Beatles Ashram (Chaurasi Kutia)
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand · exhibition
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry Fee₹150
The Beatles Ashram — historically Chaurasi Kutia, meaning "eighty-four huts" — is one of Rishikesh's most atmospheric heritage sites: the crumbling, jungle-swallowed meditation retreat where the Beatles came to study Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in early 1968. Set across roughly 14 acres of Rajaji forest on the quiet east bank of the Ganga, opposite the Muni Ki Reti and Swarg Ashram areas, the compound was leased to the Maharishi's movement in the 1960s and grew into an international ashram of lecture halls, a printing press, a post office, and dozens of distinctive stone meditation cells shaped like tall beehive domes. When the lease lapsed in the 1980s the site was abandoned, and for decades the forest reclaimed it — until the Uttarakhand forest department reopened it to visitors in 2015 as a ticketed heritage and nature site within the Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Swarg Ashram lane eateries (near Parmarth Niketan) - numerous pure-vegetarian thali and South Indian spots serving the pilgrim crowd; Rishikesh is a vegetarian, alcohol-free city, so the whole area is meat-free.
- ✦Chotiwala, Swarg Ashram - a long-running pure-vegetarian thali institution near Ram Jhula; hearty North Indian meals (please confirm current hours).
- ✦Ram Jhula and Tapovan vegetarian cafes - reported pure-veg bakery-style cafes serving South Indian tiffin, parathas and juices; verify the individual outlet, as menus change.
- ✦Little Buddha Cafe / Tapovan cafe strip - reported vegetarian riverside cafes a short auto ride away; confirm they are pure-veg before ordering.
About
The Beatles Ashram — historically Chaurasi Kutia, meaning "eighty-four huts" — is one of Rishikesh's most atmospheric heritage sites: the crumbling, jungle-swallowed meditation retreat where the Beatles came to study Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in early 1968.
- Set across roughly 14 acres of Rajaji forest on the quiet east bank of the Ganga, opposite the Muni Ki Reti and Swarg Ashram areas, the compound was leased to the Maharishi's movement in the 1960s and grew into an international ashram of lecture halls, a printing press, a post office, and dozens of distinctive stone meditation cells shaped like tall beehive domes.
- When the lease lapsed in the 1980s the site was abandoned, and for decades the forest reclaimed it — until the Uttarakhand forest department reopened it to visitors in 2015 as a ticketed heritage and nature site within the Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
- The experience today is part ruin, part open-air gallery.
- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, along with companions such as Donovan and Mia Farrow, spent several weeks here in February and March 1968, a retreat that proved astonishingly productive: much of the material that became the White Album, plus songs later scattered across other records, was written in these huts overlooking the river.
- Visitors wander overgrown paths between the domed kutis and the larger "eighty-four" meditation blocks, many now covered in vivid murals, Beatles lyrics, mandalas and graffiti added by later artists — the painted "Beatles Cathedral Gallery" in one long hall is the most photographed corner.
- The mood is contemplative and green rather than commercial: birdsong, filtered light, peeling plaster and Himalayan foothills.
- For food, the ashram itself has no eatery, so plan to eat across in Swarg Ashram or Ram Jhula, which are among the easiest places in India to eat well as a vegetarian — Rishikesh is a holy city that is vegetarian and alcohol-free by law.
- Expect satvik thalis, South Indian tiffin, and German-bakery-style cafes, all pure-veg.
- Carry water, wear comfortable shoes for uneven ground, and allow a slow ninety minutes to two hours to take it all in.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Chaurasi Kutia, near Swarg Ashram, east bank of the Ganga, inside Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249304
How to Reach: On the east bank of the Ganga near Swarg Ashram, inside Rajaji Tiger Reserve. From Ram Jhula, cross the footbridge to the Swarg Ashram side and walk about 1.5 km south (15-20 minutes) past Parmarth Niketan to the gated entrance. Auto-rickshaws and shared vikrams run to Ram Jhula from Rishikesh town and Tapovan; there is no metro. The final stretch to the ticket gate is on foot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the entry fee for the Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh?
Entry is reported at around Rs 150 for Indian nationals and about Rs 600 for foreign nationals, collected by the Uttarakhand forest department as it lies inside the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Fees are revised periodically, so please confirm the current rate at the ticket gate.
What are the Beatles Ashram timings?
The site is generally open daily from about 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with the last entry earlier in winter and on foggy days. Timings are set by the forest department and change seasonally, so it is wise to arrive by mid-afternoon and confirm locally before you go.
Why is the Beatles Ashram famous?
This is the abandoned ashram, historically called Chaurasi Kutia, where the Beatles came in early 1968 to study Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. During their weeks here they wrote much of the music that became the White Album. Today the forest-swallowed meditation domes are covered in murals, lyrics and graffiti, making it an evocative open-air heritage gallery.
How do I reach the Beatles Ashram?
It sits on the east bank of the Ganga near Swarg Ashram. From Ram Jhula, cross the footbridge to the Swarg Ashram side and walk roughly 1.5 km south past Parmarth Niketan (about 15-20 minutes) to the gated entrance. Autos and shared vikrams reach Ram Jhula from Rishikesh town and Tapovan; there is no metro, and the last stretch is on foot.
How much time should I spend at the Beatles Ashram?
Allow a relaxed 90 minutes to two hours. You will want time to wander the overgrown paths between the beehive-shaped meditation huts, climb into the larger blocks, and photograph the painted Beatles Cathedral Gallery. Wear comfortable shoes for uneven ground and carry water, as there is no shop or eatery inside.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the Beatles Ashram?
There is no food inside the ashram, but you are steps from Swarg Ashram and Ram Jhula, which are entirely vegetarian and alcohol-free, as is all of Rishikesh. You will find pure-veg thali halls, South Indian tiffin spots and bakery-style cafes; Chotiwala near Ram Jhula is a long-running vegetarian thali institution. Do confirm hours, as many close in the afternoon.
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