How to travel safe to Rishikesh

This pandemic has made us locked in our homes which has become very difficult for our mental health. Like others, I was also unable to resist myself to go out and take a break from my daily routine. So, I finally dared to move out of my home and restart my passion for travel (which was also my dire need at that time) from a destination that is easily approachable; peaceful, and a simple place – Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.

This is the second time traveled to Rishikesh and my all I wanted was to relax my mind, enjoy the surroundings and go to serene places.

I decided to stay in Tapovan. This place is three and a half kilometres from the main city, and is colder because situated on a height. I chose to go to a green resort in Tapovan called "Rishikesh Valley". It’s a place full of greenery which has 10 small standalone cottages available with basic facilities, but I found them a bit overpriced. The best thing about Rishikesh Valley was it's food! It is always prepared fresh with locally grown vegetables and spices. Its freshness could be felt in every bite taken, from the salads to the deserts.

DAY-1

If you want to visit all the below mentioned places you can hire a scooty for 500/- per 24 hours (recommended).

Leave early morning from your accommodation so that you have more hours to explore different places.

Itinerary for the first day:

* Lakshman Jhula

* Ram Jhula

* The Beatles Aashram

* Parmaarth Niketan Aashram & its surroundings

* Triveni Ghat (the aarti was happening for 2 minutes- I skipped this place)

The next morning I decided to go to the main city by taking lift from a co-stayer (you can either hire a scooty, or take any vehicle to reach the main city). He dropped me in the main city and from there I walked down to Lakshma Jhula which took me almost 20 minutes to reach there.

Lakshman Jhula is a suspension bridge about 450 feet long. Named after Lord Rama’s younger brother, Lakshmana (Laxman), it has temples on either side, including the famed Lakshmana Temple. The entire bridge is made of iron and is situated at a height of 70 ft from the river. Built in 1939, over the river Ganga, the jhula is one of the most prominent landmarks in Rishikesh. As the legend goes, Lord Lakshmana (Laxman) crossed Ganga on ropes of jute and hence the bridge has been named in his honour.

Don't forget to buy food for the river fish. It's incredible to see the fishes coming on water surface & chewing to eat wheat flour balls.

Then, I went to Ram Jhula, an iconic landmark in Rishikesh. Ram Jhula, built in 1986, is a suspension bridge that runs across the Ganges. It is a few miles downstream from the popular Lakshman Jhula. The bridge spans 750 ft and is a splendid work of engineering that connects the ashrams situated on both sides of the river. It offers a splendid bird's eye view of the Ganges. The sounds of River Ganga gushing underneath add to the charm of the environment.

On the same day, I went to the Beatles Ashram which is named after the very famous Beatles band. Originally, known as "Chaurasi Kuttiya Ashram" (84 cottages), it is spread in 7.5 hectares of forest land which was a place of Transcendental Meditation practiced by Meharishi Mahesh yogi. In February 1968, The Beatles followed the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to India to stay in his Rishikesh ashram. They wrote dozens of songs while in Rishikesh, including much of the White Album. It was a very big deal at the time, very significant, that the four most famous and successful pop music stars in the world would drop out for three months to study meditation in India.

Here, one can easily spend 2 to 3 hours, it's like a forest- big, peaceful and green! Also, there is an inexpensive entry ticket.

When in Rishikesh, do not miss to take out some time to sit beside adorable river which is considered to be one of the important sources of life- The Ganges. A temple is there just beside the Ganges where I sat on the staircases and felt the sunset.

Just opposite is another religious hermitage- Parmarth Niketan Ashram. The ashram is a peaceful, spiritual place to visit place in Rishikesh (Due to Covid 19 Registration at this place is closed).

Sitting besides the Ghat of the Ganga river and seeing the sun setting down in its self is an experience.

Then, in the evening I walked back to my resort and enjoyed the dinner there.

DAY 2

The next day I went up, towards the Osho Ashram which was almost 1 km away from my resort. This place was also simple, hygienically clean and calm. Here, people who stay at Osho Ashram can indulge themselves in meditation or even can stay there like nay other accommodation, without indulging into meditation.

This time I could not go to any Ashram to experience meditation or any Ayurvedic treatment Centres. But, whenever I visit the next time, I would try to visit Rishikesh for some internal healing and spirituality.

Cafes to visit in Rishikesh:

Shanti Shanti Cafe

Beatles Cafe

German Bakery

Cafe Moktan

I highly recommend you to check Zostel- a safe and clean accommodation having dormitories as well as independent. rooms. https://www.zostel.com/zostel/rishikesh/ (non-sponsored)