Global Vipassana Pagoda

Global Vipassana Pagoda

Global Vipassana Pagoda
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a Meditation Hall near Gorai, North-west of Mumbai, India. The Pagoda was inaugurated by Pratibha Patil, then President of India on 8 February 2009.[1] It is built on donated land on a peninsula between Gorai creek and the Arabian Sea. The pagoda is to serve as a monument of peace and harmony. The Global Vipassana Pagoda has been built out of gratitude to the Buddha, his teaching and the community of monks practicing his teaching. Its traditional Burmese design is an expression of gratitude towards the country of Myanmar for preserving the practice of Vipassana. The shape of the pagoda is a copy of the Shwedagon Pagoda (Golden Pagoda) in Yangon, Myanmar. It was built combining ancient Indian and modern technology to enable it to last for a thousand years. The center of the Global Vipassana Pagoda contains the world's largest stone dome built without any supporting pillars. The height of the dome is approximately 29 metres, while the height of the building is 96.12 meters, which is twice the size of the previously largest hollow stone monument in the world, the Gol Gumbaz Dome in Bijapur, India. External diameter of the largest section of the dome is 97.46m and the shorter sections is 94.82m. Internal diameter of the dome is 85.15m.[4] The inside of the pagoda is hollow and serves as a very large meditation hall with an area covering more than 6000 m2 (65,000 ft2). The massive inner dome seats over 8000 people enabling them to practice the non-sectarian Vipassana meditation as taught by Mr S.N. Goenka and now being practiced in over 100 countries. An inaugural one-day meditation course was held at the pagoda on 21 December 2008, with Mr S.N. Goenka in attendance as the teacher. The aim of the pagoda complex is, among others, to express gratitude to Gautama Buddha for dispensing what followers believe is a universal teaching for the eradication of suffering, to educate the public about the life and teaching of the Buddha, and to provide a place for the practice of meditation. 10-day vipassana meditation courses are held free of charge at the meditation centre that is part of the Global Vipassana Pagoda complex.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Global Vipassana Pagoda and nearby attractions

Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.

See what travelers are saying

  • Prany D
    30 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Must Visit
    Definitely this place is magical. I am talking from the basis of vibrations and the mental peace that was felt here. I have also attended 10 day residential course and they are something out of the world. These courses take you deep within and help you to free yourself from the mental impurities. Its a very pure and scientific method and the results are immediate. I would strongly recommend everyone to try this. This teaching will help you to deal with your stress, depression, anxiety and all kinds of mental defilements that everyone deals on day to day basis. I feel lucky and blessed to come in contact with such a meditation technique.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 10, 2024
  • Munna T
    Indore, India26 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best and Great
    Definitely one of the greatest things I have ever done in my life and it does change ones life towards the good. The depth at which they take us during meditation is very fascinating and inspiring. Never thought that the mind and body are so inter connected. Massive transformation. A 10 day residential course is a must for anyone and everyone. It changes things in life from the very moment. Great and highly recommended.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 31, 2024
  • BalkrishnaShroff
    Mumbai, India26,947 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Divine !!
    It is located in the northern part of Mumbai about 45 km away from downtown. It is declared as 'One of The Seven Wonders of Maharashtra" by Maharashtra Tourism Board. The entire 16 acres complex was built by donation from large hearted people. It was built as a gratitude to great Vipassana teacher Sayagyi Ba Khin from Burma, who brought back the teachings of Buddha to its original country. The main meditation dome hall without a pillar is the largest in the world where 8000 people can meditate at a time. One has to see it to believe it. It is a great place to learn the practice of Vipassana and teachings of Buddha. They conduct the ten day course for interested people with accommodation which is totally free. This center also has got many other facilities like library, museum, auditorium and guest house for meditators. There is also a food court where hygienic food at very reasonable is served to daily visitors. It is a great place for the health of mind and soul. Lastly the entire credit for the construction of Global Vipassana Pagoda goes to late Satyanarayan Goenka ji, a great philanthropist and Vipassana teacher.
    Visited December 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written December 3, 2024
  • James
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Peaceful
    I visited this fantastic location with friends, and it was very peaceful. The environment was so beautiful, and the surrounding areas were calm, which always helped us to relax. It seems to be a special place which was built with great care. There was a lot of space in the meditation hall, and the silence that filled it was perfect for inner peace. There was enjoyment even in the structure of the planned activities that were simple to complete. This venue had a calm but powerful aura. After the visit, my friends and I felt great and connected. It was more than just a trip rather, it was an experience that touched our hearts.
    Visited January 2025
    Traveled with friends
    Written February 12, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles806 reviews
Excellent
477
Very good
278
Average
40
Poor
6
Terrible
5

FeedMe
Helsinki, Finland127 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Friends
We planned a weekend day trip to the Pakoda with a friend and were surprised as to how different the vibe was as soon as we reached the parking area gates.

The walk to the Pagoda was beautiful, with trees and fields. Some cars were parked on the roadside, so I assume you can reach the compound by car if you negotiate with the watchmen. Once we reached the compound we took some time to sit on the grass in the shade and cool down.

The Pakoda itself was relatively ascetic compared to my friend’s expectations, without any deities, mounts or bells found in Hindu temples. I was impressed by the sheer size of the dome from inside, as well as the peace that radiated all around the area.

We enjoyed some chole and ice cream at the cafeteria after exploring the compound and clicking pictures with randomers.

