Rishikesh Off The Beaten Path

3 more images

We came across this man disgused as our Monkey God Hanuman, who was friend and deciple of Lord Rama. For a small sum usually one or two Rupee coin this man will wish goodluck for you and your family. I think this is how he runs his family. Being a Holy town lot of Pilgrim visit this place.

2 more images

The lunch break didn't improve the cloud density, in fact the clouds were starting to descend on us, so we decided to push on to Mussoorrie and visit the Kempty Falls. We didn't take into account that Mussoorree is over 3000metres, which meant a climb higher into the clouds. At one point the road travelled along a ridge so narrow that we couldn't see anything but cloud either side of us and an eagle flying several hundred feet below. We asked Peri, who was struggling to see the road ahead, what would happen if a lorry came the other way. He said that was a good point and switched on what he called his "fog lights", a miniature Hindu shrine, glued to the dashboard that flashed alternate pink and blue. Unbelievably, he told us that he had driven this knife-edge road, many times, at night and told us to relax that he was an experienced driver. Well as experienced as his twenty-two years allowed him to be, indeed his youth worked in his favour as he whipped around the endless hairpin bends.
When we eventually made Mussoorree it was about 2.45pm, the rain was starting and we couldn't see one building, everything shrouded in the densest cloud we'd ever experienced. Time to get out of the clouds and head down to provincial capital, Dehra Dun; unfortunately the rain had the same idea, following us for the rest of the day.
We visited the Sikh temple on the outskirts of the town and were offered more lentils and rice, as is their custom of hospitality. Sam declined and was given a banana instead. We returned to Rishikesh to discover they had had barely any rain that day; the place seems to have its own microclimate.
The Divya's manager suggested we return in October, as the views are much better, sound advice for anyone planning this trip.

2 more images

We were itching to get a good view of the Himalayas, so booked an old Ambassador and a young driver, Peri. We worked out our route with the Divya's manager, to take in Dahnolti, the best spot for a panoramic view of the Himalayas. Having got the fairest price we could for the daylong drive and arranged an early breakfast in the hotel. It took almost an hour and a half to drive to a spot where we could drive across the Ganga and find the road to Mussoorrie.
The day started well as we started the climb up through the Garwal Himalayas, getting some spectacular views of the valleys below. We were fortunate to have avoided a landslide, which had closed the road for three days, but the army had cleared enough space for one vehicle to pass at a time. It was about 11am when we reached Dahnolti but the clouds had come down early with the weight of the coming afternoon's rainfall. Peri suggested we wait for a break in the clouds, which didn't happen. Dahnolti is just two streets but we found a tiny restaurant that served lentils and rice, managing to stretch to an omelette for Sam, who'd had a lentil overdose.

The evening aarti (a prayer to god with music)takes place every evening, every single day. Nothing gets in the way of it - rain, sun, storm...nothing. One feels a very strong sense of belonging to oneself and to Rishikesh with this aarti. I recommend it everyone visiting Rishikesh. It helps you put yourself in touch with your existence and just lets you be.

This was an unexpected sight. The drive to the falls is breathtaking. And if you are there at a time when there are only clouds in the sky with rain, it is magic. The water of the falls is ice cold - so much so that the local cold drink sellers put crates of bottles in the pool and let it cool!!

Haridwar has many temples and one can get quite tired looking at them after a point. They all begin to look the same after a point. But if one looks hard one understands the deep religious and cultural conditions of this beautiful country. Each god has a special place - of course some are more favoured than others.

2 more images

Hari

Dont miss the sunset point which on your way from the reception to the deluxe rooms