoda. For that you will have to travel via the Western Express Highway via Mira Bhayander Road. However you must keep in mind that travelling by this route can take longer hours to reach the Global Vipassana Pagoda.
By ferry
From Gorai Creek regular ferries are available that you can opt for to reach the Global Vipassana Pagoda. The Essel World Jetty is located near the Pagoda. If you are boarding a jetty from Gorai Creek you can reach the Essel World Jetty to reach the Pagoda. You can get ferries from the Marve Beach as well to reach there conveniently.
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Overview of Global Vipassana Pagoda
This Pagoda in Mumbai is basically a meditation dome located in the outskirts of the city. The construction of the Pagoda is a tribute to a Vipassana teacher Sayagyi U Ba Khin from Myanmar. Located amidst lush greenery in the Gorai Island, the Global Vipassana Pagoda is one of the 7 wonders of Maharashtra. This is a popular tourist spot and a must visit location when you are in Mumbai. The structure of this dome is similar to that of the Swedagon Pagoda of Myanmnar. This Pagoda in Mumbai is however the world’s largest stone dome that stands without any pillars supporting it. At one point of time it can accommodate about 8000 people for meditation.
There are monks at the Pagoda and they follow the teachings and ideologies of Lord Buddha. They also practice meditation here and preach the teachings of Buddhism. The monks at the Pagoda had dedicated their entire life to the purpose of meditation and relaxation. Here the pagoda also organizes regular classes and meditation courses that the visitors can attend. Other than the larger dome, there are other smaller domes here, which are the North and South Pagoda. A carved statue of Lord Buddha in a seated meditative state is also found here. This statue is a carved structure which is carved from a single marble rock. Other significant attractions here are the Gong Tower and the Bell Tower.
History of Global Vipassana Pagoda
A renowned Vipassana meditation teacher Shree S N Goenka first proposed the idea of Global Vipassana Pagoda. His main idea was to spread awareness about the teachings of Lord Buddha. He wanted to inculcate the teachings of Buddhism in the life and minds of the people to restore world harmony. The planning of the construction of this Pagoda therefore started in 1997. And the construction finally started later in 2000. By 2006 the largest dome out of the three domes which is also the main dome was finished. The bone relics of Lord Buddha have been present there since then.
Later by 2008 they completed the construction of the other 2 domes. Finally the Pagoda opened its gate for the general public and devotees in 2009. Shree S N Goenka wanted to spread awareness by spreading the principles of Dhamma. He further also wanted to teach people the techniques of Vipassana Meditation. In 2012 he received Padma Bhushan for his brilliant work.
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Architecture of Global Vipassana Pagoda
The Pagoda has an impressive height of 29 meters and overall the height of the building is 96.12 meters. Inside the dome it is hollow and the meditation hall here can accommodate about 8000 people at the same time. Here the people can sit and learn as well as practice the Vipassana meditation techniques as taught by Shree Goenka. The whole premise of the meditation centre spreads across an area of 13 acres. This construction is a mix of Burmese and Buddhist architecture. It resembles the Pagoda of Myanmar and is in the same golden colour as well.
The Burmese had donated pure gold spires and on the top there is a large crystal as well. The main foundation lies on basalt and the dome is made of sandstone blocks. Each of these blocks weighs around 600 kg to 700 kg. With interlocking bricks further these are secured. Other than the main domes you will also find eye-catching designs on the wooden doors here that look impressive.
Things to do at Global Vipassana Pagoda
Meditation
The main dome of the Pagoda is the main centre for meditation. However to opt for meditation you will first have to sign up for the course here. During your tour to the Vipassana Centre you can opt for a 20 minute Anapana session in the North Pagoda though.
Vipassana Courses
You can sign up for the Vipassana course here for 10 days which is a free course and teaches meditation at Dhamma Pattana. Within the centre you will get comfortable accommodation to stay as well. There are Advanced Courses here as well that are for people who want to practice Vipassana for longer hours. Also there are one day courses available here as well for old students. There are individual cells at the South Pagoda that will help you in practicing meditation.
Learn about Lord Buddha and Vipassana
There is a beautiful statue of Lord Buddha inside the premises which is 21.5 feet tall. It has Lord Buddha in a seated meditative posture. In the front you will find the depictions of four stages of his life, namely Birth, Enlightenment then Setting the Dhamma Wheel in motion and finally Death. This pagoda is a great centre of learning to spread the teachings and ideologies of Lord Buddha. Apart from the classes and courses available here there is a library here as well. Also the premise houses a museum that offers insight about a lot of information. You can also visit the Art Gallery here which houses pictures and paintings that provide a learning experience to the visitors.
Explore the campus
Other than the domes there are few major attractions inside the premises of the Global Vipassana Pagoda. There is a Bell Tower here which follows a Burmese style of decoration. Also you will find a Gong Tower here as well. Along with that there is a small waterfall here, a fountain with water deities surrounding it. Furthermore you will find a replica of the Ashokan Pillar of Sarnath here as well.
Enjoy a meal
You can enjoy lunch at the mini food court inside the premises. The campus serves delicious vegetarian food which you can try. And for some refreshments they serve tea, coffee and other beverages here as well.
Buy Souvenirs
You can visit the souvenir shop inside the premises to buy small things. They have things like CDs, books, key chains, caps, t-shirts etc here.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Global Vipassana Pagoda and now you can plan a visit there to enjoy a slice of peace. A visit to this Pagoda would be refreshing and rejuvenating for sure. Let me know if this article on the Pagoda is helpful for you in planning a successful trip to this particular location in the city of Mumbai.
