Abandoned Indian ashram where Beatles wrote 48 songs and went on spiritual journey is set to be resurrected as tourist attraction.The retreat where the Fab Four learned meditation from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has been derelict for years
- The Beatles visited the ashram in India in 1968
- While they were passing the time at the ashram they penned around 48 songs.
It's
where The Beatles wrote 48 songs and learned how to meditate - and now
it's going to be spruced up and turned into tourist attraction.
The
Indian retreat in the Himalayan foothills where the Fab Four learned
transcendental meditation from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has been derelict
for years, but now it's going to be completely renovated.
The
Beatles visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh in 1968.
The visit involved them staying in the now derelict igloo shaped Chaurasi
Kutia huts in the ashram.
The Indian retreat in the Himalayan
foothills where the Fab Four learned transcendental meditation from
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has been derelict for years
The visit by The Beatles involved them staying in the now
derelict igloo shaped Chaurasi Kutia huts in the ashram
The Beatles visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh in 1968. It's been a pilgrimage for Beatles fans ever since
The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi developed
the Transcendental Meditation technique and was the leader and guru of a
worldwide organization
The property was allowed to go
derelict but now the Uttarakhand government is planning to renovate the
rundown ashram, which is nestled in the Himalayan foothills, in a bid to
promote ecotourism
The
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi developed the Transcendental Meditation technique
and was the leader and guru of a worldwide organization. In the late
1960s and early 1970s, the Maharishi achieved fame through his role as
the guru to the Beatles.
And
while they were passing the time at his ashram they penned around 48
songs, including Back in the USSR, Dear Prudence (inspired by Mia
Farrow's sister, Prudence, who was staying at the ashram at the same
time) and I'm So Tired (which Lennon wrote after suffering from three
weeks of poor sleep at the ashram).
The
land used by the Maharishi was provided by the Uttar Pradesh Forest
Department on a 20-year lease and when it expired the Maharishi moved to
the Netherlands and the government reclaimed the land.
The project will include a small museum which will show photographs of the Beatles' 1968 visit in a hall of the ashram
Paul Saltzman, a Canadian film
director and producer, who stayed at the ashram with The Beatles and has
written a book based on those experiences, praised the move: 'It's a
brilliant idea for the Uttarakhand government'
Neena Grewal, Director of the Rajaji
National Park, where the ashram is, said: 'We want to revive the
Beatles' connection to the ashram'
The
property was allowed to go derelict but now the Uttarakhand government
is planning to renovate the rundown ashram, which is nestled in the
Himalayan foothills, in a bid to promote ecotourism.
The project will include a small museum which will show photographs of the Beatles' 1968 visit in a hall of the ashram.
Neena
Grewal, Director of the Rajaji National Park, where the ashram is,
said: 'We want to revive the Beatles' connection to the ashram, as a lot
of tourists come here because of it. We will restore the huts, as a
part of promoting ecotourism in Chaurasi Kutiya. We will submit a
detailed proposal to the government soon.'
Paul
Saltzman, a Canadian film director and producer, who stayed at the
ashram with The Beatles and has written a book based on those
experiences, praised the move: 'It's a brilliant idea for the
Uttarakhand government to refurbish the ashram where the Beatles were in
1968.
'It
makes complete sense to promote eco-friendly tourism in the area, as
well as to honour and celebrate, not only the Beatles' visit, but also
the impact they had on spreading more news of the value of meditation
and yoga to the West.'
The Beatles, Jane Asher, and Cynthia Lennon sit in front
of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at the Maharishi's meditation centre at
Rishikesh in 1968
No comments:
Post a Comment