Despite ceasing operations over a decade ago, a post office in Rishikesh continues to remain in the news. Postcards dispatched by the Beatles from there, during their stay in 1968, remains hot favourites among collectors and feature regularly in auctions held in the UK. Every time any Indian postcard used by the Beatles is placed for auction, it brings fresh memories of the spiritual tour of the boys from Liverpool to the Indian Himalayas.

The Fab Four sent postcards to interact with their family and friends back home. Very recently three postcards used by George Harrison & his wife Pattie Boyd for communicating with their friend Mary Bee were sold at an auction in England. The postcards, bearing post office mark of Shankarachary Nagar, narrate the experience of George & Pattie in Rishikesh. Their words on meditation class and other observations provide an insight into the holy township.

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The Shankarachary Nagar post office, from where the Beatles used to buy the postcards and dispatch them, closed operations in 2004. The dilapidated post office building is part of the erstwhile Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram, which the Beatles visited in 1968 to learn meditation from their Guru. The Ashram is now under the control of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve.

Following a Supreme Court Order in 2000, which asked the forest department to remove all leaseholders who had not renewed their lease and were dwelling in department land, the Mahesh Yogi Ashram staff had to abandon the spiritual retreat. The vandalised Ashram remains a popular destination among tourists. Foreign visitors have to pay Rs 600 and Indians Rs 150 for touring the meditation centre, famous as the Beatles Ashram.

The short and compact post office building, with one counter, still exists. The Beatles probably had to stand in queue for their turn to interact with the post office staff. G S Rana, assistant postal supervisor of Pauri divisional office, said: “Our records show the Shankarachary Nagar operating till 2004. After that nothing is mentioned in the documents.”

After the Ashram’s closure, the post master and other staff were transferred in other parts of the Pauri district. The post master was shifted to Chai Damrada and other staff to Kotdwar.