AN abandoned spiritual retreat in the Indian town of Rishikesh where The Beatles learned to meditate has been opened to the public.

    The Beatles spent time at the 18-acre ashram, meditating and writing songs in 1968. Many of the songs made it onto the band’s iconic White Album. The ashram was run by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a flamboyant self-styled Indian guru, who died in 2008. It was abandoned by the guru and his followers in the 1970s.

    But the retreat remained a big draw for Beatles fans from all over the world. Authorities opened the ashram to visitors Tuesday, and are charging Indian and foreign tourists 150 (US$2.24) and 700 rupees respectively.

    (SD-Agencies)