Beatles Ashram- A Must Visit Place In Rishikesh!

Beatles Ashram, also known as Chaurasi Kutia, is an ashram close to the north Indian city of Rishikesh in the state of Uttarakhand. It is located on the eastern bank of the Ganges river, opposite the Muni Ki Reti area of Rishikesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas. During the 1960s and 1970s, as the International Academy of Meditation, it was the training centre for students of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who devised the Transcendental Meditation technique. The ashram gained international attention between February and April 1968 when the English rock band the Beatles studied meditation there, along with celebrities such as Donovan, Mia Farrow and Mike Love. It was the setting for the band's most productive period as songwriters, where they composed most of the songs for their self-titled double album, also known as the "White Album".

It was one of many ashrams in the Rishikesh area, which is a place of religious significance and known as the "yoga capital of the world".

So Finally, after a long walk, I reached Beatles Ashram After buying the ticket, I received a leaflet where information and trail to be followed to the Ashram was written making it easier for the tourists to explore. I noticed a natural trail on the left side which one can take to enjoy natural beauty.

Walking ahead, I came across a path which has small bungalows on the other side that were cladded by moss but I didn’t make a visit inside all of them. And finally, I reached the most awaited building- Ved Bhawan also known as Beatles Cathedral. If you are a true Beatles fan, then the place would offer you a totally different feeling and you won’t have the desire to leave the place. Entering the hall, you would see the picture of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr on the right side. Not just this, but what consumed my attention in the entire hall was the humongous number of graffiti and drawings. Also, at the center stage, there is a place where Maharishi Mahesh (Gurudev) used to seat.

As I was walking by, I came across Anand Bhavan & Siddhi Bhavan which are the biggest buildings on the campus. The place was the residential quarters for those training to be teachers or taking advanced courses. What kept me gazing at the building was the slanting pyramidal walls that were really intriguing. I must say there was something mystical about this unusual shaped building which you need to experience by yourself.

Appearing to be a little haunted but what I found mysterious about this building was the writings on the walls that were weird yet interesting. It has beautiful wall art, graffiti, splendid architecture and the serenity of the place that makes the place a must-visit.

For those looking for peace, Beatles Ashram is the best place to visit in Rishikesh. Photography is the top thing to do in Beatles Ashram other than yoga and meditation. So, the Ashram is undoubtedly a perfect place for the nature photographers.

The ashram can be visited throughout the year. But consider planning your trip between October and April.

I would urge you to pay a visit to the Beatles Ashram whenever you plan a trip to Rishikesh!