MANGALURU: Of late, Shanthivana, the Yoga and Nature Cure Centre, run by Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) at Ujire, located about 66 km from Mangaluru, is in news for hosting former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his tapes that has created ripples in state politics.
Shanthivana, which means ‘forest of peace’ is nestled amid lush greenery at the foothills of the Western Ghats and has been attracting people from far and wide who want to cure their ailments in the traditional way of yoga and naturopathy.
The 53-care green campus started in 1987, provides a perfect ambience for it. According to Dr Prashanth Shetty, Chief Medical Officer of the hospital, every year, the 500-bed Shanthivana treats about 15,000 people every year. “We have a set of yogasanas to treat each of the ailments like diabetes, hypertension, back pain etc which is very effective and lots of people have been benefitted from it.”
The hospital also has a medical college which is the first in the country to offer a five-and-a-half-year BNYS course. ormer Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, VHP leader Ashok Singhal, RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat, ex-CMs BS Yeddyurappa and Jagadish Shettar, singer S P Balasubrahmanyam, and actor-turned-politician Jayamala are some of the VIPs who have visited the centre.