Beatles Ashram Rishikesh India: Interesting Story and Facts

Rishikesh is once  was the center of yoga and meditation worldwide, the 84 Kuti of Rishikesh have now become ruins. The 84 Kutias established by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, now known as Beatles Ashram Rishikesh India. It is ashram which made Rishikesh famous worldwide as a meditation and yoga center.

Maharishi Yogi’s effort: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1962 had built the 84 Kuti, a grand ashram, and a meditation hall for meditation. Uttar Pradesh government allowed to take this place on lease for 20-years.

Overview: Beatles Ashram Rishikesh India 

This place, famous as the Beatles Ashram, is also known as the 84 Kuti. Spread over 18 acres, the Beatles Ashram is located inside the Rajaji National Park on the banks of the Ganga river in Rishikesh. Built in 1961, in this 84 Kuti, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi provided education in yoga and meditation.

People from India and abroad came here to practice meditation. The famous Beatles band from Britain came here in the 1960s for meditation and peace. The four members of the Beatles rock band — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr — came to Rishikesh in 1968 and stayed at this ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, where they learned meditation.

This is the reason why Beatles fans still come here in their name. While staying in this ashram, the Beatles wrote about 40 songs, which were later included in their famous albums ‘White Album‘ and ‘Abbey Road‘.

Participation of Experts:

Around 60 meditation experts from around the world participated in it. Besides the Beatles — Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon — many Hollywood artists also came here from time to time to learn meditation and yoga.

Beatles stayed here and composed  48 songs, which were included in their famous albums White Album and Yellow Submarine. According to Ajit Singh, owner of Pratap Music Company, the Beatles brothers also composed the song in Dehradun which is 40 km far from Rishikesh, but it was not released. In fact, in the 1960s, the craze for the Beatles was at its peak worldwide.

When the lease ended, became ruins: In 1981, when the lease of this ashram ended, the government added  it to be a part of  Rajaji National Park, restricting any kind of movement here and declared it a prohibited area.

The Maharishi also went to Holland in 1983, but Beatles fans and followers of the Maharishi still strive to see this ashram. The Maharishi, while staying in Rishikesh, was the first to start river rafting here with wooden rafts, which has now become a major business.

Suggested Read: Beatles Meeting Tata Wale Baba in Rishikesh inside his cave

Chaurasi Kutia

Chaurasi Kutia is not just an ashram, but a living symbol of the soul of Rishikesh. This place is such a unique confluence of spirituality, music and nature, where every person who comes definitely gains something – someone peace, someone inspiration, and someone a memorable experience.

The energy here gives people of every age a chance to look within themselves and connect with themselves, which truly makes it special. The famous rock band The Beatles came to Rishikesh in search of peace, where they took shelter at the ‘84 Kutia’.

Beatles Ashram

Built in 1961, this ashram—now popularly known as the Beatles Ashram—is also called Chaurasi Kutia. It was established by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to teach yoga and meditation. Spread over 18 acres, the Beatles Ashram is located inside Rajaji National Park, along the banks of the Ganga River in Rishikesh.

Fab Four The Beatles

For music lovers, the name of the Beatles group and their songs are like a document. These songs taught countless people worldwide the spirit of living, love, and friendship, but according to the news of 1968, in the Beatles group that created sensational songs, there was very little love and friendship among them.

By  Beatles band were being worshipped like gods all over the world, among themselves there was only what remained for mutual trust and brotherhood.

Controversy

This period in Rishikesh was not easy for the Beatles. In John Lennon’s life, Yoko Ono had arrived, and Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison strongly disliked Yoko’s involvement and interference in the band’s activities.

Arguments among the four band members became a daily occurrence. Ringo was even thinking about leaving the band. Although in the same year, in August, he temporarily left the band for some time, he could not stay away for long and rejoined the band.

In the life of the Beatles, there was immense money, and even more than money, there was fame. People were crazy about their music.

Amid popularity and immense fame, what the band members needed the most was peace and tranquility. The band came to find calmness for themselves in the serene world of Rishikesh, situated on the banks of the Ganga in India.

At Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram, they took a course related to meditation. For 3 months, all four stayed in the ashram, and during this period they wrote 40 songs. Out of these, 18 songs were recorded and included in the band’s album called ‘The Beatles‘.

In Memory of Lennon

It has been 35 years since Lennon’s death. Mark David Chapman shot him on 8 December 1980. On the occasion of Lennon’s anniversary, the Uttarakhand government opened Maharishi Yogi’s ashram for the public on Tuesday. People now know this ashram as the Beatles Ashram. The ticket price to visit the ashram for foreigners was ₹600, while for Indians it was ₹150.”

Beatles Ashram

When it opened for Public

This ashram was being run by Maharishi Yogi until 2003. Since then, tourists were not allowed to visit. On Tuesday, it was opened for the public. This place comes under the Rajaji Tiger Reserve.

Spread over 18.75 acres, it was necessary to get permission from the National Tiger Conservation Authority to open this ashram. Only after getting  permission was the ashram opened to the general public.

On this occasion, the State Forest Minister Dinesh Agrawal said, “We want musicians from all over the world to come here and practice Sadhna and meditation. The 84 Kuti Ashram will be known worldwide for its spiritual significance. This place is full of biodiversity, soundproof huts, and natural coolness. There is no match for this place.”

“The Maharishi built this ashram in 1961. This forest land was given to him on a 20-year lease. After the lease ended in 1981, the Yogi left this place in 2003 along with his followers.

In 2003, this area was included in the forest department’s jurisdiction, and it was opened for tourists in 2015.

The Beatles did not get much help from Sadhna. In 1970, this band broke up. The songs they wrote while staying in this ashram are still considered very special and a milestone.

Beatles Ashram Entry Fee and Timings

When planning your visit to the Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh, here are some essential tips to enhance your experience:

• Entry Fee: Today, to  enter the Beatles Ashram, the Forest Department charges ₹200 from Indian visitors and ₹1200 from foreign visitors.
• Timings: The ashram is open to visitors daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, making it convenient for guests to explore at their own pace throughout the day.

Why Beatles come to Rishikesh?

Before visiting the Beatles Rishikesh, it is important to know about a statement of John Lennon, because of that he was called Anti-Christ worldwide.

In fact, during an interview in 1966, he said that “he himself is more famous than Jesus Christ.” After this, he was called Anti-Christ across the world, including America, and in several countries, their songs were even banned. Due to the continuously growing opposition, they had to leave their music tour and return home.

The last song of the Beatles

After leaving India, by 1970 the Beatles group had already broken up. After that, all the members were engaged in releasing separate albums and singing separately from each other.

However, during this period, the songs written by Lennon were still being liked. Meanwhile, in 1973, Beatles member Ringo Starr released an album, for which John Lennon sang a song. This was the last time that all the Beatles members appeared together in any album.

How Rishikesh get its name?

According to mythological stories, since the Satya Yuga  Rishikesh has been a place for Yoga and Meditation for Rishis and sages .

In the ancient time there is a  Shri Bharat Temple which is located here, Raibhya Rishi and Som Rishi performed penance for Lord Vishnu.

After this, Lord Narayan was pleased with their penance and gave them Darshan. One of the names of Lord Vishnu is Hrishikesh, due to which this place is known as Hrishikesh today. But in common language, people started calling this place as Rishikesh, that is why today it is known as Rishikesh.

FAQ

Q. How far is the Beatles Ashram from Laxman Jhula?
A. The Beatles Ashram is located within walking distance, just 1.5 km away from Laxman Jhula.

Q. How far is the Beatles Ashram from Ram Jhula?
A. The Beatles Ashram is also within walking distance, approximately 1 km away from Ram Jhula.

Q. What are the ticket prices for the Beatles Ashram?
A. The entry fee for the Beatles Ashram is INR 1200 per person for foreigners and INR 200 for Indian nationals.

Q. What are the visiting hours for the Beatles Ashram?
A. The Beatles Ashram is open from 10 AM to 4 PM for visitors to explore and immerse themselves in its rich history.

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