Mayawati Advaita Ashrama.
Champawat itself sees almost no through-traffic; the ashram is another 22km up a side road from Champawat town, 9km past Lohaghat.WHY NOBODY KNOWS
Founded in 1899 at Vivekananda's instruction by his English disciples James and Charlotte Sevier, on a tea estate at 1,940m above Lohaghat. Vivekananda himself visited in January 1901. As an Advaita Vedanta study centre, no idols are worshipped — not even Ramakrishna's — which makes it unlike anything else in the Kumaon temple circuit. The 1898 library and the museum hold his original correspondence. Best: Mar-Jun and Sep-Nov. Closed to visitors during select retreat periods — call ahead.. Reach: 22km from Champawat / 9km from Lohaghat on the road toward Pithoragarh. Last 3km is a quiet tea-estate lane. Buses to Lohaghat then shared taxi.. Tip: Silence expected on the grounds. No photography inside the shrine or library. Free entry, modest dress required. Day visitors only unless on a pre-approved retreat. The ashram runs the publishing house behind 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda'..
