Hello wonderful hivers!
Hope you all are doing well!
Today, I am excited to share my experience of traveling to the beautiful city of Rishikesh on New Year’s Eve.
Rishikesh, known as the “Yoga Capital of the World,” is a serene town in the foothills of the Himalayas, where the Ganges River flows. It’s a hub for spirituality, yoga, and adventure sports, attracting visitors from all over the world. The city holds immense significance in Hindu mythology and is a gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas.
It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. I was accompanied by my girlfriend, and we started our journey from Chandigarh, we booked a cab to Rishikesh. We stayed in a beautiful hotel named Ayushman Retreat, where we had pre-booked a three-day stay. After traveling, we rested for the night.
The first morning was breathtaking because the view from our room was picturesque. After a refreshing shower and a hearty breakfast, we planned to head towards our first location: Ram Jhula. However, we soon discovered that a nationwide taxi/truck driver strike left us without transportation. So, we decided to walk to every location, which turned out to be a wonderful way to experience Rishikesh.
Upon reaching Ram Jhula, we were struck by its beauty. Walking across the swinging bridge felt very thrilling
After crossing, we were approached by numerous travel guides, but we politely declined their services and headed to Parmarth Niketan Ashram. This ashram is one of the largest in Rishikesh and is renowned for its spiritual gatherings and yoga sessions.
We rested there for a while and then explored the ashram it was beautiful and so peaceful there , we took a few photos, and then walked back to Ram Jhula.
While walking back to Ram jhula we started feeling hungry, so we decided to stop for lunch and ordered Hakka noodles and vegetable fried rice
After our meal, we spent some peaceful moments by the Ganga Ghat, enjoying the serene view while having tea
Then, we headed towards Laxman Jhula. On the way, we stumbled upon a vibrant local market and decided to do some shopping. We bought hoodies, pajamas, a silver chain, a gua sha, and an anklet.
However, upon reaching Laxman Jhula, we realized that the last boat had left, and with the bridge under construction, we had no choice but to walk back 6-7 km to our hotel. My feet were hurting from wearing heeled boots, but we found a lovely rooftop restaurant to rest and dine
We spent some quality time while drinking hot chocolate coffee
After walking what felt like an eternity we finally reached our hotel. To our dismay, we discovered that we had lost the anklet, which saddened my girlfriend. I didn’t want her to go out alone late at night, and my feet were killing me so after some arguments I went back to search for it but couldn’t find it. This made her feel sad for a while because she really liked the anklet.
The next day, my girlfriend fell ill, so we spent the day watching movies and eating. Unfortunately, I got sick the following day, and we repeated the same routine. Finally, on the third day, we both felt better when we woke up , we showered had our breakfast and headed to the Beatles Ashram.
Luckily the strike had ended and we had transportation today we took a auto rickshaw to Janki Setu from there we walked to beatles Ashram
The Beatles Ashram, officially known as Chaurasi Kutia, is where the Beatles stayed in 1968 to learn transcendental meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The ashram, now in ruins, is a fascinating blend of history and art. It’s adorned with colorful graffiti and murals, mostly depicting the Beatles, their music, and their journey. The meditation halls and bungalows offer a glimpse into the past, with some structures still bearing the aura of the Beatles’ presence. The atmosphere is serene and meditative, and you can almost hear the echoes of their music in the rustling leaves.
We explored the ashram, took many pictures, and enjoyed some Maggie noodles at the ashram cafe . The place is filled with an artistic vibe, and each wall tells a story. It’s not just a spiritual retreat but also a canvas for artists who have left their mark over the years.
Later, we attended the evening Aarti at Laxman Jhula and collected some Gangajal. Reflecting on our trip, we bought a few more souvenirs and returned to our hotel. We booked a cab for our return the next day and went to sleep.
The next morning, we had breakfast at the hotel’s buffet, and soon our cab arrived. In about five hours, we reached Chandigarh. With heavy hearts, we parted ways and took buses to our respective destinations. This trip was certainly the best time I have spent with my girlfriend, creating special memories for a lifetime. We will surely visit this beautiful place again and look forward to experiencing adventure sports like rafting and bungee jumping.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed my journey through Rishikesh.
Till next time, happy traveling!
