Inside the Beatles' abandoned Indian ashram that keeps visitors coming decades later

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.

The Beatles Ashram—fondly called Chaurasi Kutia (84 huts) by locals—rests on the eastern banks of the Ganges River. Initially, it was the International Academy of Meditation, where followers of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi sought enlightenment through Transcendental Meditation. However, it truly captured the world’s attention during the dynamic decades of the 1960s and ‘70s.

For some visitors, the haunting atmosphere can be disappointing all these decades later.