A long empty spiritual retreat in northern India which played an important role in the Beatles’ history has been opened as a tourist attraction.
The Rishikesh ashram, located on the banks of the Ganges river in Uttarakhand, was the former home of guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who famously hosted the Fab Four there in 1968 to teach transcendental meditation.
It has been a pilgrimage site for Beatles’ fans even though it has remained derelict since the 1970s.
The group penned many songs from their iconic ‘White Album’ there during their stay.
It has undergone renovation over the last few months and was reopened this week on the 35th anniversary of the death of John Lennon.
"We want to conserve the place and retain its original charm," said D.V.S. Khati, Uttarakhand’s chief wildlife warden.
"We plan to have a yoga centre here as well soon. We hope the ashram in its new avatar will give a major boost to tourism in the region."
Entry fees have been set at 150 rupees for Indians and 700 rupees for foreign visitors.
