DEHRADUN, INDIA • An abandoned spiritual retreat in northern India where The Beatles famously learnt to meditate has been opened to the public, with plans to turn it into a touristy yoga centre.

The Beatles stayed at the ashram, sited in the Himalayan foothills, in 1968 to learn transcendental meditation from its guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It became derelict after the yogi abandoned the place in the 1970s.

The authorities began cleaning it up months ago for Tuesday's opening, exactly 35 years after John Lennon was assassinated.

The Beatles wrote many of their songs for their famous White Album during and immediately after their stint at the ashram.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE