Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Southern portion of the Prasat Nakhon Luang
Prasat Nakhon Luang
Lenin’s Head, Tsinandali
The Tunnels of Tabor
What hidden tales lie buried beneath?
Pirate Grave, Portland
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The Codex Gigas (the Devil’s Bible) open to the portrait of the devil.
Codex Gigas: Who Drew the Devil in This Massive Medieval Bible?
about 14 hours ago
USDA and Washington State agriculture officials tagged this Asian giant hornet. Sept. 10, 2021.
What Ever Happened to the Murder Hornets?
1 day ago
The exterior of the Hall of Records.
Atlas Obscura Mailbag: Urban Exploration, Illegal Carvings, and Repeat Vacations
4 days ago
Biosphere 2 campus (2016)
Biosphere 2: How Volunteers Survived for 2 Years in an Airtight Habitat
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All India Rishikesh Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram
AO Edited

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram

The abandoned site of the Beatles spiritual awakening and subsequent revolt.

Rishikesh, India

Added By
chrisslater
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
A locally made sign points the way to the complex.   chrisslater / Atlas Obscura User
A locally made sign points the way to the complex.   chrisslater / Atlas Obscura User
Art in the Beatles Cathedral.   chrisslater / Atlas Obscura User
One of the overgrown meditation cells.   chrisslater / Atlas Obscura User
An empty administration building.   chrisslater / Atlas Obscura User
  johnbrodkin / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance to the complex   johnbrodkin / Atlas Obscura User
Meditation Huts   Trainboundfornowhere / Atlas Obscura User
The “Beatles Cathedral” in the center of the building housing the former meditation caves.   neutrino / Atlas Obscura User
  Trainboundfornowhere / Atlas Obscura User
Gazebo in front of the former home of the Maharishi   neutrino / Atlas Obscura User
Lecture Hall   Trainboundfornowhere / Atlas Obscura User
  Trainboundfornowhere / Atlas Obscura User
One of the bungalows the Beatles stayed in   johnbrodkin / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram in Rishikesh, India, is one of the few places associated with the Fab Four that has been largely abandoned.

Now remembered for its famous guests and not the teachings of its (possibly charlatan) yogi, the ashram saw the arrival of the Beatles in 1968. At the urging of George Harrison, the entire group traveled to the remote meditation center to study under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, but the band's peace was not destined to last.

The ashram consisted of meditation cells, a lecture hall, and a great number of purpose-built bungalows where the band stayed. Ringo Starr was the first to leave, citing a distaste for the vegetarian food, and was soon followed by Paul McCartney. George Harrison and John Lennon stuck around for a few weeks more, but after a confrontation with the Maharishi over his conduct among the female students, they too took their leave of the school. Despite having only stayed at the site for a short number of months, the band wrote a number of hit songs about their experience, ensuring the ashram would live in infamy.

Today the formerly transcendental complex is largely abandoned and the buildings are being retaken by the surrounding forest. The lecture hall has even been turned into an art project called the Beatles Cathedral with Beatles lyrics and pictures of the band painted all over the walls. The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram is a bit hard to find, but there are a number of enterprising locals who are more than willing to enlighten visitors for the right price.

The complex has now returned to government management as part of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, leading to the introduction of a small cafe, some signage, a photo gallery, and a 1200 rupee entrance fee for foreigners. While most of the buildings postdate the Beatles' visit, the bungalows they lived in are still (barely) standing and may be visited.

Related Tags

Meditation Music History Rock And Roll Music Abandoned

Know Before You Go

Entrance 150 rupees for Indians, 600 for foreigners. If not keen on the walk bring your own taxi and ask it to wait for you.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Delhi and Rajasthan: Colors of India

Discover Colorful Rajasthan: From Delhi to Jaipur and Beyond.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

chrisslater

Edited By

johnbrodkin, Pat Rick, neutrino, Trainboundfornowhere

  • johnbrodkin
  • Pat Rick
  • neutrino
  • Trainboundfornowhere

Published

November 7, 2012

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://solongstchristopher.tumblr.com/post/66102683096/the-beatles-old-ashram-in-rishikesh
  • http://runningblonde.com/beatles-ashram-rishikesh-marharishi-mahesh/
  • http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/uttarakhand-uttaranchal/rishikesh/sights/arts-culture-literary/maharishi-mahesh-yogi-ashram
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram
Rishikesh
India
30.112435, 78.311171

Nearby Places

Har Ki Pauri

Haridwar, India

miles away

Skeletons of Roopkund Lake

Chamoli, India

miles away

Nek Chand Saini's Rock Garden

Chandigarh, India

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of India

India

Asia

Places 354
Stories 107

Nearby Places

Har Ki Pauri

Haridwar, India

miles away

Skeletons of Roopkund Lake

Chamoli, India

miles away

Nek Chand Saini's Rock Garden

Chandigarh, India

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of India

India

Asia

Places 354
Stories 107

Related Stories and Lists

21 Places to Get Back Into the Beatles

List

By Michelle Cassidy

Beatles Monuments in Unexpected Places

By Michael Inscoe

Related Places

  • Kent, England

    The Glimmer Twins

    Two members of the Rolling Stones frozen forever in bronze.

  • Hamburg, Germany

    Beatles-Platz (Beatles Square)

    This red light district plaza memorializes the Fab Four and their historic connection to the area.

  • Site Of Strawberry Studios, Stockport

    Stockport, England

    Strawberry Studios

    Paul McCartney, Joy Division, and many others created era-defining music at this former recording studio.

  • The newly repainted house

    Hibbing, Minnesota

    Bob Dylan's Childhood Home

    Where one of America's greatest songwriters lived before he was Bob Dylan.

  • Zachary, Louisiana

    Teddy’s Juke Joint

    One of the last remaining venues on the Old Chitlin’ Circuit is a kaleidoscopic music hall at the end of a dirt road.

  • Neseblod Records

    Oslo, Norway

    Neseblod Records

    This record shop and unofficial black metal museum is an ode to Oslo's heaviest musical export.

  • A visitor admires the mural on the ramp where punk was born.

    Queens, New York

    'The Ramp'

    Where the four original members of the Ramones hung out and revolutionized punk rock.

  • “All the people that come and go…”

    Liverpool, England

    Penny Lane

    The Liverpool street made famous by the Beatles is real.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.