Rishikesh is known to the world as the 'yoga Capital'. The ancient temples, age old rituals ,' Ganga Aarti' ,the ashrams and the surrounding greenery of the lower Himalayas make Rishikesh the place to imbibe peace and experience the serenity of Hinduism. It is said that many great Saints had found the peaceful environment amidst the hills and the sacred Ganges to meditate. On my recent trip to this spiritual town, I wanted to experience this peace away from the hustle and bustle of the present day Rishikesh. This short hike to the Patna Waterfalls made me experience the true tranquility that prevails in this ancient city that the Rishis and sages might have experienced.
Where does the trail start?
On the road to the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, about 13 kilometers from the Rishikesh railway station , a narrow mud and rock trail into the jungles is the starting point of the hike to the waterfalls. You need to ask the locals and they would point it out for you.
The trail through the greenery
The path is a narrow one among the dense greenery and just after hiking for about two minutes you would start hearing the pleasant sound of the gushing water flowing down from the waterfalls and going all the way down to merge with the Ganges. The stream of flowing water would accompany you as you continue to hike up among the shrubbery. The path would be rocky and muddy at some places. At some places you would have to hop across the stream to the other side. You must sit down on one of the rocks and listen to the sound of the birds and the gushing of the water - A perfect melody to induce peace and make you meditate. Breath in deeply and let fresh Oxygen fill your lungs. The path would be full of beautiful flowers and leaves and as you trudge yourself upwards you can hear the sound of the water becoming louder.
The hiking distance up to the water falls is about two kilometers. Once you reach the top you would be mesmerised by the water diving down from the cliffs and spraying the surrounding with mists. A little pool of water with fishes creates a beautiful spot for natural fish spa. You may dip your feet into the pool but be prepared to be shocked by the chilling temperature of the water.
Once you reach the destination, you would be at loss for words and thoughts. The surroundings would induce peace and drain out all that stress from your soul. Who knows , Maharshi Raibhya, during his stay among the shiwaliks, might have also spent time meditating at this place before Lord Vishnu appeared in front of him in the form of Lord 'Hrishikesh'!!
If you are planning a trip to Rishikesh, make sure to go on a hike to this beautiful waterfall. Do spend some time amidst nature to free yourself of all the worries and stress gathered from your everyday life. I promise that you would experience a peace and tranquility that you would cherish forever.
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