Who meditates where: Daenerys & Beatles came to India, Rahul abroad

Though the former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has preferred to travel abroad for 'meditation', many famous celebrities have come to India for meditation. The list of celebrities ranges from the UK rock band Beatles to the 'Mother of Dragons' Emilia Clarke herself. Gandhi is currently on a 'meditation trip' to an undisclosed location and is expected to return sometime in November. The BJP has pointed out that India is known as a hub for meditation.

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Here is a list of some global celebs came to India for practicing meditation:

• The Beatles

The English rock band comprising of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr came to India, kicking off the meditation movement. In 1968, the Beatles had come to India to take part in a Transcendental Meditation training course at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. They visited Rishikesh and soon started a meditation movement which revolutionised their following albums.

• Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sting

The 'Queen of Pop' Madonna, Avengers actor Gwyneth Paltrow, and English musician have all been under the tutelage of the grandson of the legendary yoga guru K. Pattabhi Jois -Sharath Jois. He teaches yoga in Mysore and has taught all three stars about meditation.

• The Beach Boys, Mick Jagger, Micheal Cooper, Brian Jones

After the Beatles set off the meditation movement, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Transcendental Meditation training course attracted many more celebrities. Some of the celebrities like The Beach Boys, Mick Jagger, Micheal Cooper, Brian Jones have attended the Maharishi's course.

• Emilia Clarke and Rose Leslie

HBO's hit show actors Emilia Clarke, who played 'Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen' and Rose Leslie who played 'Ygritte' too have visited retreats across India in search of peace and tranquility.

• US Senator Bob Ney

In 2013, it was reported that US Senator Bob Ney had visited Dharmshala in India, for meditation.

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Rahul Gandhi's 'meditation' trip

Meanwhile,  the Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi left abroad on Monday, ahead of the party's planned 35 press conferences from November 1-8, to protest against the economic slowdown. Gandhi's visit is scheduled for a week and he will come back to India in the first week of November. Congress is scheduled to hold 35 press conferences between November 1 and November 8 and protests between November 5 and November 15 against the anti-economic policies of the government.

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Rahul Gandhi's Bangkok trip

Previously on October 5, adding to the turmoil in the Grand Old Party the former party president left for Bangkok in the wake of the Congress being split into two camps - Sonia Gandhi's supporters and Rahul Gandhi's supporters ahead of the Maharashtra and Haryana state Assembly polls. Prior to Gandhi's Bangkok trip, on the same day, former Haryana chief Ashok Tanwar resigned from the party amid reports of a tussle between Tanwar and Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Inspite of the internal turmoil, Congress has made a comeback winning 31 seats in the 90-seat Assembly.

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