We set out for our journey on 24th December, fully packed and prepared for the trek trip.
Flew from Chennai to Dehradun, via Hyderabad. Reached Dehradun by 4.30 Pm and took a cab to Rishikesh. We had booked a single bedroom apartment - Hill view apartment,Deccan valley, near the police chowki area, through booking.com. we reached Rishikesh around 6.30 PM, being skeptical about the place of stay.
On reaching the apartment, we were greeted by the care takers, we were more than satisfied with the neatness of the place and the facilities that were available at the apartment. It was a well maintained spic and span, posh apartment, with full fledged kitchen , washing machine , extra beds, room heater and a cost balcony facing the hills and a small stream flowing down the hill. Such a heavenly scene it was.
We had room service available from a nearby restaurant...we ordered for an evening snack - onion pakora and french fries. After Relaxing a bit and getting accoustomed to the shivering cold weather, we planned to go out with our friends who had travelled from Dehradun to meet us.
They took us for a drive to the city outer, where non vegetarian food was available at a restaurant named 'Tip top restaurant'.
They dropped us back to the room and after a small chat left to their place.
Rishikesh
Woke up at 5.30 AM at Rishikesh and planned for a walk to Ram Jhula. It was around 3 kms from our apartment. Such a scenic place with all the positive vibes around. It was a bliss to run in the Rishikesh roads by the side of Ganges. What more we can ask for when on a vacation! PURE BLISS! We creossee the Ram Jhula bridge to reach the other side if the Ganges, walked along the Ganges capturing the beauty of the Holy place. Totally mesmerised in the morning beauty of the clear river, the silence, pigeons, the boats, the hanging bridge and the Sadhus.
Had 'so called' south indian breakfast at a cafe, regretting for the Breakfast there, we strolled back to our room, total run / walk for 8 kms.
Back to the room with a refreshed mind and body , we were all set for our adventure river rafting. We had booked our rafting with Adventure nation', the communication and the arrangements were perfect and we were picked up from our apartment complex in a Jeep loaded with the Raft. We were taken to the rafting point and asked to change on to the rafting water proof dress. The Red chilli' company which took us for rafting is one of the best and had all safety measures including 2 guides who came along with us kanoying.
We had a family of 4 , accompanying us in our Raft. Such a lovely experience rafting in the Ganges in the Grade 4 rapids. One thrilling experience it was to jump into the icy cold Ganges and swim along the Raft.
After the Rafting session, we had hot noodles at the beach and the cab dropped us back to our apartment complex.
We were totally drained out after the Rafting experience, and had a good nap. Evening we decided to go for the Ganga Aarathi. We were ready by 5 pm and started our walk towards Parmath Nikethan which was close to the Ram Jhula. The other place where the Aarathi takes place is 'Triveni Ghat'. We decided to have the Aarathi dharshan at Parmath Nikethan as it was close by. We reached the place around 6Pm..and rushed to the place to occupy a seat in the steps of the Parmath Nikethan. There was a huge crowd around the place and it was a enchanting experience to listen to the bell sounds and the Dheep Aarathi with people chanting....Ganga maatha' . It was amazing to see the moon lit huge Shiva statue in the middle of the Ganges An exhilerating spiritual experience!
With a satisfied refreshed mind....we strolled in the walking path leading to Laxman Jhula, shopping few handicraft items in the platform shops. We reached our apartment around 9 pm, ordered food from the nearby restaurant and went to bed, awaiting the next day's big adventure.
Rishikesh - Mohanchatti - Jumping heights - Bunjee jumping
This day was the most adventurous day...had booked for Bunjee jumping a months ago with Adventure nation. So booked a cab to travel to Mohan chatti , which is a hill where the jumping heights company conducts Bunjee jumping and other adventure sports activities.
It took 45 min travel on the hills to recahbbthe place ..and after the initial check up and signing in of the acknowledgement Sheet, I was asked to go to the waiting lounge for Bunjee . My husband who had not registered for the jump was wait in the lobby. I walked all the way to the waiting area and there were 10 of them before me, all youngsters and college students. I was all thrilled to experience the jumo, my long time bucket list. My turn came and the guide asked me if I was nervous...I was perfect and all excited. He tied all the safety ropes and the locks , double checked the locks and he asked me to jump... counting 1,2,3...off I was down in the air.....woooow......what a feeling I had!!!!! Just awesome....I had all my endorphins and seratonins rushing inside me. Just 2 minutes in air and I was down in the valley. Still unable to recover from the excitement , I was given a bottle of water and a batch reading 'I did it' . All my excitement came down when I was told to climb a steep hill up for 20 minutes to reach the lobby. Up in the lobby, I was given a video of my jump. We collected it and started back in our canlb to Musssorie.
It was around 3 hrs drive from there to Musssorie, we had our lunch in a restaurant on the way. We reached Sterling resorts Musssorie by 8pm. The cab driver charged Rs.4000 for the day journey .
In Sterling Musssorie, we were welcomed by the shivering cold and well decorated lobby in Red, as it was next day of Christmas. After the formalities , we were alloted room no.402, a room with the mountain view! What more can we ask for!
Morning woke up at 5. AM and opened the curtains only to see a mesmerizing view of the 'Winter line' . Winter line is a Reddish hue line that is seen during the sun rise and sunset in parts of Switzerland and in Musssorie during months of November - January. We were lucky enough having an opportunity to see this phenomenon. My husband still sleeping, I went out for a run fully covered in the Shivering cold. Such a scenic place to run..I ran till the mall road which was 2.5 kms and back to the resort, clicking pics of the lady nature. Back to the resort and had a sumptuous spread for Breakfast. We got ready and booked a cab, went for a day sight seeing to Kempty falls, Santura Devi temple, Buddhist monastery and back to our place by 8 Pm. Had hot masala noodles for our lunch at the Kempty falls. Back to room and had a good Buffett dinner at the restaurant.
Musssorie
The last day in Missourie was a leisure day. Morning went for run to the mall road, back to room and then breakfast. Started to Mall road around 2 pm and had lunch at the Tavern bar and restaurant and started our walk towards Mall road. It was a happening place , and food carnival going on, on the platform of the Mall road. The speciality of this road is that, no motored vehicles are allowed inside the road, only pedestrians allowed. It was a happening place and Utharkhand food festival was going on with local people and home bakers displaying their stuff on the platforms of the mall road. We walked all the way to the end of the mall road, shopped some souvenirs, gifts and had badham milk, hot jelabi, and kachori and retired to our room ...prepared for the next three days of our first trekking experience!
