Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

Amaravati is a Theravada Buddhist monastery at the eastern end of the Chiltern Hills in South East England. Established in 1984 by Ajahn Sumedho, it follows the Thai Forest Tradition inspired by the teachings of the late Ajahn Chah. The monastery sits on grounds that once housed a residential school during the Second World War. Its first temple was opened in 1999 by Princess Galyani Vadhana of Thailand. The community includes monks, nuns, and postulants living under strict codes of celibacy and discipline. A small group of ten-precept nuns, known as siladhara, has been part of the community since 1983. The monastery serves as a centre for training monks and supporting lay practitioners in meditation and study. It runs regular meditation workshops for visitors every Saturday afternoon. Retreats for both monastics and lay people are held throughout most of the year. Amaravati also has sister monasteries across England and abroad, including in New Zealand, Italy, and North America. The retreat centre welcomes visitors seeking quiet reflection and spiritual practice. The site features several large cedar huts set in extensive grounds, alongside a purpose-built temple. Recent improvements include a nursing cottage for elderly monks and expanded accommodation for the nuns. The monastery is located near the Hertfordshire village of Great Gaddesden, close to Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted. Its name, Amaravati, comes from the ancient Buddhist language of Pali and means ‘deathless realm’. The peaceful surroundings provide a fitting place for contemplation and study.