Trip Review: Rishikesh

The summer vacations are about to begin. Enjoying vacations and promenading is one of the Shades of Life. So, keeping in mind the requests of some of my readers, I am going to start a new segment of Trip Reviews. For this segment, if you think you have been to a place which others should also visit, you can share your trip review with me via mail(anuadviadvay@gmail.com), and I would post it in your name.

Rishikesh – An adventurous yet 

religious pleasant place

In the previous summer vacations, I went to Rishikesh with my family. Thinking about the place, I have written this review of the city, which may help you to visit the same. it is a pleasant religious place, but full of adventure sports, so people of any and every age group can enjoy there. So, pack your bags for Rishikesh.

Rishikesh is a place which not only offers you a religious atmosphere but also some adventurous sports.

We went there by our car. But it is also convenient to go through train, bus or flight. The Rishikesh railway Station is located in Adarsh Nagar, Ganga Nagar;

while there are many bus stands like Sanyukt Yatra Bus Stand, Bus Stand Laxman Jhula, Roadways Bus Stop, Inter State Bus Terminus, I.D.P.L. Bus Stop, Tehri Private Bus Stand, Neergarh Bus Stop, Uttarakhand Roadways & Laxman Jhula Bus Stand. If you are going by flight there is an airport in Dehradun, from where you can take a bus to Rishikesh.

People there are kind and soft-hearted. The place though being religious  is not much crowded. No one their forces themselves into you, but if one needs help, they would not stay behind.

To explore the place, you may use public conveniences or ride on a bike or scooter - that can be hired there.

Main Attractions:

The place has many attractions out of which some are:

• Ram Jhula is a hanging bridge above the holy river Ganga. The bridge keeps swinging and walking on it gives a good experience.

• Geeta Bhavan has a temple inside the premises, surrounded by many rooms and a huge hall, which provides free shelter to pilgrims and devotees.
  
  The place has a religious atmosphere with river Ganga flowing just in front of it. The committee of Geeta Bhavan provides a room or a place in the hall (as possible) for the devotees to live in. There, they can take thalis costing  Rs.40 per plate or cook their own meals for which crockery is provided. But the above is given only when the person stays there at least for 10 days.

• Parmarth Niketan is a compound with a temple, some tableaux (झाँकियाँ) and statues. In the entrance there is a huge sculpture of Lord Shiv performing tandav.

• Parmarth Niketan Ghat is a bank on the river Ganga where an aarti takes place. There not only pundits but also the people get a chance to perform the aarti.
  
  In front of the ghat there is a huge statue of Lord Shiv and nearby of  Lord Hanuman. One can sit on the steps of the ghat keeping his feet dipped in the cold flowing water of river Ganga, mesmerized by the nature or can also take a bath in the holy river Ganga.

• Laxman Jhula is also a hanging bridge, just like Ram Jhula. But this bridge swings more than Ram Jhula. It takes long to reach the bridge as you need to go down by steps which would be around 90 in number.

• Laxman Jhula Ghat is the most famous ghat for rafting and speed boat ride.
  
  For rafting one should be above 14 years and for speed boat ride one should be older than 2½ years.

• Triveni Ghat is a shallow ox-bow lake separated by the river through huge grasses. The ghat is such shallow that a person can easily stand on the ground in the water. One can also take a bath there. The ghat is known for the famous aarti which takes place in the evening. One can also take a holy dip there in the cool water of the river Ganga.

• Chotti Waale ka Dhabba is a famous restaurant with tasty food at nominal rates. It is situated near Ram Jhula.

• Rajasthani Mishthaan Bhandaar is another famous restaurant that along with multi-cuisine food serves sweets at reasonable prices. Rajasthani Dal-Baati Platter is the best choice to have here.

Itinerary :

2 days are sufficient to promenade some major tourist attractions.

On your first day, you can start your trip by 4:00p.m. First, you can go to Ram Jhula. Then, to Geeta Bhavan and the nearby Geeta Press. If you want to have tea and snacks, they are available in the market at reasonable prices. You may then head on to Parmarth Niketan and its Ghat to attend the aarti, which starts around 6:30p.m. After attending the aarti you can enjoy the cold water of the river Ganga. For dinner you can go to Chotti Waale ka Dhabba. The next day, you can go to Laxman Jhula, enjoy the rides there and go to Triveni Ghat, where you can bathe or take a holy dip. Afterwards, for lunch have a seat in Rajasthani Mishthaan Bhandaar. Or, if you want to attend the aarti at Triveni Ghat you can postpone the second day’s plan to the same day’s evening.

Some tips:

• Before going inside water do wear loose clothes so that it is easy to change afterwards.

• Remember to keep an umbrella with you as it drizzles or rains sometimes in the evening.

• It is better to promenade in Rishikesh from 4:00 p.m.The days are warm, while the nights are soothing in the month of June.

• Some adventure sports like white water rafting, bungee jumping, trekking, rock climbing, etc. take place here, to participate in which one should be elder than 14 years.

Advika Sahai