I Traveled Solo to Rishikesh and jumped headfirst from 83 meters unforgettablesolo

Why Rishikesh ?

Well asking “Why not Rishikesh” would sound more appropriate. What else left for Rishikesh to offer? It attracts wide range of tourists with assortment of places and things: from being adobe for Saadhus, to being an apposite pilgrimage for elders, to yoga base for middle-aged and to adventurous hideout for youths.

Photo of I Traveled Solo to Rishikesh and jumped headfirst from 83 meters! #unforgettablesolo 1/1 by Siva Ilankumaran — Be Here in Rishikesh Now !

Why I decided to Jump in Risikesh?

Day 1

Rishikesh

My trip and type was co-incidental and grabbing-the-opportunity type. I grabbed my supplier visit, to Delhi, opportunity to visit Rishikesh and hence ended by being a solo traveler. My trip basically planned to strike out one line in my bucket list - Bungee Jump. Rishikesh homes the most popular Bungee jump spot in India.

My Trip

Bungee Jump

Mohan Chatti

I travelled from Delhi to Raiwaala in train and through cab from Raiwaala to Rishikesh. My first stop in Rishikesh was Jumpin heights, MohanChatti village. I booked my slot in advance through online. I met similar kick-smitten people who would give me a run for their money. The setting is safe and so exciting.

My heart started to pump vigorously and blood was rushing because of excitement and anxiety alike. I was little worried coming alone for risky jump thinking fatal ending but it worth every penny and every moment. Finally, I jumped headfirst into water depleted Ganges bed, feet tightly secured in rope, from 83 meters. It only lasted less than 25 seconds and the initial 5 seconds were surreal, the whole experience was undoubtedly out-of-the-world and exalting one.

Photo of I Traveled Solo to Rishikesh and jumped headfirst from 83 meters! #unforgettablesolo by Siva Ilankumaran

Beatles Ashram

Next I arrived at the place which fascinated me next to Bungee in Rishikesh - Beatles Ashram. It is not an active ashram but a dilapidated. It was marvelous place to be in, a Yoga ashram which is full of western pop graffiti and spread widely across the banks of Ganges – a western pop culture lusciously fused into an oriental Yoga. I only wish I had visited the ashram when it was active.

A surprising place near the Ashram was, Ganges bank, just a walk away from Ashram. The bank was filled with pebbles and literally no human. Sitting in the Ganges bank all alone to oneself in Rishikesh is like walking in rain in Cherrapunji – inevitable. You would never get tired of watching Ganges snakes through the way. It is unlike Beatles Ashram, so active and so full of life. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone says they shared a conversation with Ganges.

Pot-Pourri

Laxman Jhula Bridge

Then like skimming through a book, I made my way through all other popular places in Rishikesh: Ram, Laxman Juhla, and Triveni Ghat. A walk through the streets, jhula among people was fascinating. It has every kind of tourist and all sorts of restaurants from North Indian to South Indian, French cafes to German Bakeries.

Ram Jhula

My solo trip ended enjoying an impromptu concert played by budding artists on viewer’s request in the banks of Ganges.

People and Safety

Triveni Ghat

I had a very decent experience; right from my cab driver to restaurant people to strangers everybody was naively helpful. There was no cynic or negative vibe in the air in Rishikesh. I even shared an open bonfire, when my hands are literally frozen, with a group of saadhus and friars. They welcomed and chatted even though I don’t know Hindi and they don’t know English. They spoke in Hindi but in a comfortable and, somehow surprisingly, understandable way. If you know to reject saadhu's offer on bong or joint, Rishikesh is definitely a safe place to be.