‘Chaurasi Kutiya’ to be developed as a Heritage Tourist Destination

• 04 Aug 2023

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on August 3, 2023, Chaurasi Kutiya, a historical site located at Swargashram in Rishikesh, will be developed as a heritage tourist destination. For this, HCP Design Management Company will prepare the master plan.

Key Points:

• It is known that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Tapasthali Chaurasi Kutiya in Tirthanagari is associated with the memory of the world's famous international band group Beatles. Tourists from all over the world come to Chaurasi Kutia, but this place has not yet been developed in terms of tourism.
• Now the government has planned to develop it as International Heritage Tourism Destination. Since Chaurasi Kutiya is in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve area, permission will also be taken from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
• It is worth mentioning that in the year 1961, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had built Chaurasi Kutiya Ashram in 7.5 hectares of forest land in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve area. He had taken the forest land on lease for about 40 years. During this, he had constructed 140 domed cottages and 84 small meditation yoga cottages and others in the ashram.
• In the year 1968, four members of England's famous Beatles group John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came to Chaurasi Kutiya to meditate. These people used to meditate in cottage number nine.
• He stayed here for about four months. In these four months, he composed the tune of 40 songs here, which foreigners still listen to with fascination. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi left this cottage in the year 1989 and went to Holland due to the expiry of the lease of forest land. In the year 2000, the forest department took over this ashram.