Travel Abandonned - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram - Rishikesh (Beatles Ashram)

[pdurand]

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram is the ashram of the famous Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who started the Transcendental Meditation movement. Although it was abandoned back in 1997, it has now been taken under the control of the forest department. In 1968, the ashram rose to fame and placed Rishikesh on the global map when the famous rock band, ‘The Beatles’ stayed here. It eventually fell into disrepair, but even today, below the undergrowth of moss and grass, the impressive styled buildings, meditation huts and lecture halls can still be seen, including the Maharishi’s house and the place at which the Beatles stayed. (From Times of India)

The Beatles stayed there only few weeks in 1968 but peoples still call this place "Beatles Ashram". At its peak, the ashram could accommodate a thousand people. As we were not informed, during our visit we were stunned by the scale of the site and facilities.

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Habitation

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Habitation

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Meditation huts

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Photos exhibition (photos by Paul Saltzman)

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Story of the Guru

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Habitations

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Meditation huts

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The house of the Guru

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The Hall

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Habitations

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Can't remember the purpose of this building...

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Inside an habitation

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Habitation

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[pdurand]

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[rayvonn]

The Beatles trip there is well documented as one would expect, but I wonder if any of them ever went back in the intervening 55 years, even if just to visit.

 

[pdurand]

The Beatles trip there is well documented as one would expect, but I wonder if any of them ever went back in the intervening 55 years, even if just to visit.

I think that the only one to be really interested by Indian spirituality and culture was Georges Harrison and, as a friend of Ravi Shankar, returned many times in India. But I think that no one of them returned to the ashram that was abandoned in 1977.

 

[Richard]

Any sign of Ringo's old baked bean tins?

I love the two murals of the band with and without the Maharishi. Very striking.

-R

 

[Irene McC]

Wonderful. What a fascinating series of images; deeply interesting to see how nature is starting to take over again
yet the wall art of the Beatles remains.

My aunt several times removed was at Rishikesh at the same time as the Beatles, Mia Farrow, Donovan and the Beach Boys.
She sent me some snapshots of herself with the Beatles and the general group and ashram at the time. I treasured those!

Several moves and many decades later, they've sadly been lost now

 

[Herbert Hound]

Here's a link to the documentary "The Beatles in India" which is all about their stay at the ashram.