Beatles photographs on display after 30 years in attic

A RARE glimpse of the Beatles relaxing at a spiritual centre in India can be seen for the first time in an exhibition of photographs that lay undiscovered in an attic for more than 30 years.

The series of pictures was taken by the Canadian film-maker Paul Saltzman during the band’s 1968 visit to the guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh.

They show the Fab Four relaxing in the retreat while the world’s media are camped outside desperate for pictures.

Mr Saltzman, 59, of Toronto, who was making a documentary in India at the time, said: "When I arrived at the Maharishi’s spiritual centre, it was closed because the Beatles were there. They took me into their group. The Beatles were absolutely down to earth with a Liverpudlian sense of humour."

George Harrison told him that the Beatles’ fame and fortune had not brought them peace, health or happiness. "They gave me a sense of perspective which I have kept to this day," said Mr Saltzman.

He had forgotten about the pictures until his daughter asked about his meeting with the group. It then took him three weeks to find them.

The Beatles in India exhibition opens on Friday and runs until 7 June at the Proud Central Gallery in Buckingham Street, London.