The Iowa town built entirely around ancient Hindu meditation principles

Maharishi Vedic City

In July 2001, Iowa got its first new city in nearly 20 years when Vedic City was incorporated.

Developers had spent over $35 million buying 50 farms and building nearly 50 structures according to ancient Vedic design rules. Every building faces east, has a silent core room, and follows precise sun patterns.

Here’s how this unique place came to be and how to visit Maharishi Vedic City.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Vision for a Vedic City

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who founded the Transcendental Meditation movement, first developed the idea for this city in 1991. He called his plan the “10 Mandalas” development.

The yogi had already established Maharishi International University in Fairfield in the early 1970s. The project started as the Maharishi Center for Health and World Peace, later became the Mandala Project, and finally Vedic City.

Maharishi wanted to create a place where people could live in harmony with what he called “natural law.”

The Founders Purchase 50 Farms

More than a dozen developers bought 50 farms totaling 3,000 acres to create the new city. They set aside 1,200 acres for the town and used the rest for farms and buffer zones.

Followers of Maharishi began buying this land north of Fairfield in the 1990s with his encouragement. A real estate developer partnered with Maharishi to transform his philosophical ideas into physical reality.

This large land purchase allowed them to design the entire city from scratch rather than adapting existing structures.

The City’s Unique Circular Design

Unlike typical American grid patterns, Maharishi Vedic City features ten circles that together form about one square mile. This layout comes from Maharishi’s interpretation of the 10 verses in the first Veda, an ancient Sanskrit text.

Every building faces east toward the rising sun, following Vedic beliefs about proper alignment with natural forces.

The founders also set aside 50 acres for nature preserves, creating forests, wetlands, and prairies that surround the developed areas.

Maharishi Sthapatya Veda Architectural Principles

Every building in the city follows Sthapatya Veda design rules, an ancient Indian architectural system Maharishi adapted for modern use.

Each structure uses specific measurements based on Vedic mathematics with rooms placed according to the sun’s daily path.

Buildings contain three key elements: a “brahmasthan” (central silent space), a “vastu fence” (boundary around the property), and a “kalash” (gold roof ornament).

The First Year of Construction

Once the city plan was complete, builders quickly constructed two hotels, homes, and office buildings. All structures followed the strict Sthapatya Veda design rules.

Within just one year, 46 buildings stood finished, showing the founders’ dedication to establishing the city quickly. This first phase cost more than $35 million and included not just buildings but also roads, utilities, sewage systems, and internet infrastructure.

The Path to Official Incorporation

In 2000, founders worked with Tom Makeig, a local attorney, to make their city official under Iowa law. They filed formal papers that autumn and held a public hearing attended by over 100 people at a founder’s home.

Becoming a recognized city would help them address practical needs like utilities, roads, and financial matters. The founders needed this legal status to fully implement their vision of a city governed by Vedic principles rather than remaining simply a private development.

The Referendum That Created a New City

To become official, the developers petitioned the Iowa City Development Board and held a public vote. Iowa law required this referendum among local residents to approve the new city.

The vote succeeded, and on July 25, 2001, Maharishi Vedic City became Iowa’s newest municipality. This marked the first new city in Iowa in nearly 20 years, as most Iowa cities date back to the 1850s.

The successful incorporation allowed the community to establish its own local government.

The First City Council and Mayor

Maharishi Vedic City held its first election in November 2001, establishing the initial government. Raja Wynne won election as the first mayor and served for 18 years until December 2019.

The city council’s first official act declared the “Constitution of the Universe—Total Natural Law—RK Veda” as the city’s governing document. A five-person city council continues to run the city today.

The Vedic Observatory’s Construction

One of the city’s most striking features is its Vedic Observatory with ten astronomical instruments arranged in a circle. Each white concrete and marble structure stands six feet tall and aligns precisely with the sun, moon, and stars.

Tim Fitz-Randolph built this observatory based on ancient designs from India. Visitors can use these instruments to track celestial movements and tell time.

This remains the only such observatory in the Western Hemisphere, based on structures that existed thousands of years ago.

The World’s First All-Organic City

In November 2002, the city council banned the sale of non-organic food within city limits. They went further in April 2005 by prohibiting synthetic pesticides and fertilizers citywide, making Maharishi Vedic City America’s first all-organic municipality.

To support this commitment, the city created a 160-acre organic farm with a 1.2-acre greenhouse for year-round growing.

This farm provides organic produce to residents and sells to markets outside the city, helping sustain their commitment to chemical-free living.

Visiting Maharishi Vedic City

You’ll find Maharishi Vedic City at 1750 Maharishi Center Avenue, Fairfield, IA 52556. The city offers guided tours year-round that include the Vedic Observatory, organic farm, and distinctive architecture.

You can explore the meditation domes, walk the connecting trail system, or dine at The Raj Ayurveda Health Center restaurant which serves organic vegetarian meals.

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