Shree Ramakrishha Mission Ashram, Belgaum, Karnataka India

 Sometime in 1998, Rev. Swami Smaranananda Maharaj, General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission initiated a research into Swami Vivekananda’s stay in Belgaum. It was well known that Swamiji had stayed in Haripada Mitra’s house in Belgaum and that Haripada Mitra was a sub-divisional forest officer in 1892 and also that Swamiji had written letters to Haripada Mitra to his Belgaum address from America. But it was not know which particular house in Belgaum it was or even where in Belgaum that house was located!

After long of study it was ascertained categorically that Survey No.357, Mansingh Thapa Road, Fort, Belgaum – 590 016, was the blessed house of Sri Haripada Mitra where Swamiji had stayed for 9 days in Oct 1892.

Once this was confirmed, the State Govt handed this over to Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

After it was handed over, Revered Swami Purushottamanandaji Maharaj was asked to take charge of this centre. Rev. Swamiji initiated a structural study of the building to ascertain which parts of the building were original construction and which were later additions. It was then decided to remove all the additions and restore the building to how it was during Swami Vivekananda’s stay in 1892. In Dec 2000, Rev. Swamiji shifted to a rented house in Belgaum and then renovation of the building was started. The work took six months since it had to be reinforced by tie-rods to keep the walls from falling apart.

A historical place where Swami Vivekananda stayed for 9 days in October 1892 during his wanderings all over the India. Newly Built universal temple of Sri Ramkrishna is located on the first floor. The central arched door leads to prayer hall that spans 70 feet X 40feet. The roof is 21 feet high providing a feel of expanse. Pillars are provided at regular intervals with a cement lotus placed on top of each of these pillars which give a festive look to the temple.

The renovation was completed in six months time. Chief Minister Sri S.M. Krishna inaugurated it on 23rd May 2001. Srimat Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj laid the foundation stone for the inauguration of the Ashrama. Also in the same programme. Sri Dharam Singh, the then PWD minister, granted 0.9 acres of adjacent land for this contruction.