The Story of RaviKusum Peace Ashram

By ImpactLens Correspondent

Peace series:-11

Can a home become more than a place to live? Can it become a space that nurtures peace, healing, and a deeper sense of belonging? These are the questions that inspired the creation of RaviKusum Peace Ashram and the Global Peace Hill Garden near Pune—an extraordinary initiative where personal transformation meets global aspirations for peace.

The journey began with Vishwamitra Yogesh (Yogesh Ravindra Mathuria), who, after the loss of his wife and nearly three decades in the corporate sector, embarked on a search for the true meaning of “Home” His quest extended far beyond books. Over two decades, he walked more than 22,000 kilometres across ten countries, engaging with diverse communities, cultures, and traditions. Along the way, he discovered that peace is not merely a concept discussed in conferences or written in books—it is lived through hospitality, shared meals, silence, prayer, compassion, service, and genuine human relationships.

These life-changing experiences eventually found a physical expression in RaviKusum Peace Ashram, established in 2021 on the banks of the Garade River in the Purandar region of Maharashtra. The Ashram, named after Yogeshji’s parents, Ravindra and Kusum, reflects the values they instilled in him. It is both a family home and a welcoming retreat for visitors seeking reflection, dialogue, and inner peace.

Unlike conventional retreats, RaviKusum encourages people to reconnect with themselves and with nature. Its meditation room, open courtyard, communal kitchen, and all-religion place of worship create an environment where people from different backgrounds can share experiences and learn from one another. Birds, animals, trees, and the natural surroundings are not seen as separate from human life but as integral members of a larger family, reminding visitors that peace also means living in harmony with nature.

The philosophy of RaviKusum naturally evolved into a larger vision—the Global Peace Hill Garden (GPHG). Rather than functioning as a museum, the Garden serves as a living landscape of remembrance and inspiration. Here, visitors encounter the teachings and legacies of great peace builders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavir, and Shrimad Rajchandra, alongside sacred texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Holy Bible. Future additions will further expand this global conversation on peace.

At the heart of the Garden stands a Global Peace Pole, carrying messages of peace in multiple languages. The Garden also celebrates the Five Elements of Nature—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Sound—highlighting the inseparable relationship between ecological wellbeing and human wellbeing. Mango trees gifted from Pakistan and Bangladesh symbolise friendship beyond borders, while a Wall of Peace and thoughtfully designed reflection spaces invite visitors to pause and carry the message of peace into their own communities.

Every corner of RaviKusum and the Global Peace Hill Garden reflects the belief that peace is not owned by any one religion, nation, or ideology. It is humanity’s shared inheritance, nurtured through everyday acts of kindness, dialogue, respect, and care for one another and for the planet.

In an increasingly divided world, RaviKusum offers a simple yet profound reminder: peace begins at home—but a home built on compassion can inspire the world. 

(Taken from “Home in Infinite Spaces” – a book by Vishwamitra Yogesh. Email [email protected] +91 9821133587 or 9359679195)