Living There
The year was 1968, and a particular band by the name of the Beatles arrived in Rishikesh to participate in the Transcendental Meditation session organized by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. At that point no one in his wildest dreams had the slightest inkling that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s session with the Fab Four, as the Beatles were endearingly called, would turn the fortunes of Rishikesh to such an extent that in the course of time it would firmly establish itself as one of the preeminent spiritual sites in the world. Before the arrival of the Beatles —Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison –Rishikesh was nothing more than a small temple town that was visited by a handful of devotees, but since their arrival the number of visitors have shot up. If you visit Rishikesh today, whatever time of the year it may be, you are very likely to find tourists thronging the place.
Rishikesh came into prominence as a spiritual destination, so there is no surprise that many tourists come here to get yoga instructions, participate in spiritual awakening sessions, and get close to nature. But to its credit, Rishikesh is no one-trick pony as it has evolved tremendously over the years and today hosts a number of activities, like white-water river rafting, that attract enthusiasts from across the world.
Let’s discuss the various ways one can explore this wonderful land
As a seeker of spirituality
It is a no-brainer actually, considering that spirituality seems to leak out through its every nook and cranny. The air is electrified by the simultaneous chanting of mantras by the hundreds of saffron-clad sadhus and devotees wearing tilaks on their foreheads; there is a magical feeling about the whole thing and even if you are non-believer the super-charged atmosphere would shook you to the core. Also when in Rishikesh, there is no getting away from people trying to pass on a little bit of their spiritual knowledge, be it in the markets which are filled with puja items like flowers, incense, fruits, and other items; cafeterias; streets, or in some other place. Sights of people having animated discussions about various aspects of spirituality are common. As a spiritual seeker, you are going to be in for a treat as there are many temples, both big and small. These temples are almost always thronged by devotees who come to seek blessings and show veneration to their gods. But hopping from temple to temple is no laughing matter, and can drain you out of your energy. The best thing to do in such situation is visit a nearby café or road-side stall and have something good to eat.
The temple of Vashishta Gufa is a widely revered place where one can experience eternal peace, so try to include in your list of places to visit. The gufa constitutes a number of caves and is generally not very crowded.
As an adventurer
Rishikesh is today a hot destination not just among spiritual seeks, but among adventure enthusiasts as well. Some of the popular adventure activities that are hotly pursued by tourists include white-water rafting, bungee jumping, zip lining, and canoeing. Most of these water sports are carried out in the sparkling waters of the River Ganges. Those planning a river rafting trip to Rishikesh have a number of options that they can choose from –the rivers has rapids ranging from Grade I till Grade V. Grade one rapid consists of easy, small waves and is suitable for amateurs and families. Those looking for rapids with moderate difficulty may opt for Grade II rapids. From Grade III onwards the rapids get stronger and are suitable for experienced rafters.
There are many operators that arrange water adventure activities in the Rishikesh, but before selecting a specific one, do some research about its track record and what safety measures it adopts. It is not wrong to demand a guide if the adventure activities involve a certain level of risk.
As a traveler looking to spend time in the arms of luxury
The transformation of Rishikesh as a popular tourist destination has a lot to do with its thriving luxury accommodation facilities. After all nobody wants to get stuck in a shabby room that is stinky and has poor furniture and décor. One place that travelers, especially spa junkies, may want to stay during their sojourn in Rishikesh is Ananda in the Himalayas. It was once the only luxury accommodation in the entire state of Uttarakhand and even today retains much of its regal charm. There are many other facilities like opportunities for yoga sessions, exercise classes, and mountain-trek excursions that keep guests busy and entertained. The living rooms are aristocratically and tastefully designed and look out over beautiful views; the cuisine is also of fine quality and includes many Indian and international dishes.
Ananda is, however, by no means the solitary option in front of the traveler as a new crop of boutique hotels if taking the concept of luxury accommodation to the next level. Some of the names that you may decide to try your luck include Raga on the Ganges, which is sandwiched between two mountains. Starting from the scenery around the hotel to food to architecture to hospitality, it does enough to earn the bragging rights as an ultimate luxury hotel.
As a yoga enthusiast
It will not be wrong to call Rishikesh the yoga center of India; you will find that yoga sessions are being held in almost all ashrams. These sessions are accompanied by discussions, lectures, theatre, music programs, and art exhibitions. Yoga is associated with many benefits like it provides peace of mind, body and soul. In addition, it helps followers get rid of many ailments that are a result of today’s sedentary lifestyle without using any invasive procedures. A special yoga event, International Yoga Week is held every year in the month of March and is attended by followers from around the year. Some of the notable speakers at the festival include Swami Chidanand Saraswati (spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan ashram), Roshan Singh (founder and president of Rishikesh Yog Peeth) and Kathy Kangarloo (founder of emerging Om in California).
As a music lover
Rishikesh being the spiritual nerve center of the world, it is visited by devotees from across the country and abroad. The premises of the temples are filled with chanting of mantras and ringing of bells which take you into a spiritual journey. The chanting follows a rhythmic intonation and the entire area reverberates with divine energy. You don’t need to be music lover to appreciate the coordination between the priests, orchestrating the entire event, and the devotees who responds to their every move and call with full force. Also, you will find street musicians playing different religious tunes; mostly they have their own way of telling a mythological or religious story through their music. These musicians may play music describing tales from the Mahabharata, the Gita, or the Ramayana.
