This town is possibly one of the most interesting Iowa has to offer. Yogic flying, a ban on gasoline-powered vehicles, and a no Round Up rule are just a few aspects of this town that make it different from the rest of the state. You won’t believe all of the neat things to do in Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa!

Maharishi Vedic City has a population of just over 250 people and was incorporated in 2001. It's about four miles north of Fairfield, and is home to the unique Maharishi University of Management.
mageith/Trip Advisor
The buildings in this tiny city are based on Maharishi Sthapatya Veda, an ancient design and architecture style. The Maharishi and a real estate developer began to create this town in 1991. The city is arranged in ten circles that total about one square mile. Vedic City set aside around 50 acres for conservation and was turned into forest, wetlands, and prairies.
The University is, "The home of Consciousness-Based Education." Degree programs are available to the PhD level in business, humanities, sciences, and the arts.
Facebook/Maharishi International University
The city is committed to the principles of the Veda, which are ancient texts in Sanskrit. They are also dedicated to balance and natural law. The city is governed by a five-member city council and Sanskrit has been named the city's "ideal language." However, English is the primary spoken language in town.
Vedic City banned the sale of non-organic food inside its limits in 2002, and banned the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in the city limits in 2005. This is the first all-organic city in the United States.
Maharishi University of Management/Facebook
About 1,000 pandits from India live near the edge of the city. They meditate in favor of world peace. In 2011, the town was featured on Oprah Winfrey's "America's Most Unusual Town."
Group practice of Transcendental Meditation that includes Yogic Flying is thought to create coherence for the country.
Facebook/Maharishi International University
Two domes located in the center of the city exist to accommodate the practice, and the techniques are taught as part of the curriculum at the college, here.
The Maharishi University of Management sits on 370 acres and is surrounded by two lakes, wooded areas, and fields. There are 45 buildings on campus.
Maharishi University of Management Website

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Maharishi University of Management/Facebook
The Dreier Building is an example of the typical look of one of the campus buildings, constructed according to Vedic proportions. Entrances face due east, and each building has a kalash, which is a gold roof fixture.
The Maharishi Vedic Observatory is located at 203 W Broadway Ave, Fairfield.
TeeSue/Trip Advisor
TeeSue/Trip Advisor
This unique installation includes ten 6-foot-tall statues that are perfectly arranged for celestial tracking and represent different aspects of the mind. Take a self-guided tour of the area and learn more about each installation by reading the accompanying placard. According to the developer, Tim Fitz-Randolph, the installation has the potential to create balance and inner happiness.
The 160-acre organic farm, owned by the city, also has a 1.2-acre greenhouse operated by a wind turbine.
Maharishi University of Management/Facebook
The farm supplies local restaurants and grocery stores with organic produce. The city doesn't have utility poles or streetlights. Only electric cars are permitted within the city limits.
"The Raj" is located on a 100-acre estate within the town that includes nature trails, lakes, and gardens.
Facebook/Maharishi International University
This hotel and Maharishi Ayur-Veda Spa Center offers treatments that follow the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health. The Rukmapura Park Hotel is a 25-room structure that mimics European country inns.
Maharishi University of Management/Facebook

Have you been to this unique Iowa town? What did you think? Check out this pretty drone footage of Maharishi Vedic City to check out more of what you might see if you visit.

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More to Explore

Exploring Iowa

Sara Dager | March 24, 2023

What are the most fun small towns in Iowa? 

If you want to explore the many small towns in Iowa, these are a few of the best to start with:

  • Fort Madison has a rich cultural history and lots to do. You can visit a battlefield from the war of 1812, spend the night in the charming Kingsley Inn, and even visit a haunted prison!
  • Arnolds Park is a whimsical resort town that the whole family is sure to love. There is an amusement park, opportunities for watersports, and some great hiking trails.
  • Amana has some great German culture that they celebrate all throughout the year. A visit in October for their Oktoberfest event will be extra special though.

Which state parks in Iowa should I visit? 

The state parks in Iowa are unmatched, there is so much natural beauty in this state and you've just gotta see it to believe it. Here are a few of the best parks to spend a day in.

  • Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor offers views of the state from the tallest bluff in Iowa. The park has over 1,000 acres to explore but one thing you definitely don't want to miss is lookout point, the best spot to sit and take in the sights.
  • Lake McBride State Park in Eldora is the largest state park in Iowa with 2,100 acres of land. There are docks and beaches to relax on as well as hidden waterfalls and so many hiking trails.
  • Maquoketa Caves State Park in Maquoketa feels straight out of a fantasy novel! There are 16 caves to explore and lots of boardwalks and stairs installed to make the hiking easier.

Are there any good road trips through Iowa that I should take? 

The best way to see the Hawkeye State is with a good old fashioned road trip through Iowa, here are a few of the best ones to take:

  • The Iowa waterfalls road trip leads to eight gorgeous falls in only about eight hours of driving. This would make for the perfect little weekend getaway!
  • The haunted places in Iowa trip is just as much fun as it is scary. Along this 11 hour long road trip you will see houses, hotels, cemeteries, and even a swinging bridge that house spirits.
  • The natural wonders in Iowa road trip takes you to eight breathtaking sites around the state and you only have to drive for five hours.

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Maharishi Vedic City, IA 52556, USA