Rishikesh Heritage Guide 2026

Beatles Ashram Rishikesh: Entry Fee, Timings, History & How to Reach

The Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is the old forest ashram where the four Beatles came in 1968 to learn meditation. People also call it Chaurasi Kutia Rishikesh, or the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram Rishikesh. Today it is quiet, a little broken, and covered in colourful graffiti. I live in Rishikesh and I send many guests here, so in this guide I tell you everything in simple words: entry fee, timings, history, how to reach, and what to do nearby.

Where is Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh?

If you ask me where is Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh, I say: go to the Swarg Ashram side, on the Pauri Garhwal bank of the Ganga, and walk a little uphill into the forest. The full address people search is Beatles Ashram Swarg Ashram Rishikesh Uttarakhand India. The Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is not on the main bazaar, so many tourists miss the turn.

One thing most visitors do not know: the Beatles Ashram in Rajaji National Park area is real. The land belongs to the Forest Department and the ashram is inside the Rajaji Tiger Reserve boundary. That is why you buy a forest ticket at the gate, why there is a closing time, and why nobody is allowed inside after sunset. Leopards and elephants sometimes walk in this belt.

The ashram is about 2 km from Ram Jhula and about 1 km from Parmarth Niketan if you come by the Ganga road. By road from Rishikesh railway station it is around 6 km. Honestly, the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is one of the easiest heritage places in Rishikesh to add to your day.

Beatles Ashram Entry Fee and Ticket Price for Indians and Foreigners

The Beatles Ashram entry fee is collected by the Forest Department at the ticket window. Here is the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh ticket price for Indians and foreigners, as per the latest rates I could find.

Many travellers say the fee for the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is high, especially for foreigners. That is true, and I will not hide it. But the money goes to the Forest Department for the upkeep of the area, so think of it as a forest and heritage ticket. You can also read our Beatles Ashram entry fee and ticket price post for more details.

Beatles Ashram Timings

The Beatles Ashram Rishikesh timings are simple. It opens at around 10 AM and closes around 4 PM in winter. Some sources say 5 PM in summer. The last entry is usually one hour before closing, so do not come at 3:45 PM and expect a full visit. It is open every day, but I always tell guests to confirm the Beatles Ashram timings at the gate because the forest staff can change the time for weather or any special reason.

Beatles Ashram Rishikesh History: The Beatles in India 1968

The Beatles Ashram Rishikesh history starts with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the teacher who spread Transcendental Meditation to the world. In the early 1960s he took this forest land on lease and made a big ashram on the high bank of the Ganga, with many small stone cottages and a central hall. This place became the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram in Rishikesh, also known as Chaurasi Kutia. Chaurasi means 84, for the 84 kutias or small huts.

In February 1968 the Beatles came to the place we now call the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh. John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, with their wives and girlfriends, came with a few other famous guests. They stayed for weeks, some longer than others, and learned meditation with the Maharishi. Ringo left early, Paul left after some time, and John and George stayed till April. The world newspapers wrote about it, and suddenly the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh and the town around it were on the world map. That is also why people say the Beatles brought yoga to the West. For more facts, see our Beatles Ashram Rishikesh India story and history page.

White Album songs written in Rishikesh

Which songs were written at the Beatles Ashram? Many. The group wrote dozens of songs at the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh, and a lot of them went into the White Album of 1968. Songs people connect with this trip are Dear Prudence, Back in the U.S.S.R., Blackbird, Rocky Raccoon, Mother Nature’s Son, I Will, Julia and Sexy Sadie. Dear Prudence was written for Prudence Farrow, who sat in her room meditating for days. When you stand in the quiet forest of the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh, it is easy to imagine how all these songs came out of this place.

Why Is the Beatles Ashram Abandoned?

A lot of travellers ask why is the Beatles Ashram abandoned. The short story: the stay of the Beatles ended badly, they left earlier than planned, and the Maharishi moved his work to other places. Later the lease of the land ended and the Forest Department took the land back. After that the ashram stood empty for many years, and nature came in. Roots broke the walls, the jungle grew on the domes, and local artists started painting on the walls of the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh.

So when people say abandoned ashram Rishikesh, they mean the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh. It was reopened for tourists around 2015 with a ticket system, and now the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is one of the most photographed Rishikesh heritage places.

What You Will See Inside: Chaurasi Kutia, Beatles Cathedral and Graffiti

Inside the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh you walk on small forest paths between old kutias. Here are the main things.

Beatles Cathedral Rishikesh

The big hall with the high roof is called the Beatles Cathedral. Some people also call it the Beatles Cathedral Gallery. It is a large stone building with open windows, and it is the best spot for photos in the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh, with the light coming from above.

Beatles Ashram graffiti

The Beatles Ashram graffiti is the real attraction now. Artists from India and other countries have painted faces of the Beatles, mandalas, peace signs, lyrics and many wild colours on almost every wall of the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh. New paintings come and old ones fade, so every visit looks a little different.

Meditation domes and meditation caves

You will find small stone domes, built for one person to sit in silence. Some people call them meditation caves. They are tiny, round and a bit dark inside. Sit for two minutes inside one and you will understand why the Beatles liked the idea.

Is Beatles Ashram Haunted?

Guests ask me this almost every week: is Beatles Ashram haunted? Local people tell stories about the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh, because empty stone buildings in a forest always bring stories. But I have never seen any proof, and neither did any guest of mine. What you really feel is silence, birds, and some monkeys who like to steal snacks. Go in daytime, keep to the marked paths, and you will be fine.

