A site best known as a spiritual retreat for The Beatles in 1968 has been turned into a tourist attraction following restoration work.

The band famously spent two months at the 18-acre (72,800sq m) transcendental meditation sanctuary in a forest near Rishikesh, India, with the Fab Four seeking inspiration and enlightenment to write some of their most famous songs – 48 in total – many for their White Album.

The forest had previously been a popular tourist hotspot for Beatles fans, but the site had entered a state of disrepair after being abandoned in the 1970s, with the surroundings overgrown. That is no longer the case however, with state officials sending in cleaning teams to revive the area for visiting tourists.

The derelict retreat is located on the edge of a tiger reserve. A colourful meditation hall is the site’s main attraction.

"We have cleaned up the place and lined the pathways with flowers. We are making some gardens and putting some benches for visitors," said senior forestry official Rajendra Nautiyal speaking to the BBC.

"We are introducing a nature trail and bird walk. We also plan to set up a café and a souvenir shop at some point. We want to retain the place's rustic look."