Tribune News Service
Dehradun, December 8
The “Chaurasi Kutia” ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at Rishikesh, where world famous band group “Beatles” stayed in 1968 during their journey for spiritual quest, has been thrown open to tourists after renovation.
Uttarakhand Forest Minister Dinesh Aggarwal formally reopened the ashram at a function today. Aggarwal said the ashram would attract “Beatles” fans from all over the world. More facilities would be made available there in the coming days, he said. Efforts would be made to invite the two surviving members of the “Beatles” group to the ashram, he added. “Beatles” singers John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr had come to learn meditation here in 1968.
Ringo Starr and Paul MacCartney are still alive. The Forest Department has renovated the ashram that had been in disuse for more than a decade after the expiry of its lease in 2000. A large number of foreigners had been showing interest in the ashram. The department would charge Rs 600 from every foreigner and Rs 150 from every Indian tourist visiting the ashram. It has been given a complete new look with proposal of using it for bird watching and nature walks.
“The ashram will be open from November to June as it is part of the Rajaji National park area,” said Neena, Director, Rajaji National Park. The bungalow of Mahesh Yogi, where “Beatles” learnt meditation would be a major attraction for their fans. Graffiti depicting “Beatles” and Mahesh Yogi has been done on the ashram walls to remind visitors of the significance of the place. Mahesh Yogi was allocated 15 acres of forest land near Rishikesh for his Ashram in 1961. He became an international name after John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr of “Beatles” toured India to learn meditation in February 1968. They came to Rishikesh from Liverpool for three-month meditation course, but none of them completed it.