Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh
temple · 924 m away
temple25 min from Rishikesh7 min walk from the road
Beatles Ashram, Rishikesh
The Chaurasi Kutia ashram above the Ganges where the Beatles studied meditation in 1968: ruined halls, stone domes and murals, 25 minutes from Rishikesh.
What it is
The Beatles Ashram, also called Chaurasi Kutia, is a ruined meditation centre on a forested cliff on the east bank of the Ganges, across the river from Muni Ki Reti in Rishikesh. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who taught Transcendental Meditation, leased the site in 1961. The Beatles studied there from February to April 1968, and Wikipedia says most of the songs for their double album known as the White Album were written in that period.
Photos: Chris Dyer Peru (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Sumita Roy Dutta (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Getting there
By road it is about 12.5 km and 25 minutes from the centre of Rishikesh on our routing, because the river separates the two banks. The old way in was across the Lakshman Jhula and a walk back downriver; Wikipedia says the Janki Setu bridge, 274 m long and opened in November 2020, now shortens it for pedestrians and two-wheelers. We have no verified rules on vehicles, tickets or hours, so ask before you set out.
The visit
The site was abandoned in the 1990s, went back to the forest department in 2003 and was formally opened to visitors in December 2015. What you see is a derelict ashram in jungle: a ruined lecture hall, broken bungalows, stone domes and a great deal of painted art. Fans left graffiti for years, and a mural project began in 2016. Our photographs show a dome covered end to end in bright patterns and a signboard beside another group of domes that says they were built from 1976 to 1978. Wikipedia says four small stone-clad domes were put up for the Beatles in 1968, so do not assume the ones you see are the originals.
Wikipedia describes a plan for a full renovation and a museum; we have no word on whether it has happened, so the site may look different when you arrive.
When to go
Rishikesh is hottest in May and June, with an average maximum of about 40 °C, and wettest in July, so the cooler months from October to March are easier for the walk. See when to visit Rishikesh.
Around it
Lakshman Jhula is 10 minutes from the centre by road, and Parmarth Niketan stands by the Ram Jhula. The one-day plan puts the ashram first.
Plans that include this
All 2 plans that stop here →
Day plan · First visitTemples & heritage
One day in Rishikesh — Beatles Ashram, Lakshman Jhula and the evening aarti
A one-day Rishikesh plan: the ruined Beatles Ashram in the morning, the Lakshman Jhula bank after lunch and the sunset aarti at Parmarth Niketan. Free to copy.
Best Jan–Mar · Oct–Dec
See the plan →
1 night · 2 days · First visitTemples & heritage
Two days in Rishikesh — the bridges, the ghats and Neelkanth Mahadev
A two-day Rishikesh plan: the Beatles Ashram, both bridges and the Parmarth Niketan aarti on day one, then the Neelkanth Mahadev temple. Free to copy.
Best Jan–Mar · Oct–Dec
See the plan →Nearby places
Questions people ask
What is the Beatles Ashram?
The Chaurasi Kutia ashram on a forested cliff above the east bank of the Ganges, where Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ran a meditation training centre. The Beatles studied there between February and April 1968, and wrote much of the White Album. It was abandoned in the 1990s and formally opened to visitors in December 2015.
Are the stone domes the ones the Beatles used?
Not necessarily. Wikipedia says four dome-shaped caves were built for the Beatles' stay in 1968, but a sign at the site, visible in our photograph, says the meditation caves were constructed from 1976 to 1978 for sannyasis and brahmacharis. We cannot tell you which domes are which, so ask at the gate.
How far is the Beatles Ashram from Rishikesh?
About 12.5 km and 25 minutes by road from the centre of Rishikesh on our routing, on the east bank of the river. In the 1960s visitors crossed on the Lakshman Jhula bridge and walked, and Wikipedia says the Janki Setu bridge, opened in November 2020, now shortens the way.