In between retreats, when at home in Lucknow, Ajay offers an informal “class” nearly every day. Ajay’s translation of Sanskrit or Hindi texts does not aim to be academically definitive. Rather he attunes his translation to the people in the room on that day, to draw out questions and inquiry relevant to their own spiritual practice during the one or two hours of time together.
Anyone is welcome to join the classes, whether or not they have done any retreats with Open Dharma or elsewhere. There is no charge for the classes, though donations are always welcome.
Participants need to find their own room and meals in Lucknow. Often other participants help newcomers get oriented to Indira Nagar, the suburb of Lucknow where Ajay lives with his extended family.
Home to about two million people, Lucknow has been a capital city since the late 18th century. The Nawabs of Avadh (or Oudh) ruled inefficiently from here but were great patrons of the arts until the British took over in 1856.
How to get to Lucknow
As always, you can choose from several options. By train:
~ from Delhi: there is the overnight Lucknow Mail and the fancy
Shatabdi Express (only AC chair-car) leaving Delhi early morning
and reaching Lucknow early afternoon
~ from Varanasi: there are several overnight trains like the Bareilly
Passenger and many day trains like Kashi Vishwanath Express, the
chair-car Varuna Express, and the Lucknow Intercity Express
~ Lucknow is also connected to and from Chennai once a day
~ to and from Mumbai, the Pushpak Express, to and from Calcutta,
the Doon Express
~ from Dharamsala take an overnight bus to Delhi or go by bus
or taxi to Pathankot or Chakki Bank and take the Sealdah Express
to Lucknow
Once in Lucknow, you can feel free to stay in any of the guesthouses in your guidebook or you can stay in Indira Nagar on the outskirts of town, where Ajay and his family, Gemma and Jaya live.
How to get to Indira Nagar
from Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station
~ walk out to the main road and take a shared jeep (green line,
10 Rs.) or bus (4 Rs.) going to Indira Nagar, B-block crossing
or Shalimar Crossing
~ or get a pre-paid autorickshaw just in front of the Railway
Station to Shalimar Crossing (B-block) (67 Rs.)
~ or get a pre-paid taxi (150 Rs.)
Where to stay in Indira Nagar
The Beedee Guest House (around 250 Rs.) near Shalimar Crossing
and across the street from Satsang Bhavan (A-306 Indira Nagar)
is poor value but at least somewhere to land. Some Indian families
rent rooms: our friend Vineet Singh at Lao Tsu House (Sector 19/375
Indira Nagar) has 1-2 rooms and a cell phone (94155-47110); and
Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Mani at A-765 have a room for Rs. 100-150 with
optional AC (electricity extra) tel: 0522-2348893.
Food and Markets
~ In Satsang Bhavan you can have great vegetarian meals, mostly
organic, for 100 Rs. lunch/dinner and 50 Rs. breakfast. Please
call one day in advance to let them know you're coming
~ There are also many chai shops and street food stalls around
to serve you
In the area there are two markets:
~ Amrapalli market near Ajay’s house—a small market
with good internet and other useful shops
~ Bhoothnath market—a bigger market with a good South Indian
restaurant called “Vrindavan,” a westernized restaurant
called the Royal Café, and a couple of decent dhabas (cheap
thali restaurants) as well as good fruit and flower stalls, internet,
sweets, 2 ATMs, and other shopping
Only for absolutely essential inquiries, it's good to know that Ajay lives at A-1266 Indira Nagar tel. 0522-2345960 mobile 94155-61004.
Travel Agents
~ Baba Travels in Amrapalli market
~ Arvindh, who will arrange train tickets and taxis to your doorstep
tel. 98390-58964