After the day trip we felt rejuvenated as if we’d been on a short holiday. Definitely worth a visit if you want to chill and see a bit of nature outside of the hectic city.
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ashiq Dosani (Addy)
Vasai, India18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Friends
I had been to this place long back before covid. I have never visited such calm and peaceful place before. They have so many sitting places available where you can just sit and calm yourself. They have an amazing chamber (i don't know what they call it) which is in the centre of this place where i saw people in meditating. After speaking to some people there i got to know that they sit here for hours and hours to find inner peace.

They have got food stalls installed too where you get food at reasonable price and quality is also very good. So many good places to capture.

I just enjoyed being there during my visit.

P.s- i don't the protocols post covid so before visiting you must inquire and then go. I am sure you will like the place.
Written February 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kaushik G
Mumbai, India3,997 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Family
During our Christmas holidays we had visited the beautiful Global Vipassana Pagoda. We had gone by Uber to Gorai jetty where we purchased ferry tickets priced at 70 rupees per person for to and fro trip. The view of the Golden Pagoda from the ferry and its reflection on the water was an amazing sight. After getting down from the ferry, we had to walk around 10 minutes to reach the Pagoda after passing by the entrance to the Essel World. Entrance to the Pagoda is free but you need to join a course if you want to meditate in the glass hall inside the central dome. We were mesmerized by the architecture and the beauty of this place and clicked as many pics we could. There are fountains too and souvenir shops and restaurant.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Santosh-N-Thorat
Ambarnath, India698 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021
Visited this simple and quite place with my family in the month of December 2021.
We started very early morning from Ambernath. After reaching Borivali station took a bus to reach the Gorai creek.
From Gorai creek you can take ferry and reach opposite side. From there either you can start walking for 25 mins or hire an auto-rickshaw.
It seems most of the people come here to spend there leisure time. Only few people visit this place to stay and complete 15 day meditation course.
Separate room is available for experiencing meditation with audio tape.
Two Vegetarian canteens are available to have snacks and meals. Washrooms are neat and clean.
You can continuously hear the sound of recorded verse. Some people found this sound annoying.
I recommend to visit this place once.
Written January 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Voyager_Nineteen71
Pune, India591 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
We visited the Global Pagoda and must say it was one to not forget.

It is a little away from main Mumbai and one has to travel quite a bit to reach there. But it is worth every bit.

There is the main pagoda which can house thousands of meditators to practice meditation. There are gardens and also a special room showing the life of Gautam the Buddha via paintings. There are souvenir shops where one can buy some good items.

There is enough to do and see for atleast 3-4 hours.

We need to ensure that we maintain silence and wear appropriate clothing while around the main dome, as this is a place where we might find people meditating in the dome, and should not disturb them.
Written September 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Yash Vasani
Mumbai, India496 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
A place of sanctity in the city. One can take up 10 minutes out for meditation and also enroll into sessions up to 10 days at the Vipassana Pagoda. Shuttle services are easily available and it is accessible by road and waterways too. The crowd starts coming in post noon, so try being here in the morning when the sun is pleasant and you get more time to explore the place. Staff is helpful and the souvenir shop is a good place for a quick shopping visit. Opens at 9am everyday and entry closes at 6:30.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Priyanka |Food & LIFESTYLE|
Mumbai, India260 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
This place is infrastructurally so EYE PLEASING and beautifully structured..
The speciality of this monument is this is standing tall without any pillars holding on.
There is seperate room for experiencing meditation with audio guide, also there are many photogenic environmental scenic beauty.

People visit here for 15 day meditation course and stay there and meditate in the pagoda, it is equipped with AC and complete calm and serenity.
There are Food Stalls where you get limited snacks also you get ICE CREAMS.
It's a combination of great architectural with peace of mind.
Written June 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aadhes
Colombo, Sri Lanka2,414 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
We went here as just tourists, but our impression is completely changed while we were there.
This is Buddhist meditation centre with the remnants of Lord Buddha 's relic, hence it is one of most venerable place for all Buddhist followers.
This was built recently by a group of followers for Vipassana Meditation. There are regular programs for the followers from India and globally. Architecture is concern it follows Mynamar style and the dome was built without cement but using interlocking method. The dome can accommodate up to 5000 people at once. You find peace and calm inside.
We went on a VIP invitation hence we had Mr. Sakthi Kapoor as our guide, he was very knowledgeable and extremely polite.
Exterior is painted in Gold colour paint and can be visible from far away places. If you have some time a day or two better you attend a meditation program on prior appointment. Entry and all are free of cost. Since it is a religious place dress decently. There is a vegetarian cafeteria you will enjoy the meal.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Abhi J
Mumbai, India8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
One of Mumbai’s unique attractions is the Global Vipassana Pagoda. This monument is a tribute to the philosophies of Lord Gautama Budda and draws in thousands of visitors annually. The Global Vippassana Pagoda is considered as a landmark of peace and the abode of tranquility.

Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daisytells
Sydney, Australia80 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
The travel info to come to the Global Vipassana Pagoda is very helpful and clear and I took the train from Churchgate, tuk tuk to Gorai Creek and ferry over to Esselworld and walked to the pagoda. As an old student (done 10 day courses) I was allowed to enter the large pagoda and mediate inside (30 minutes minimum). It was so peaceful. If you have not done a 10 day course, you can do a 10 minute guided introduction to mediation (anapana) in a hall to one side. The shop sells lovely souvenirs and information CD's and DVDs and books and the library has many resources. The teachings on the outside walls are reminders of the importance of non-sectarianism that is affecting many people in the world today. A small cafe sells masala chai/ snacks and water.
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 776
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Global Vipassana Pagoda - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

All Mumbai HotelsMumbai Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in MumbaiHotels near Global Vipassana Pagoda
All things to do in Mumbai
Amusement Parks in Mumbai
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars