People patiently wait for the weekend to look for getaways to breathe fresh air and revive themselves. Near Delhi, there is a place located in the backdrop of the Himalayas, while Ganga is flowing through it, a small town called Rishikesh in the Dehradun district is there which is famous for peace and adventure.
If you’re a Beatles fan, you would know how the Beatles have also helped in popularizing Rishikesh by visiting the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram (now popularly known as the Beatles Ashram). They came from England to Rishikesh to learn transcendental meditation.
The distance from Delhi to Rishikesh town is approx 23Kms which can be easily covered by a Bus or a cab. The most preferred vehicle usually taken for a one day trip for Rishikesh is to take a bus from Kashmere Gate, Delhi. Usually, the bus takes around 6 hours to reach Rishikesh, most of the Volvos start travelling to the town by 9 am and drop off at Natraj Chowk in Rishikesh. The nearest airport around Rishikesh is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is located at a distance of 35 km. Many times college students plan to reach Rishikesh by riding bikes. It is believed that whatever vehicle one chooses, the experience of travelling to the destination is always exhilarating.
While there are no restrictions to visiting the place, the ideal season to explore Rishikesh will be September to March. Spring and winter are gratifying times to visit the city. The most important thing before planning this trip is to keep in notice that since Rishikesh is a religious place, alcohol and non-vegetarian food are strictly prohibited. One can attend the alluring evening aarti on the banks of river Ganga.
While visiting Rishikesh one should know that the town is divided into two parts, Lakshman Jhula is the one side of Rishikesh where popular cafes, famous ashrams, hostels are there and that’s why many tourists usually prefer this side of Rishikesh. The other side comes where Triveni Ghat is situated, pilgrims visit there to take a dip in the holy water of Ganga. On the ghat, the “Maha Aarti” is performed every day. This Ghat is very significant as its convergence of three holy rivers the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswathi. The Ghat also has a market where one can get shop for religious goods, precious and semi-precious stones, Nehru jackets, Kurtas, jewellery, big bookstall. Many roadside eateries are also there which includes sweets shops, golgappa and ice cream shops.
The best part of Rishikesh is about accommodation, from staying in hostels to big luxurious hotels with hill views, one can expect in Rishikesh. Lately, there is a hype in travellers to go for hostels as it’s very affordable, one has to pay less than 500rs to stay in a dorm for a night. These types of hostels also provide an experience on their own. They keep late-night parties where different travellers meet and share their journey. Nonetheless, Live Music and food are the main attraction of the night.
Enough about accommodation and markets, the big highlight of Rishikesh is water rafting and camping. The best time to go water rafting is Mid-February to May. While the water rafting remains open throughout the year, tourists don’t go rafting in the monsoon season which stretches from mid-June to September. Many luxury cottages provide a camping experience. For an adventurous traveller, there can be no place like Rishikesh in India. River Rafting, Bungee jumping, Cliff Jumping, Camping all these adventures are offered in the town. For camping there are many cottages and hotels which provides the camping experience, a nature lover who loves camping can bring their tents to avoid paying a hefty amount for staying in these luxurious cottages as now budget travelling is the new mantra.
