The Beatles are widely known for their incredible success, but what you might not know is that they were also influenced by the music and culture of India. It was their relationship to Indian music traditions that brought them to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, India.
From 1968 to 1970, The Beatles traveled to India with the intention of studying transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at his ashram in Rishikesh. They had been searching for both spiritual enlightenment and a way out from under all their fame. The Beatles spent months in India, living on an ashram together and studying meditation with Maharishi.













The Beatles spent two weeks at the ashram practicing transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, learning more about Eastern philosophy and culture. They were given a secluded bungalow in which to stay, and they quickly adapted to the ashram lifestyle. They meditated every day, ate vegetarian food prepared by Maharishi's chef, slept relatively little (from five hours per night) and wrote many of their songs. It was a time of growth and change for the band, who were greatly influenced by their visit to India.

In this beautiful escape from the world they wrote many songs that would end up being released as part of their iconic "white album" including Back in the U.S.S.R., Blackbird, Rocky Raccoon, Sexy Sadie , Dear Prudence, and Mother Nature's Son.