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A Journey across India: The call to Adventure

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An easy, practical and in-sequence itinerary planner I have travelled the length and breadth of India, and am truly proud of its rich and varied heritage. I am amazed by the tradition and values, the people, festivals, celebrations and the changing landscape. Have you wondered if it's possible to travel across India completely? Most foreigners arriving in India, land in Delhi and then travel the Golden Triangle route first- which is a good decision incase you have limited time at hand and want to make the most of it. The Golden Triangle- Delhi, Agra and Jaipur includes the much hyped Taj Mahal which invariably is part of a tourist's bucket list. This blog on the other hand- is a sequential strategy and detailed 'been there done that' itinerary plan starting from Mumbai. I am sure as we go through this Journey you will understand India better. My experiences are based from the perspective of a - digital nomad, budget backpacker and from a local standpoint. Each Itinerar...
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HARIDWAR, RISHIKESH 2 days tour: Dev bhoomi Uttarakhand

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Har, Har Gange !! Is the celebratory exhortation to the river divine that flows through the state of UTTARAKHAND. Haridwar is one of the 7 mokshapuris that is mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures (Vedas & Upanishads).  

2/ 3 days tour of Haridwar, Rishikesh

Previous blog- Touring DELHI by metro 


Things to do in Haridwar 

1) To witness the much acclaimed GANGA AARTI, be present at HAR KI PAURI at either 6 am or 6.30 pm. 

2) Mataji Divya darshan at Haridwar- out of the 15 divya darshans of the primordial mother in Uttarakhand, 3 of these are at Haridwar- Maa Mansa Devi, Maa Maya Devi and Maa Chandi Devi.

The udan katolas (ropeway service) to the hilltop temples of Chandi mata mandirs and Mansa devi is also down this road from Chandi ghat (bridge).


Staying & eating in Haridwar~ 

If you wish to stay for a day at Haridwar, there are many ashrams and dharamshalas around Chandi ghat (bridge) about 1.5 km from the railway station. Walking down the street leading to the market, I sensed a strong positive vibe here; devotees were excited to pay obeisance and bathe at the Ganges after a long tiring journey. There are also many restaurants here that provide a decent meal at reasonable rates. 


đź’ˇThe river flows rapidly at Haridwar and due caution needs to be exercised. There are however iron rails for safety.

đź’ˇHaridwar will be your first stop when arriving from Delhi. If you wish to save time and money, plan your train journey in order to arrive early in the morning.

Eg: 12401- Kota Dehradun Nanda devi AC express dep DELHI 23:50, 04:00 arr HARIDWAR JN.

That way you can take advantage of the AC Waiting room at Haridwar Jn ₹30/ hour to freshen up comfortably, rest awhile and breakfast. Then hire an auto/ shared auto to HAR KI PAURI for the Ganga aarti. 


Things to do in RISHIKESH 

HARIDWAR --> RISHIKESH (27 kms)

After the aarti head onwards to Rishikesh. There are several share autos that charge approx ₹70/ pax.

đź’ˇThe Haridwar-Rishikesh road is narrow and busy, hence an early morning drive is best-suited to escape the traffic congestion during peak hours. 


1) River-rafting and adventure sports at Rishikesh 

As we head upward, the flow of the Ganga at Rishikesh is calmer as compared to Haridwar and river- rafting is a common sight. 

đź’ˇRates for river rafting is approx ₹500/ per person/ 9km and ₹800/ per person/ 18km

River-rafting at Rishikesh

2) Experience Ganga aarti 

There are primarily 2 places to experience Ganga aarti in Rishikesh; Triveni ghat and Parmarth niketan. There are 2 timings for the aarti~ 6 am and 6.30pm. In both case the experience is transcendental and not to be missed. Visiting Parmarth niketan will give you an opportunity to get a great view of river Ganga from the Ram jhula bridge.

Getting here~ Parmarth niketan is right across Ram jhula and one can reach here easily with the help of a shared auto. 

đź’ˇ Presently the Laxman jhula bridge is being renovated and entry đźš«


Where to stay at Rishikesh

Rishikesh is brimming with both Indian and international tourists. There are hotels in all price ranges. If you are on a budget there are some inexpensive hostels that cater to solo travellers and backpackers.


3) Spend time at a cafĂ© overlooking the Ganges 

Rishikesh is a great chill out zone, far too frequented by tourists. There are innumerable cafĂ©s and restaurants here, some of which offer a splendid view of the Ganges flowing below. I stopped by the much hyped Beatles CafĂ© and felt it was totally worth it.

A café overlooking the Ganges at Rishikesh
A café overlooking the Ganges at Rishikesh


4) Enroll for YOGA classes

Rishikesh has been a land of sages and yogis since time immemorial and is today known as the Yoga capital of the world. The hype or vice versa is the reason why Rishikesh is a popular haunt for yoga aspirants from abroad.

A board advertising Yoga courses in Rishikesh
A board advertising Yoga courses in Rishikesh

5) A jittery day trip to Devprayag 

A gorgeous view of river Ganga confluence at DEVPRAYAG, Uttarakhand
A gorgeous view of river Ganga confluence at DEVPRAYAG, Uttarakhand 


Devprayag Sangam is at the CONFLUENCE OF BHAGIRATHI* AND ALAKNANDA and therefore has enormous religious significance.
*Ganga is called Bhagirathi here
However be warned the road is prone to landslides during monsoons. Despite undertaking this road trip in April, I could still see precariously hanging rocks and muds as we drove through. Private vehicles (bus & jeeps) cost ₹140 to ₹200 one way. The innumerable hairpin bends made me terribly sick 🤢 and nauseous.

Hope you enjoyed reading this blog. Do put in your comment and share with others.🙏


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