Rishikesh to Beatles Ashram Distance and How to Reach

The Rishikesh to Beatles Ashram distance is small, so the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is easy to reach from every side of the town. Here are the common starting points. All numbers are approximate, because it depends on which road you take.

Beatles Ashram distance from Ram Jhula

The Beatles Ashram distance from Ram Jhula is only about 2 km. Cross Ram Jhula to the Swarg Ashram side, walk along the road past Parmarth Niketan, and keep following the signs for the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh. The last part is a little uphill. Wear shoes, not slippers. For more routes, read our Rishikesh to Beatles Ashram distance guide.

How to reach Beatles Ashram from Laxman Jhula

1. Cross Laxman Jhula. Walk over the bridge to the Jonk side, the opposite bank from Tapovan. Early morning is calm.
2. Take a shared auto or e-rickshaw. Ask for Swarg Ashram or Ram Jhula side. It costs little, and ask the driver for the price before you sit.
3. Reach Swarg Ashram. You will pass Ram Jhula and the Parmarth Niketan area. If you want, stop and take a quick Ganga photo.
4. Follow the signs uphill. The Forest Department gate is on the forest road. Ask any shopkeeper, everybody knows the way.
5. Buy the ticket and go into the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh. Keep your ID and cash ready, then walk slowly through the kutias.

Can I go to the Beatles Ashram by walking from Tapovan?

Yes, you can walk to the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh from Tapovan, but it is a long walk, about 4 km in total with the bridge and the uphill end. It takes around 1 hour. In hot months I do not suggest it. Better take an auto to Ram Jhula and walk the last 2 km. If you stay at Upper Tapovan you can also ask us for a taxi.

Beatles Ashram Photography and Drone Rules

Normal photography with a phone or a small camera is fine at the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh and most people click a lot here, the graffiti walls are very photogenic. For the Beatles Ashram photography and drone rules, please remember these points:

• Drones are not allowed without written permission from the Forest Department. It is a tiger reserve area, so please do not fly one.
• Professional shoots, pre-wedding shoots and reels with big setups usually need permission from the forest office. Ask at the gate first.
• Do not climb on old walls or domes. Some are weak.
• Do not paint or write on the walls unless the staff say it is okay. Do not throw plastic in the forest.
• Do not go off the path for a photo. Wild animals live here.

Best Time to Visit Beatles Ashram

For the best time to visit Beatles Ashram, I always say weekday mornings, right after the 10 AM opening. At that time the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh has fewer people, the light is soft, and you can sit alone in the Cathedral hall. Season-wise, October to March is the best for the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh, because the weather is cool for walking. In summer (April to June) the walk gets hot, so come early. In monsoon (July to September) the path can be slippery and leeches and mosquitoes come, though the forest looks very green. Weekends and holidays are crowded, with long ticket lines.

Is Beatles Ashram Worth Visiting?

Is Beatles Ashram worth visiting? My honest answer: yes, if you like the Beatles, old ruins, street art or quiet forest walks. No, if you want a temple with rituals or you do not like walking. The Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is not a grand monument. It is a broken, peaceful place with great graffiti, and the ticket is not cheap, especially for foreigners. Spend one to two hours at the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh, take your time, and it is a nice change from busy Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula.

Things to Do Near Beatles Ashram Rishikesh

There are many things to do near Beatles Ashram Rishikesh, and all of them are within a few km of the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh.

• Parmarth Niketan: about 1 km, the big ashram with the evening Ganga aarti on the ghat.
• Ram Jhula and Triveni Ghat: walk on the bridge, eat at small cafes, see the Ganga bathing steps.
• Laxman Jhula and the cafes of Tapovan: good for lunch, yoga classes and shopping.
• Gita Bhawan and Swarg Ashram: old temples with shops for books and Rudraksha.
• Hidden caves and waterfalls: if you have one more day, go to the caves and the Neer Garh waterfall.
• Henna, cooking and saree sessions: small local experiences we organise at Om Homestay in Upper Tapovan.

Beatles Ashram and Neelkanth Mahadev One Day Trip

This is a very easy plan, because the Beatles Ashram and Neelkanth Mahadev temple are on the same side of the river. Neelkanth Mahadev is around 30 km away, about 1 hour on the hill road. Here is the plan we give our guests.

1. 6:30 AM: leave Tapovan by taxi. The Neelkanth road is quiet and the queue at the temple is short in the early morning.
2. 8:00 AM: darshan and a small walk around the Neelkanth Mahadev temple, with a chai at the local stalls.
3. 10:30 AM: come back down and reach the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh just when it opens. Spend 1.5 to 2 hours inside.
4. 1:00 PM: lunch near Swarg Ashram or Ram Jhula.
5. 5:30 PM: evening Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan, then walk back along the river.

If you do not have a car, our taxi service in Rishikesh can arrange this full day trip, or you can book a Rishikesh day tour with us.

Where to Stay Near Beatles Ashram

Many guests ask where to stay near Beatles Ashram. The ashram side (Swarg Ashram) has many big ashrams and hotels, but it is more crowded and noisy near the bridge. I suggest Upper Tapovan, which is quiet, green and only a short auto ride away. From Om Homestay the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is a short ride, so guests go in the morning and are back for lunch. At Om Homestay we have simple, clean rooms in Upper Tapovan, you can see them on our rooms page. Breakfast is home style, and we can arrange the taxi for the Beatles Ashram and Neelkanth trip.

Beatles Ashram Rishikesh: Frequently Asked Questions