Unravelling the Spiritual escape to Rishikesh, Yet 6-times Again!

Introduction:

Embark on a journey with us as we set out on a trip to Rishikesh, a picturesque town nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas along the banks of the Ganges River. Known as the 'Yoga Capital of the World,' Rishikesh offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, with its tranquil ambiance and spiritual aura.

Day 1: Delhi to Rishikesh

Our adventure begins in Delhi, where we hit the road when the clock struck 12 in the morning, eager to escape the city's chaos to embrace the tranquillity of Rishikesh. The drive takes us through scenic landscapes, with the majestic Himalayas looming in the distance. Since we were office goers, it was imperative to have taken the odd hours as taking normal hours could have been a little difficult. And let us not forget it was Friday, the 8th March, 2024.

The Journey Unfolds

There are several routes to Rishikesh, depending on where you're starting from. If you're in Delhi, the drive is a manageable 6-7 hours, offering a glimpse into the diverse landscapes of North India. Stop by roadside Dhabas (local eateries) for a taste of typical Indian cuisine - think creamy curries and fluffy rotis.

As we arrived in Rishikesh early morning, we are greeted by the sight of the Ganges, shimmering in the moonlight. I have a friend in Rishikesh who comes at the rescue just at the right hours. Explorers may reach out to him through Ravers Expedition, Rishikesh. Since we were enthused about making most out of the coming days, we wanted to cover the most in limited days (Yes, guessed it right; typical Saturday-Sunday weekending!). Hence, nothing could have filled this role than two 2-wheelers right at our service.

Cost of renting 2-wheelers is normally INR 500/ day, along with security deposit of INR 1000 per scooty. If you were to take cruisers like Classic 350, it would raise the bill to INR 1200/day. So, if you are to only just explore and make most out of the petrol you are buying, I would recommend getting a scooty. Our place of Stay was in the House of Travellers, built right at the centre of town along with attractive nearby eateries. Built for youths, by youths!

After freshening up, our first engagement was for an active water sport which has made Rishikesh stand out, The Rishikesh White river rafting. We start with a thrilling session of white-water rafting on the Ganges, navigating through the river's rapids and enjoying the adrenaline rush. Both of my friends did not experience this before, it had to be epic for their first time! And I think one day, I am going to lose count on my number of experiences with River rafting in Rishikesh :)

Rishikesh would seem incomplete if there is nothing cited about Haridwar. Post rafting, we dressed up and took our scooties to the Iconic Har ki Podi. It was a scintillating experience to be had. Very connecting, and very engaging. Those beautiful diyas immersing with the mighty Ganga is something I cannot explain much here, i only convince you to go experience yourself!

Afterwards, we were literally starving to our very bodies. We also had a techno-night to be witnessed the same day. We managed scavenging some non-veg culinary delicacy from ‘Nitin’s Kitchen’, located almost adjacent to House of Travellers. Its ‘Rara Chicken’ is a must try. Not that we knew something about Rara chicken, but our first time experience was something remarkable, especially on a chilly night and some good friends to eat with.

To us, techno-night mattered less as compared to relaxing in our room and having long conversations over love life, relationships, life as a matter-of-fact, and most importantly, living the moment in itself to the fullest. We had some really good music from jukebox comprising of Bollywood mashup, something you would want to unwind your tiring day with :)

Day 2: Exploring Rishikesh

Our second day in Rishikesh was dedicated to exploring the town's rich cultural and spiritual heritage. We started our day with a visit to the iconic Haridwar on Scooty once again, a 23 kms journey from Rishikesh, to avail the iconic ropeway journey to Mansa Devi temple. It seemed hectic, but once you end up buying the tickets costing 150 peto the ropeway, within 30 minutes we were able to wrap up just about that.

As we were able to cover some of the important points in Haridwar, there was a need to feel more of Rishikesh. I suggested the two lads to gather some energy and experience #Neergarh Waterfalls. Men, so cooperative :)

We jumped on our scooties and went back 40 kms to experience the chasing waterfalls in Rishikesh, the cool mist and cascading waters of Neergarh Falls! We did not get completely soaked under Neergarh falls, but it was a beauty tucked away in the hills near Rishikesh.

Were we done as we were nearing the end of our escapade? Almost……..No!

Something was amiss, the beaches! On our way back to the main city, there was Brahmapuri beach. It was something canonical about this beach. It seemed like Ganges meeting the Himalayas, Kayak on mystical waters, watching the sun saying something over sacred mountains, and finding our adventure at the edge of paradise!

In the evening, we returned our mighty scooties with some casual ranting with the scooty guys. After all, did you mention a boys' trip with no shouting? :P

We were running on the clock to fetch our bus back to Delhi on a NueGo.

Conclusion:

Our road trip to Rishikesh has been a truly memorable experience, filled with adventure, spirituality, and cultural immersion. As we bid farewell to this enchanting town and hit the road back to Delhi, we carry with us memories that will last a lifetime, and a renewed sense of peace and tranquility that Rishikesh has bestowed upon us.