A volunteer-based organization focused on reforestation and food security in arid areas. Established in India, Haiti and Kenya. This location is in a tropical dry evergreen forest and is entirely run on solar energy. Hosts a vegan festival annually. Serves three vegan meals per day (2 at the weekend), blending influences from different regions. Organic whenever possible and fresh from local farms. There is no charge - food is offered as a gift. Down the street at 0.2 miles is its tea shop which serves organic tea and vegan laddus (no charge). Also offers free guided tours of the off-grid community, forest, and vegan farm animal sanctuary every day and throughout the day. Every Friday, from 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm, hosts the Eco-Film Club, which includes a tour of the community and forest, a screening of an environmental documentary, and a vegan meal. Open Mon-Fri 8:00am-9:30am, 12:00pm-1:30pm, Mon-Wed 5:30pm-7:00pm, Fri 7:00pm-8:30pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am-10:00am, Sat 5:30pm-8:00pm, Sun 5:30pm-7:00pm. Serves meals at these times.
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
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Last update on 16 Aug 2024 by Aviram
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Added by BadassJB on 09 Nov 2011
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196 Reviews
First Review by vegantommasina
RosieHsu
Points +13
Freshly cooked vegan meal from the community - Edit
Sadhana Forest is a community driven space, we prepare vegan meal everyday for the volunteers and visitors. All the vegan meals are so tasty and cook with love.
Read moreGuest
thefitjamesdavies
Points +15
Newly Veg - Edit
A guilty admission, I am neither Vegan or Vegetarian outside of the forest, but have been cooked and served a wide range of incredible foods that I would never have tried myself. From peanut butter pancakes to Thai green curries, the food here has been excellent. There has even been a request here for a Sadhana forest cookbook. I regularly drink alcohol and I have never been particularly spiritual in my life (another guilty admission). However coming here has enlightened me to other ways of living, some of which I will implement into my every day life. There is such a strong community feel that time flys by and the urge to have a beer or glass of wine with dinner completely goes.
Read morePros: New food , Nice service , Homely
Guest
SheenaSinghal
Points +16
A mother’s perspective - Edit
“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they belong not to you.”
Read more- Kahlil Gibran
These lines form my core in my identity as a mother. I volunteered together with my children at Sadhana Forest with the intention to be in an environment where life pulsates freely providing rich earth for their growth.
It is also a place which resonates with my ideals of children be raised in communities, vegan/raw vegan food, sustainability, inclusiveness, appreciation, exchange, connection to the elements and a contributive way of life.
It can happen only if there itself is a lot of air flowing in terms of diverse and wide array of people coming in, sharing their ways of life through the course of stay and loving in a way that responds to their life’s calling as against the ‘this way’ or ‘must be done’ dictates of the slave world.
Like there are multiple pores in the human body, so much a child (by extension, the mother) open their life to multiple sources of nourishment where people are just themselves. And you can be truly you only in spaces where you live.
Amidst sevas, I naturally learnt what it means to interact or indulge in a meaningful exchange while also developing appreciation and owning the tasks as if my life was complete doing just that. My complain towards tasks at home underwent a change because of this change in attitude.
I usually find people more trusting, particularly if I have to entrust them to my children, if they are capable of letting go of the usual comforts. Everyone and the living at Sadhana forest embodies just that I can offer myself freely without the need to put a guard or a shield.
When you show up this way, you understand from your life that people are essentially the same at the most fundamental level. The eternal struggle to find your place in the world ceases and I found that I began feeling more at home wherever I was. I hope that my children do gain a sense of this.
I no longer need to burn myself out offering n perspectives and can leave them with food for thought while also living as a comrade together with them.
Sadhana brings a deep sense of appreciation and grounding. Our way of living in the city is high raw vegans, sustainability and choosing more off-grid lifestyle. They are teenagers and when they see the world may retaliate or really question. I hope that finding that connection.
Pros: Sustainability , Vegan, Community exchange
Guest
MichalZyniewicz
Points +17
Planting trees in vegan community - Edit
I stayed in Sadhana Forrest for 3 weeks in february 2024. It is a peaceful, friendly and healthy place. It was a marvelous experience and I would highly recommend this to anyone!
Read moreForest.
You will have the experience of staying inside the jungle. It is wonderful to be waken up by the birds singing. Staying inside the forrest maked me calmer and more connected to myself. You can also contribute your work and go planting or watering the trees on the morning.
