Abandoned Hindu monastery transformed by graffiti art

The ashram in Rishikesh, India, is located in the foothills of the Himalayas, an area known as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World.’

Seen as a holy city by Hindus, Rishikesh has been a place of worship for centuries and gets visitors from all around the world coming to see the numerous temples and monasteries.

During her time travelling through the holy sites, British photographer Kashfi Halford, 39, visited a monastery or ashram that once belonged to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a spiritual leader to both the Beatles and The Beach Boys.

She said: “I was staying at the Ayurveda Bhavan clinic in Rishikesh, I had met a group of Australians who were practising transcendental (Vedic) mediation. They invited me to go with them on a day trip to the abandoned ashram, as Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was the guru of their practice of meditation.”

Closed for good in 1997, the ashram has been left to decay by the local government, but has been given a new lease of life through the artwork of visitors.

The ashram received worldwide recognition during the 60’s as it was a stomping ground for the rich and famous, who were keen to learn more about meditation.

The landmark has been left to decay after years of neglect. However due to the famous faces that have visited the ashram many visitors have left their mark on the crumbling walls in the form of beautiful art work and graffiti.

Kashfi, who took the pictures in March 2016, said: “The ashram and land is under the control of the local government and the forestry department, and is encompassed within a large tiger reserve. Maharishi’s own house and the guesthouse where the Beatles stayed and apparently wrote much of the White Album is still standing.

"It has become a sanctuary for graffiti artists to express themselves, many paying tribute to the Beatles or the Maharishi.”

“You can spend hours there and not see another soul, walking around it feels like a rock ’n' roll version of Angkor Wat. The alchemical combination of the decaying buildings, artwork, wild nature and the energy from over 30 years of transcendental meditation, makes it a magical space to get lost in.”

The ashram is now part of a tiger reserve and is slowly being overtaken by the nearby jungle, however little will deter the droves of people who visit the holy site to pay tribute to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Beatles.

Kashfi added: “I don’t think there are any plans to renovate. The ashram buildings in the jungle are within a much larger area which is now a protected tiger reserve, so I think it will be kept the way it is, as a memorial to the times of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.”