An abandoned spiritual retreat in Uttarakhand where the Beatles learnt to meditate has been opened to the public.
An abandoned spiritual retreat in Uttarakhand where the Beatles learnt to meditate has been opened for the public. The ashram, located in the town of Rishikesh, became derelict after Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi abandoned the place in 1997.
ALSO READ: When Hindu Spirituality Helped These International Celebs
When the band visited the country in 1968, they headed to the ashram in Rishikesh. They spent time meditating and writing songs under the guidance of guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. They spent weeks at the Ashram and produced great music, wrote many songs, including ‘ ‘White Album’. It is said that the Beatles’ visit helped to bring the concept of meditation and Indian spirituality to the international audience.
Now, the ‘Beatles Ashram’, as it is popularly known, is once again going to become one of the recognised tourist spots with the Uttarakhand government refurbishing it. Also, the reopening date of the Ashram, 8 December, marks the 35th death anniversary of Beatles member John Lennon.
According to a report in Indian Express, Uttarakhand’s Forest Department has converted the ashram into an eco-friendly tourist destination, offering bird walks and nature trails. The tickets for the ashram are priced at Rs 600 for foreigners and Rs 150 for Indians.
“We have cleaned up the place and lined the pathways with flowers. We are making some gardens and putting some benches for visitors. We are introducing a nature trial and bird walk. We also plan to set up a cafeteria and a souvenir shop at some point. We want to retain the place’s rustic look,” Rajendra Nautiyal, a senior forestry official, told BBC.