Uttarakhand or ‘Devbhoomi’ is not just a state. It is immensely treasured with inestimable landmarks, right from spirituality to wildlife destinations and undoubtedly the scenic attractions of snow-capped mountains and other locations. Nestled on the lap of Uttarakhand is one such iconic gem, Rajaji National Park, largely preferred by wildlife and adventure admirers.
Nestled in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, Rajaji National Park rests amid the pristine nature, untouched by any urban sprawl. This is a perfect gateway location for detoxification from the regular commotion. Along with wildlife encounters in Rajaji National Park, there are several nearby locations lying adjacent to the national park, which are mostly temples like the Chandi Devi Temple, Shree Neelkanth Mahadev Temple and a few more. But the Beatles Ashram stands out from the others. The area of Beatles Ashram is encompassed in the safari zone of Rajaji National Park, but jeep safaris are not done in this zone.
Experience Jeep Safari in Rajaji National Park
Although there are 6 zones of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, jeep safaris are conducted only in Chilla, Motichur and Ranipur Range. Rajaji jeep safari is conducted in two shifts, morning and evening, for 3 hours each. The time slots of morning and evening safaris are 7:00 am to 10:00 am and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm respectively. The process of booking jeep safaris for Rajaji National Park gets smooth and easy with the advance booking procedure in simple steps.
Choose your preferred date and slot. Next, choose the safari zone for jeep safari, determine your nationality and enter the necessary details such as the total number of adults or children travelling with their respective ID proofs and numbers. Also provide your active contact number and email ID for an unhindered communication, if required. Both the morning and evening jeep safaris offer a unique experience, taking you deep down into the natural habitat of many wild animals. The untamed wilderness and mesmerising nature are the constant companions throughout the jeep safari at Rajaji National Park.
Visiting the Beatles Ashram
Beatles Ashram was originally known as Chaurasi Kuti, translating to 84 huts for meditation. The entire area of the Beatles Ashram spans over 14 acres, and the dedicated land encompasses numerous buildings - the home of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a residential building, a kitchen, an ancient temple, a library and the meditation huts. These 84 huts are uniquely designed in the shape of bee hives.
Going down the history lane, the land was leased by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi from the forest department of Uttarakhand in 1960. In February 1968, the Beatles arrived in India in search of inner peace and they stayed and meditated in these bee-hive-shaped huts for 8 weeks. During that span, no one was allowed to enter the premises to continue their meditation without any intervention.
The Beatles Ashram went into bad shape after Maharishi Mahesh Yogi departed from in 1981. However, in December 205 the ashram was revived and opened for tourism purposes. At present, tourists visit this place to marvel at the exclusive architecture of the Chaurasi Kutis amid dense flora and a different aura. The artistic expressions through the murals and graffiti painted on the walls, the bee-hive domes for meditation and the amazing nature walk entices thousands of tourists. Eventually, the Beatles Ashram has surfaced as a prominent tourist landmark in Rishikesh with Rajaji Tiger Reserve in the adjacent area.