Connecting with people and community leaving.
During my stay in Sadhana I met many people from around the world. We spend a lot of time working together, eating together and having great conversations. Sharing joy and difficulties together was a great pleasure. I hope friendships i made in Sadhana will last for a long time.Quite often people were making workshops on different topics so it was never boring. I enjoyed this community life much more than isolated life the western culture!
Veganism and healthy lifestyle.
The food in Sadhana is 100% vegan. Very fresh and unprocessed. The meals are delicious and give you power for work. After couple of days I started to enjoy not drinking coffee, cause feel more healthy and balanced. Suprisingly I even found it good to wake up early cause you can observe beatiful light after the dawn and the day was so long. During the day it was rather busy so I was not using my phone that much, which makes me more calm and mindful.
Trying yourself in different tasks.
During my stay in Sadhana I was watering small trees in the forest, cooking meals for community, preparing the fire wood, cleaning after meals, serving people food, helping at the cow sanctuary, serving at the tea hut and not to forget cleaning the toilets. Was wonderful to try myslef in different tasks, to work manually and to see results of my work.
I had really good time in Sadhana Forrest. Before I come i was bit tired of travelling and my stay in Sadhana helped my to get grounded and a little bit feel like at home. Hope I will come back one day!
Pros: Living inside the jungle, Meeting people from all over the world, Healthy lifestyle
Cons: Mosquitos , Simple shower, Early wakeup
Guest
JoshuaParkinson
Points +20
Tasty and healthy and free! - Edit
Every meal I had was full of flavour and made using whole foods with no or minimal oil which I think is the future for disease prevention, reversal and longevity of life so people can continue to give selfless service to forests like this!
Read moreEating as a community really made me feel connected to the people I was eating with, to the chefs and to the food that was feeding me and the people who have supplied it. Much gratitude!
Pros: Tasty, Healthy, Togetherness
Cons: Millet and coconut running out!, So good I over ate!
Guest
susangeorge
Points +6
My stay in Sadhana - Edit
I heard about Sadhana from a friend who had visited earlier this year, who had explained about it’s uniqueness of experimental living and sustainable approach. The plan was to stay for 4 days but it’s been about 3 weeks now and I’ve never felt a sense of gratitude envelope me this way. .
Read moreIt’s been quite a journey especially connecting with wonderful people who have come from different parts of the world to share and learn about sustainable living ( linked to veganism), reforestation, water conservation and most importantly compassion which is taught through and through in every seva we partake in and to treat the animals around you the way you would treat yourself which is with love and respect.
The immense shift from the normal way of consuming media through your laptop or phone screens and working 8 hours a day to make ends meet to a mindful living where you are working towards basic but important needs such as cooking food, planting trees, ensuring cleanliness and promoting sustainable living for a better future. The simplicity of life here eliminates the question of what’s your purpose or how you can be someone of greater value instead encouraging you to be grateful and mindful in every action
The focus is on selfless service and putting materialistic gains on the backburner. The idea of compassion can truly be understood here living in the forest that’s always giving. I’m humbled and in awe with the way of living in true unity and seeing hands on work being encouraged in an age where we are all behind screens. Thank you Sadhana for being one of my biggest mentors and giving me more than I could ask for.
Guest
manishbhagchandani
Points +17
Volunteering at Sadhana - Edit
The comfort zone of our daily lives makes the mind dull and makes life very monotonous. For me, Sadhana Forest is to get out of my comfort zone. It makes me feel very vibrant and gets me out of the rut of my own thinking process.
Read moreThe whole place is designed to throw you out of your comfort zone, right from the dry toilets to living in a shared dormitory with fellow volunteers to working together in different sevas where you cook food for the community or clean utensils in which food is cooked or taking care of the forests and the community etc
The non judgmental space that this place provides one is another major reason for me to flock here again and again. Majority of the people who one meets here have in someway broken away from the established pattern of the society and they understand each other’s mental struggles and provide space for everyone to just ‘be’ and not be this or that!
The sense of community that one feels here is something special. All the activities and the structures are thought out in such a way that people come together and get to know each other. Human relationships are a marvellous thing once you get a taste of it!
I also like how people are not in a rush to achieve here. Their concern is with existing now and not with the ‘what next?’
