There is city free of eggs, wine and plastics. It's Rishikesh.
 |
| The wide, unstoppable Ganga |
Three dips, a headlong plunge in the Ganges, purges one’s soul of all sins committed in his/her life span. Bathing in chromatically sea-green water of the revered Ganges cut across the Karmas and promises heaven after death. That is mythollogically speaking! Practically, the mountainous expanse in which the Ganges spreads herself seamlessly right away gurgling from Himalayas captivatingly soothes the tired senses and reinvigorates the soul.
For the commoners Rishikesh, the seat of Lord Shiva, is just Lakshman and Ram Jhula. But for city –parched creatures like us the 230 km and 7-hr-ride was a breather last weekend. To the lungs which struggle to catch up some O2 amid the CO2, Rishikesh is like a stroke of fresh air.
Ganga: The show stopper
Among the plethora of elements that add music to nature’s unrehearsed opera in Rishikesh, Ganga cascades down to settle herself beautifully at the foot of the hills here. The landscape the Ganga has carved in Rishikesh is a consummate arena for newbie and nature lovers. The munificence of the Ganga in lower Tehri Garhwal is a parting gift to the mountains from where she springs up.
Route from Delhi (NH 58)
There is a straight route from Delhi via Modinagar, Meerut Bypass, Khatauli, Muzaffarnagar,Manglaur, Roorkee and Haridwar.
 |
| NH58: Hail NHAI |
The drive sweeps past through an initial hodge-podge of traffic to lush fields of mustard and pseudo-ripe sugarcane, wide watery canals and, most interestingly, through jaggery factories.
 |
| Jaggery making procedure at Muzzaffarnagar |
All five of us halted to gulp down glasses of fresh sugarcane juice, and believe me it restore some big electrolytes losses during the journey. Some mouth-watering dhabas, bazaars, shaal trees, private institutes line the highway in succession before Haridwar.
 |
| Shaal Trees: Waiting for Autumn |
Entrée to the Haridwar can be confirmed through the posters of Ramdev and Patanjali Yogpeeth that start showing up from a distance. The grand edifice it is, Ramdev’s Patanjali Yog peeth deserves a stop and a click. It refreshes one of the old world architecture.
Ganga welcomes its visitors in benevolence and the murmurs of water can be heard from a distance on either ways of the roads. Narrow streams with rocks and pebble bases are just the prevue of immenseness that lies ahead at Har-ki pauri. Scriptures state that it was here that the Lord has set his foot on earth and blessed the dwellers of the planet. A strange sign and foot prints amid the Ganga River endorses the fact of believers and leaves some food for thought for non-believers like me.
Evening Aarti
 |
| Aarti in progress to please the mighty Ganges |
Scientifically, 2/3rd of earth is water. But Ganga to Indians is not just the water and terrestrial ratio. Having emerged from the head of lord Shiva, the paramountcy of the Ganga is well mentioned in the religious books of Hindus. Unlike the Thames and Nile, the water of Ganges is blessed with several medicinal properties known to cure various diseases and ailments. To this quality of Ganges does the devout pay reverence through evening aarti. Scents of incense sticks, flowers, sindoor, rings of bells as well as lightening of lamps mark the ceremonious aarti in progress at the Ghats.
Stay at…
Any place of your choice. The whole of Haridwar is dotted with dharamshals, aashrams, lodges and hotels that fall within one’s budget. Ours was at the tapovan, an ashram that lays enroute Rishikesh.
Rishikesh: Shots from heaven
 |
| Me at Ram Jhula |
17 km upstream from Haridwar, the place has retained its piousness since its mention in the book of Hindus. The wide River and suspended iron bridge over head with sprawling ghats on either side accounts for beatification at Rishikesh. Me, pa, ma, bro and hubby took a steamer ride and walked through ram Jhula
 |
| Me and Sam at the Swarg Ashram |
to the other side of the river. We caught up riveni Ghat, Bharat mandir, Gita Bhavan, Swarg aashram, Parmarth Niketan and Neelkanth Mahadev too. The azure water of Ganga houses number of fish species seen through at the surface. It’s a fun for many to watch the tourists feeding the fishes at the bank. While on the contrary, fishes are not only lucky creatures that can binge on!
Eat veg n drink herbs…
 |
| Chotiwalla at Rishikesh |
Papayas and seasonal fruits by the side of the road quelled my desire to bite in. But that is not all that I exist on. Foods in the food joint triggered my sang froid hunger. It was getting difficult to choose from assortment of restaurants and eateries that deck the entire area near ghats. I gave in the aroma of Chotiwallah Restaurant, Swarg Aashram. The poori-sabzi, dahi bhalla occupied the table booked by us; the purpose of my visit was soon taking a back seat. We all gorged on to our hearts content.
Please lord … a geyser at least;Bathing in Rishikesh
 |
| washing away my sins in Ganga |
For someone faint hearted like me bathing in the chilling water was a tedious task. It took much anticipation, pushes from maa and paa and god-fearing notions to finally wade in the waters. Once under water, I could have been compared like shark by the onlookers, others who were already asking apologies for their sins in the mid of the waters were also an inspiration for me. A word of caution for others is the river is deep at Rishikesh and converting your bathing into an escapade can be dangerous. So be safe. The warmth of the sun rays felt like a blower and a savior from teeth-clattering cold.
Snaps, clicks fun rolled ahead for others and I had earned an travelogue experience for my next post.
Jai Maa Gange!!
