The Beatles Ashram Rishikesh (the yoga capital of the world)
The Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is one of the iconic landmarks of Yoga capital city of India, many inbound travelers do not know about exactly what is Rishikesh but they know that there is Beatles Ashram in India where the Beatles visited in 1968 on their spiritual journey.
Today we discuss about everything you should know before visiting the Beatles ashram Rishikesh such as history, entry tickets, address, opening and closing timings, and distance from Rishikesh.
The Beatles in Rishikesh in 1968 (the yoga capital of the world)
“When you look up at the sky and see a cloud, think of me.” This is one of widely listened songs of the Beatles from their White Album.
If you are mystic songs lovers then the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is the best suited for your kind of person, and also, there is a lot more for art lovers too, the graffiti in a serene, historical place in the edge of the jungle of Rishikesh inside Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
But wait. Have you ever thought that why the Beatles came in the jungle of Rishikesh, what motivated them to come in India and why composed white album on the bank of the Ganges, and why they left this place and never turn back?
All your answers, you find when you come to visit Chaurasi Kutia Ashram (spiritual sanctuary of 84 cottages, designed to host spiritual seekers), in the west it is better known as the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh.
Meeting Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
When the Beatles met first time Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in London, they immediately Inspired by Indian spirituality, meditation, and his teachings about transcendental meditation, the Beatles decided quickly to follow the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and to go Rishikesh, in India for spiritually transformative journey.
The Beatles band (fab four) arrived in Rishikesh to visit ‘Chaurasi Kutiya Ashram’ ( The Beatles Ashram Rishikesh )to dive deep into transcendental meditation, and while their stay in ashram they composed 48 songs, later called White Album and it turned as most creative backdrop for them as songwriters. During their retreat here in the Beatles Ashram, they wrote most of songs tracks for their famous self-titled double album, commonly labeled as the “White Album.”
It was the year 1968, the Beatles came to Rishikesh to stay in this ashram but they did not have any fix plan to stay here from February to April, but Ringo Starr ( one of member of the Beatles ) could not manage stay as per plan and he left this place in 10 days, another member Mr. Paul McCartney , managed to stay anyhow for a month and after that he left the ashram, John Lennon and George Harrison, they managed to stay roughly six weeks and after they left, some local says that they had food problem and lack of living facilities and amenities provided by ashram forced them to leave early.
Why is The Beatles ashram abandoned?
Two decades after Beatles left, after Beatles Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s left this place to visit western countries to promote transcendental meditation teachings, after that this place the ashram was abandoned.
For your kind information, I would like share the reason behind “why is Beatles ashram abandoned “because Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had this place on lease for 40 years from the forest department of Uttarakhand, since the lease term was valid till 2000 but the forest department noticed that inside the ashram nobody is living, so, decide to ban entry of visitors, locked the gate and officially got total control, to make sure nobody can go inside.
After being left abandoned for many years since the 1990s, this place became most sought spot to visit among Beatles fans. People from all over the world coming here to see where the Beatles once stayed, learned meditation, composed the songs and spent special time together.
After seeing the surge in demand of visitors and socio-economic pressures, the forest department decide to open it in 2015.
A quick tour to Beatles Ashram
Once you cross the Ram Jhula suspension bridge on foot, from Sivananda ashram side and reach to Swarg Ashram area side, turn to right follow the pathway towards downstream, trail leads you to pass by Geeta Bhavan Ashram and world-famous Parmarth Niketan Ashram.
Parmarth Niketan Ashram to The Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is less than 1 km by walk, once you arrive at the front gate of the ashram “(Chaurasi Kutiya ), just immediate inside on the left, there is ticket window point, one has to buy the ticket to visit inside, foreign nationals pay INR 1200 per person and Indian Nationals pay INR 150 per person.
After buying ticket, follow a steep cemented paved pathway that takes you inside the Beatles Ashram, you’ll see on the right a magnificent cluster of 120 beehive shaped meditation huts. These concrete huts dates back to 1970s.
Every single dome-shaped hut with unique colorful designs and iconic symbol from Hindu scripture such as OM, Ram, Krishna etc., these huts were before in deserted conditions now renovated and offering many opportunities to spiritual seekers and photographers as the lush, tree-shaded hooded backgrounds offer perfect ambience throughout the day.
if you are here as spiritual retreat then these huts are the best for you such for chanting OM, echoing sound inside, if you are here as tourists then it allows you to explore creative angles to capture the essence of this serene space.
It’s easy for you to imagine that after visiting bustling side of Rishikesh, one must needed serene space and clean air. Inside the ashram, there are old lecture hall, also known as the “Beatles Cathedral,” you will see on the inner walls of it some fascinating of meaningful street arts, paintings, and poetry quoted from White Album.
Because of its colorful graffiti, beautiful paintings, and vibrant murals, the site has become a unique open-air art gallery. I am telling you seriously that it’s big site for artists, art enthusiasts and spiritual retreats.
As you walk through its corridors, you’ll feel that you are surrounded by artistic power. For artists and creators, there are several inspiring murals make it a site where your imaginations automatically run into wilderness.
And for art lovers, it’s a gold mine like a bonanza that is visually stunning, beautiful and highly pleasing which takes you into a deep exploration and discovery at every footstep. It’s not a luck that the Beatles lovers, spiritual seekers, travel bloggers and photographers coming to Rishikesh to experience its heritage, culture and history.
So, I do not know what kind of tourists you are but simply I advocate that this site for every one Whether you love art or just enjoy looking at beautiful scenery or serious spiritual person, the Beatles Ashram Rishikesh is undoubtfully an wonderful place to see. The spiritual heritage, the history, lush green serene space, soothing gurgling sound of holy river Ganga, colorful paintings and insightful surroundings make you feel excited, inspired, and full of new ideas.
The Beatles Ashram Timings
Opening time – 10:00 AM
Closing time – 04:00 PM
The Beatles ashram story
Where the Beatles had their most creative time
Among the Fab Four (four members) of the Beatles group who stayed in the ashram, Mr. George Harrison and Mr. John Lennon both gave most of their time to meditation and teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Though, the entire member of the band had profound transformative experience along with an immensely creative time for writing songs. Imagine footing on the same soil where The Beatles lived for short period and inspired to compose over 48 timeless songs.
They wrote here inspiring by holy mother Ganga, foot hills of Himalayas and of course by his Guru, composed the songs like “Julia” and “Dear Prudence,” which has been inspiring us since the Beatles did it.
George Harrison, the band’s lead guitarist, was inspired by the famous sitar player Pandit Ravi Shankar and learned to play the sitar from him only. Their visit in Rishikesh at the ashram helped them grow as musicians and created a special connection between the Beatles and Rishikesh that is still remembered today.