It is important that you see your local General Practitioner prior to the pilgrimage to ensure that your vaccinations are up to date and check your general health status.

The information contained below is general in nature. Should you require specific individualised advice please consult your health care professional.

Sanitation and Hygiene:

Poor hygiene is a cause of several illnesses.

• Always wash your hands before and after meals using soap and free flowing water or alcohol based hand sanitiser.
• Bring adequate soap, liquid hand wash and hand cleaners or cleansing wipes.
• Be considerate of others when you dispose of soiled personal material.
• Do not share personal use items such as water bottles.
• Dust in the rooms is a very common trigger of allergies and infection. Consider bringing along the following items to keep your rooms clean and hygienic.
  • Bathroom: detergent, toilet brush, toilet duck/cleansers, floor mat
  • Hand gel and dish washing liquid
  • Hooks for clothes, pegs and clothesline
  • Brooms, mops, dust pan, bucket.

Often these items may already be available within the rooms or can be purchased at the supermarket located on the ashram grounds.

Hydration:

Please drink at least 2-3 litres of fluid a day (unless advised otherwise by your GP). Drink only bottled water (check that the seal is unbroken), canned drinks and hot drinks.

Coconut water helps to maintain hydration, replenish electrolytes and maintain your immunity. The coconut stand is located outside North Block.

Avoid drinking or using tap water, e.g. do not rinse toothbrushes in tap water. Do not use ice unless it is made from boiled, bottled, or purified water. Freezing does not kill the organisms that cause diarrhoea.

Food in the ashram:

You are strongly advised to eat only food and drinks from within the ashram.

For more travel health information for the Government of Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/india#health