The slowness of life here is what I really admire and would like people to experience as well. Happy volunteering if you make to Sadhana :)
Guest
Regina1803
Points +16
Sustainable Lifestyle - Edit
Wenn du das Leben in der Natur und in einer veganen, internationalen Community suchst, einen nachhaltige Lebensweise und Wiederaufforstung unterstützen möchtest, dann ist Sadhana Forest der richtige Ort für dich. Ich nehme viele neue Freundschaften und jede Menge gute Erfahrungen mit, ich komme ganz sicher wieder.
Read morePros: Veganes Essen, Nachhaltigkeit
Guest
TabG
Points +20
Highly recommended - Edit
Das Essen hier ist 100% vegan, unverarbeitet, frisch, gesund und absolut lecker. Es wird stets darauf geachtet, dass man alles Notwendige über die drei Mahlzeiten pro Tag zu sich nimmt.
Read moreDas gemeinsame Essen in der Main Hut ist schön, kostenlos und alle sind willkommen!
Guest
kiirstenliittle
Points +16
Sadhana Forest - Edit
The food was amazingly fresh, homemade, healthy and organic
Read moreYou get a variety of delicious plant-based food that gives you all of the nutrients you need
The community is a beautiful place to eat in as well
Guest
asharuby
Points +36
Delicious food and a conscious community - Edit
My experience at Sadhana Forest has been wonderful! The community of volunteers is very strong, kind and generous. Eating delicious vegan meals together was a favourite part of my day, and rewarding especially rewarding after volunteer work. The food is entirely vegan, clean and delicious!
Read moreGuest
DaneshBollu
Points +15
Living in a forest - Edit
Coming to sadhana forest was something that I gifted myself with. This place offered me much more than just an forest experience. I came with a list of things to learn starting from reforestation, water conservation, sustainable lifestyle, living in a community and to name a few. I liked the non-judgemental environment that is offered by the place and people. It made me feel very connected to the nature and for that I'm very grateful. The conversations and people had a huge impact in my pursuit of purpose. This place offered me to channelize my thoughts and give a direction to venture out into the unknown with my recharged self and disconnected beliefs.
Read moreGuest
OrlaneLemeille
Points +20
Sadhana forest experience - Edit
My experience in Sadhana was great overall, living in the forest for 10 days away from the city and in a vegan friendly environment was amazing. I really loved that.
Read moreIt is also a great family friendly environment. The long-term volunteers are always available to answer questions and help if needed.
You help around the forest for around 5 hours per day in the morning (+2 afternoons a week) and you get accomodation in private hut for couples and families, or in dormitories for single travelers. You also get three big vegan meals a day: big breakfast with fruits, lunch and dinner.
Food is wholemeal, unprocessed, easy to digest and they serve big portions.
I also learned how to cook vegan recipes when I was helping out in the kitchen during seva (selfless service).
Beside that, I met incredible people there that I will definitely keep as friends.
Guest
Mattfriedman
Points +16
Free meals in beautiful volunteer community - Edit
Sadhana Forest is a beautiful community. Everyone who comes here seems to be, almost by default, interesting, compassionate people. I'm leaving here with a very full cup, and some heightened aspirations for my life. Go for a vegan meal and a tour, or better yet stay and volunteer!
Read morePros: Super friendly, Alternative lifestyle, Sustainable
Guest
Nausicaainthemountain
Points +20
커뮤니티의 길을 탐색하는 시도 - Edit
대안을 실험하는 일은 언제나 어렵다. 없는 길을 가는 것이기에. 오랜 시간 초심을 잃고 지속하는 것도 쉽지 않은 일이다. 그런데 이렇게 오랜 시간 초심을 잃지 않고 지속해가면서 이만큼 많은 사람들이 드나들고 있다는 것 자체로 의미가 깊다고 생각한다.
Read more아침과 오전에 세바를 하고, 오후에 자유로운 시간과 다양한 커뮤니티 활동을 하는 하루 일과의 구성이 좋다. 다양한 사람들을 만날 기회를 가지면서도, 사다나의 본래 목적을 한 발짝 한 발짝 꾸준히 실현해가는 지속가능한 방식이라고 생각한다.
처음에는 딱딱하고 엄격한 제지가 조금 당혹스럽기도 하였으나, 시간이 지날 수록 왜 이러한 규칙이 있는지 이해하게 되었다.
장기봉사자가 있기는 하지만, 대다수는 8일에서 20일, 길어도 6개월에서 1년 정도 머물기에, 이러한 방식으로 정말 마을을 이루고 살아가기 위해서는 어떻게 해야할까 고민이 든다.
