RUINS OF A MEMORIAL

BEATLES ASHRAM-RISHIKESH

                                               

We all must have known about the famous British Rock Band the Beatles formed in Liverpool in 1960. But do you know that they also visited Rishikesh, India for the Transcendental Meditation at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Ashram?

Until some years ago, the abandoned ashram in Rishikesh was just a ruin amidst yoga capital. Maharishi's ashram is situated in a beautiful area within the Rajaji National Park beside the river Ganga. Ashram came into limelight when it housed the members of the legendary rock band the Beatles in 1968. With time the ashram turned into ruin and it was abandoned in 1997. It is believed that the ashram’s land was on lease for 99 years and when the time period of 99 years got completed government took over its land and if was, therefore, left unrestricted.

 After years of ignorance, Uttarakhand’s Forest Department then converted the ashram into an eco-friendly destination for tourists. There is a nominal entry fee to visit; Rs 40/- for anyone up to 18 years of age, Rs 75/- for a college student, Rs 150/- for India National, and Rs 600/- for foreigners.  

The Beatles came at the Ashram along with their family, support staff and few reporters in February 1968. They came just to get advanced training about Transcendental Meditation. There were sessions that were conducted by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at his ashram. It is believed that the whole period of the band stay was their most productive time period. They were also tracked by media as well, which also helped in highlighting the place. They, however, wrote 48 songs most of them ending up on the White Album which was released later that year. 

First, George Harrison and John Lennon and later Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr arrived in the ashram respectively. They were also accompanied by Singer Donovan, actress Mia Farrow and the Beach Boys’ Mike Love.  Alon with them some notables ones were Paul Horn, John Farrow, Nancy Cooke de Herrera, Tim Simcox, Jenny Boyd, Lewis Lapham,  Mal Evans, Alexis Mardas. They stayed there for weeks and it was a uniquely calm and creative oasis for them which was all about Meditation, Vegetarian food and serene beauty of Ganga and foothills of the Himalayas.

Life at an ashram is like a summer camp and so was the Maharishi’s ashram. The Maharishi’s ashram was built in 1963 and was funded by a $100,000 donation from American heiress Doris Duke. It was covered in 14 acres of forest area. The land consisted of six bungalows each having five to six double rooms, along with flower beds of red hibiscus and several vegetable gardens. There was also a post office, lecture hall, swimming pool, and an open kitchen.  There were also 84 Meditation Caves.

After it was left to decay for more than three decades, the number of buildings was destroyed, in 2003 the local forestry department took over the site and 12 years later the ashram was recreated as a tourist attraction. The walls of the ashram were painted as part of an art project. One can see beautiful graffiti while walking down the grounds that were once walked by legends. Beatles Ashram is undoubtedly a beautiful attraction for someone to explore Rishikesh. One should not miss this place.