š¶ Inside The Beatles' abandoned Indian ashram
The former rock star retreat is now a run-down pilgrimage destination
HiĀ Religion UnpluggedĀ readers,
In 1968, the Beatles visited an Indian ashram tucked away on the eastern banks of the Ganges River to study Transcendental Meditation with its founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It was here, during their spiritual journey of self-discovery, that they wrote the seminal āWhite Album.ā
The Beatlesā public image became entwined with the Maharishi and his teachings for some time, and Transcendental Meditation notably became more popular because of the bandās endorsement.
Today, the ashram stands in ruin; it hasnāt been occupied since the 1970s, when it first fell into disrepair. Some visitors even say the retreat ālooks haunted.ā Many still visit the ashram, both to feel connected to the Beatlesā spiritual journey and to pay respects to the Maharishiās teachings.
In todayās top story, contributor Shadab Farooq reports on the history of the ashram ā including the Fab Fourās famous visit ā as well as contentious attempts to rennovate the buildings in recent years.
Inside The Beatlesā Abandoned Indian Ashram That Keeps Visitors Coming Decades Later
(TRAVEL) The path to the Beatles Ashram, once the tranquil retreat of the famous British band, is now overgrown with lush plants reclaiming the crumbling structures. Tucked away in the Himalayan foothills, this abandoned Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram was a brief escape for the Beatles from their hectic lives in the spotlight. Decades later, fans find this site a place they must visit. by Shadab Farooq
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See more photos of the Beatlesā ashram in todayās top story.
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