일반적인 여행에서는 이만큼이나 많은 사람들과 교류할 수 없다. 그것이 이곳의 가장 큰 매력인 것 같다. 영어가 유창하지 못하더라도, 함께 땀 흘리고 일하면서 마음을 나누게 된다.
Pros: 다양한 사람을 만날 수 있는 것 , 몸을 움직여 일하는 것 , 균형잡힌 스케줄
Guest
utsav_mtk
Points +22
Food, Sadhana Forest and it's People - Edit
The food here is oil-free, plant-based and wholesome. Eating here and doing the kitchen seva has broken so many bubbles for me on how easy it is to eat clean. A volunteer wrote "Let there be more forests to grow people." and this for me is an apt definition for Sadhana Forest and it's people. This is not really an easy holiday, the sevas are very intense, there is so much work that on somedays it can push you beyond your comfort zones. It takes a lot to grow and maintain a forest, and at the end of the day, in sweaty t-shirts, getting through another day feels very cathartic... I come back to this place every few months, and every single time, I meet amazing people. Dear reader, if you feel like you want to connect with people who are challenging the system and showing us a way of sustainability, and of kindness to everyone we share this planet with, then this is the place for you.
Read morePros: Clean and nutritious food, Lots of people who eat clean
Cons: Growing a forest is hard, some days are very long.
Guest
Franky93
Points +98
Super - Edit
Super repas bon et équilibrée, bon pour la santé. Je suis resté deux semaines en tant que bénévole et je me suis regalé tous les jours
Read morePros: Gout, Healthy , Riche en protéine
Guest
VaniGarg
Points +16
The most spectacular vegan food - Edit
The simplest and tastiest vegan food is at Sadhana Forest. People from diverse backgrounds cook vegan food here. For this reason, I enjoyed not only Indian cuisine, but also Italian and many others. The dessert on Fridays and other special days is something I looked forward to all the time. Moreover, the vegan tea hut from Monday to Friday is the most chill place for me here.
Read morePros: Excellent people, Tasty food, Beautiful heart warming vibes
Cons: They only serve non caffienated tea, They serve non-spicy food
Guest
SurajPratapSingh
Points +16
The Journey towards change and engagement. - Edit
On the 14th of November, 2023, I was fortunate enough to begin an inspiring journey in Sadhana Forest, a wonderful vegan community that magically filled 36 days, precisely 3,110,400 seconds, of my existence with extraordinary experiences. This community, loaded with the essence of acceptance and altruism, enveloped me in their arms and offered unfathomable love, rendering my stay in this idyllic sanctuary simply phenomenal.
Read moreVenturing into this journey, I had the exceptional chance of participating in the illustrious Plant 4 India fellowship program that the forest offered. The opportunity not only ushered me into a world of learning but also gave me the privilege to bring about a positive impact on this green community. This whole experience has been significant in shaping my perspective towards life and strengthening my commitment towards veganism.
In the realm of this amazing odyssey, today marked a day of double joy. It was not just the commemorative birthday of Sadhana Forest, but also the day of celebrating the loving union of long-term volunteers, Abhilash and Sandhaya. Participating in these celebrations, reveling in the festive spirits of the community, and imbuing myself into these delightful moments has left some indelible footprints in my heart.
In conclusion, my stay at Sadhana Forest has been a blend of many stirring emotions, learnings, and heartening experiences. These moments have enriched me, teaching me the importance of community living, organic food cultivation and highlighting the beauty of the place where kindness and love are the only currencies. I look forward with eagerness to the remainder of my days in this forest, and to all the invaluable lessons that await me in this sustainable paradise.
Pros: Excellent food, Good Value, Nice vibe
Cons: NA, NA, NA
Guest
NaurasIndori
Points +17
Brilliant reforestation efforts with delicious vegan food served - Edit
The extent of the work being done on reforestation of the arid, dry landscape is phenomenal. Would recommend Sadhana Forest to Naturalists, bird watchers, vegans and anyone who enjoys spending time in Nature and with people from varied cultures, languages!
Read moreHealthy whole food plant based diet space! Perfect place for vegans!
Pros: Food, Forest, Mud pool
Guest
sanjanabalakrishnan
Points +21
Sadhana forest experience - Edit
Sadhana Forest to me is a home with open doors. A sustainable vegan community with warm hearts and an intention to engineer compassion in every thought process. Volunteers from all over the world visit and the meals are completely unprocessed, vegan food that will make you crave for a second and also third serving!
