The Hidden Paradise of Rishikesh
Rishikesh
The name Rishikesh may not ring any bells unless you happen to be either a die-hard Beatles fan, or at least a yoga fan. Back in the swinging sixties, the Fab Four took a trip to what some call the capital of Yoga in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. This quaint town is separated by the upper reaches of the holy Ganges River in the foothills of the Himalaya.
For those who come, it is a cooling and refreshing break to the norm of India - hectic and polluted. Breathing in the altitudinous air and looking onto the greatest mountain range on Earth, it is no wonder that Hindu gurus sought solace in such a location.
Despite being one town, it has three parts that could easily be individual villages. You will most likely meet other travellers in Swarg Ashram on the eastern bank downstream. Opposite that on the western bank is Ramjhoola and upriver you will find Laxman Jhoola.
With more and more yoga centres setting up shop over the last few years, there plenty of places for you to take classes and train, whether you want a single day of mediation, or several months to train in. Taking part in seminars, lectures and practical sessions can even earn you qualifications. You can also book basic, inexpensive accommodation, if it hasn't already been included with the meditation course.
Visiting these three 'villages' will present you with different experiences and the more commercial aspects are to be found downriver. Rishikesh is known for its outdoor activities like white-water rafting, hiking and expeditions. It may take nerves of steel but rafting is a terrifyingly exciting experience. A 4x4 will take you upstream where you will then be equipped with a paddle, helmet and lifejacket. Then it is up to you to take on the rapids and torrents of the Ganges in a dingy. Scary, but absolutely thrilling, and there is no better way to bond with travellers than to take on a force of nature with them. The underexploited, mountainous northern regions are ideal for hiking trips, although local climbs can also be arranged.
The villages upstream are more laid back and are home to restaurants serving northern Indian and Nepalese cuisine and you can also purchase hot samosas, chai and bhajis at the street markets. Look out for the temples on the river banks of this holy city, where Hindu worshippers gather. The region is vegetarian and alcohol-free but in no way does that mean there is nothing nice to try. The Namaste caf serves a delicious yoghurt-based drink called lassi, as well as a hearty breakfast of fruit, muesli, yoghurt and honey. After the amount of curry that most tourists end up eating, it provides a welcome change. Many Nepalese businesses take advantage of the popular cloth trade and you will be able to purchase all manner of handmade items of clothing, such as pashminas, as well as jewellery and other accessories.
The banks of the Ganges are laden in thick white sand to rival any Bahamian beach. Yoga classes are frequently held on them and the giant beach boulders are an imposing physical reminder of the sheer strength the Ganges' current.
Rishikesh is a travellers' corner of Eden - rustic and wholesome it is a place which you will find hard to leave.
The name Rishikesh may not ring any bells unless you happen to be either a die-hard Beatles fan, or at least a yoga fan. Back in the swinging sixties, the Fab Four took a trip to what some call the capital of Yoga in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. This quaint town is separated by the upper reaches of the holy Ganges River in the foothills of the Himalaya.
For those who come, it is a cooling and refreshing break to the norm of India - hectic and polluted. Breathing in the altitudinous air and looking onto the greatest mountain range on Earth, it is no wonder that Hindu gurus sought solace in such a location.
Despite being one town, it has three parts that could easily be individual villages. You will most likely meet other travellers in Swarg Ashram on the eastern bank downstream. Opposite that on the western bank is Ramjhoola and upriver you will find Laxman Jhoola.
With more and more yoga centres setting up shop over the last few years, there plenty of places for you to take classes and train, whether you want a single day of mediation, or several months to train in. Taking part in seminars, lectures and practical sessions can even earn you qualifications. You can also book basic, inexpensive accommodation, if it hasn't already been included with the meditation course.
Visiting these three 'villages' will present you with different experiences and the more commercial aspects are to be found downriver. Rishikesh is known for its outdoor activities like white-water rafting, hiking and expeditions. It may take nerves of steel but rafting is a terrifyingly exciting experience. A 4x4 will take you upstream where you will then be equipped with a paddle, helmet and lifejacket. Then it is up to you to take on the rapids and torrents of the Ganges in a dingy. Scary, but absolutely thrilling, and there is no better way to bond with travellers than to take on a force of nature with them. The underexploited, mountainous northern regions are ideal for hiking trips, although local climbs can also be arranged.
The villages upstream are more laid back and are home to restaurants serving northern Indian and Nepalese cuisine and you can also purchase hot samosas, chai and bhajis at the street markets. Look out for the temples on the river banks of this holy city, where Hindu worshippers gather. The region is vegetarian and alcohol-free but in no way does that mean there is nothing nice to try. The Namaste caf serves a delicious yoghurt-based drink called lassi, as well as a hearty breakfast of fruit, muesli, yoghurt and honey. After the amount of curry that most tourists end up eating, it provides a welcome change. Many Nepalese businesses take advantage of the popular cloth trade and you will be able to purchase all manner of handmade items of clothing, such as pashminas, as well as jewellery and other accessories.
The banks of the Ganges are laden in thick white sand to rival any Bahamian beach. Yoga classes are frequently held on them and the giant beach boulders are an imposing physical reminder of the sheer strength the Ganges' current.
Rishikesh is a travellers' corner of Eden - rustic and wholesome it is a place which you will find hard to leave.