About Neem Kroli Baba and His Ashram
Neem Karoli Baba also known as Neeb Karori Baba or Maharaj-ji, was a Hindu saint who was born in
the early 20th century in Uttar Pradesh, India. He lived a simple and ascetic life and travelled
extensively throughout India, spreading his teachings of love, devotion, and service to others. In
the 1960s and 1970s, Neem Karoli Baba gained popularity among Westerners who were drawn to
his teachings and way of life. Many of these Westerners, including spiritual seekers like Ram Dass
and Bhagavan Das, came to India to study under him.
In the early 1970s, a group of Westerners who had been living with Neem Karoli Baba expressed
their desire to build an ashram in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Neem Karoli Baba agreed and,
with the help of local villagers, the ashram was built at Kainchi Dham, which is situated at the
confluence of two rivers. The serene surroundings and the beautiful temple dedicated to Lord
Hanuman, built by Neem Karoli Baba’s devotees, are major attractions for tourists. Neem Karoli
Baba spent a significant amount of time at Kainchi Dham and it became one of his main ashrams.
He would often hold Satsang (spiritual discourses) and perform rituals there.
After Neem Karoli Baba’s death in 1973, the ashram at Kainchi Dham continued to be a center for
spiritual seekers. Mark Zuckerberg the founder of Facebook, and Steve Jobs (the former CEO of
Apple) have a special connection with Kainchi Dham. They visited the Kainchi Dham and meditated
in the temple. Today, it is visited by people from all over the world who come to meditate, practice
yoga, and seek spiritual enlightenment.