Read moreVegan travellers would definitely enjoy the food at Sadhana forest.
Pros: Unprocessed food, Delicious , Free for visitors
Guest
AmerthiyaSen
Points +16
My 6 months in Sadhana Forest: - Edit
Sadhana forest is one of the best vegan communities I have ever lived, had a delicious vegan meals in sadhana, and had a best coconut tea in tea hut sadhana
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-09-20
Pros: Great place, Nature, Compassion
Guest
Vans1801
Points +20
Growth and Learning - Edit
When I first arrived in Sadhana Forest, I knew I was in for a truly unique experience. I have been curious about learning more about sustainable living and veganism, Sadhana Forest felt like the best place to be. This is my first time living in a community and it has been amazing staying with like-minded people who are very open and accepting.
Read moreThe meal preparation and dining are one of my favorite experiences. In the community, we cook meals together and everyone would sit down to eat together as a family. My first meal at Sadhana Forest felt very welcoming as when you sit for the meal first time, the community welcomes you and accepts you with open hearts. The food here is very delicious, healthy, and organically sourced. The community does not use any processed food and is 100% vegan.
Pros: 100% Vegan Diet, Sustainable Living , Living in the nature
Guest
LaraRadmacher
Points +20
Amazing experience - Edit
I stayed in Sadhana forest for 2 weeks and felt very great. They are a 100% vegan community only using unprocessed products. Everyone who stays here gets a regular opportunity to cook lunch dinner or breakfast and I got to know a lot about new ways of cooking. The community passionately supports veganism and shares about benefits and the impact of a vegan lifestyle. A great experience to widen our horizon, both for vegan and non vegan people
Read moreGuest
Pranitha
Points +17
Excellent - Edit
I'm a 19 year old, who came to Sadhana Forest with one of my friends as a volunteer and I met lot of people from different backgrounds and ages!
Read moreAll the days of my stay here, I did activities while being mindful and calm. I could notice that I became a very interactive person and was patient enough. It is a really great place and the people here are welcoming.
I liked the vegan alternatives that they made here. The food was good for everyone, it has very little oil and salt. And we had volunteers from different states to cook their own dish
Pros: Whole food based diet, Little salt and oil, Vegan
Guest
SaathvikaJali
Points +17
Wholesome and delicious vegan food - Edit
Sadhana forest is a forest tucked away in Auroville. This community practices veganism and all the food served here is sourced from local farms and cooked by the community volunteers.
Read moreThe food is simple, delicious and heartwarming. The food here is organic, and not processed (eg: brown/read rice instead of white rice and jaggery in place of refined sugar).
I volunteered here for 4 days and mainly did kitchen seva and I can confirm that there is very strict hygiene maintained here and the food is made with a lot of love, so do come and try the food here, you'll love it!
Pros: Whole food, minimal oil , Plenty of fresh fruits , Meals where the whole community Sits down and eats
Guest
ThibaudHamel
Points +20
Mind opening experience - Edit
I heard about this place a long time ago, and was finally able to come volunteer a few months ago. I was expecting a lot, and yet I wasn't prepared for all that I experienced here.
Read moreThe most incredible thing about this place in my opinion is the community. Living with people who all share the same values, are here for each other in the most compassionate way possible, and all striving for the same purpose is the one thing that was truly missing from my life before.
The concept of gift economy was also something that made me see the world in a different way. Giving to others without expecting anything in return, knowing that everything in this life is available in abundance and using that abundance to spread as much love as possible.
That abundance is also reflected in the food. Everything is obviously vegan, and given to anyone willing to join us for a meal, even as a visitor. Everything is unprocessed, except for a very small amount of oil. We have to accomodate for most people's taste, so the food isn't as spicy as you would expect in India, but everything is amazing, varied, and of course, local.
The second best thing is nature. Living here is not living in nature, it is being a part of nature, just as much as any other animal living in this forest. You can directly see the consequences of every action. Every action helps in making the forest greener, denser and full of life. We are nature, and nature is all around us.
I would recommend this place to every single human being on Earth. Some of it could be hard to get used to for some people, but the positives are so overwhelmingly amazing that stepping out of your comfort zone to come here would be worth it. Simply a life changing experience.
Guest
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