Rishikesh Warnings Or Dangers

One very cautious word, particularly if you're a solo traveller, people go missing here. During the eight days we were in Rishikesh, two young Australian boys were posted missing, just a few days apart. The Lonely Planet warns of, "Wolves in Sadhu's clothing", there are a few bad types about who use the orange robes as a disguise, the Ganga is 300meters deep at one point and very fast flowing, and a body can disappear in seconds in that current. They befriend lone travellers take them to the waters edge, a wallet grab and push is all it takes. The truth is that real Sadhus are so deeply involved in their own spiritual journey that they will ignore you completely. The people who live and work in Rishikesh will be very happy to befriend you, only too happy that you've made the effort to travel up to see them.
Another promised caution, from our Restaurant section, DON'T EAT SPINACH DURING THE RAINY SEASON. It's a low growing leaf that gets easily contaminated by sewerage bubbling up in the afternoon floods. Pauline and Sam shared a small portion, in a Lonely Planet recommended restaurant, in downtown Rishikesh which made them both very ill. The local Ayurvedic doctor picked up on the problem and soon put them right.