Rishikesh-where adventure and serenity goes hand in hand

Travelling is fun and liberating but painting the canvas of such experiences is a bit tough one; especially for an occasional Writer. So, to start with let me take you to Rishikesh-a place where adventure and tranquility are the two sides of the same coin.

The place Rishikesh is synonymous with peace, tranquility and river rafting. Nested in the Indian State of Uttarakhand with river Ganga meandering through the valley, Rishikesh provides a comfort for young and old alike.

It’s a place that one will always be drawn to, be it the adrenaline rush during rafting or the spirituality that it connects with you. Personally for me, Rishikesh is on my go to place list. It’s really comfortable to reach from New Delhi; one can easily drive a car and reach there in around 6-7 hours. The best time to visit Rishikesh is during the months of November-March when the days are pleasurably warm and the nights allow one to enjoy the winter. There are lots of stay options ranging from backpacking hostels, camps to luxurious getaways. The best option will be to stay nearby the Ghats so that one can enjoy the picturesque and ethereal beauty of the Ganges, soul warming bhajans from the Holy shrines and indulging in the comfort food and shopping in the streets.

Rishikesh offers one of the best places for rafting in India. The adrenaline rush while rafting through the rapids, cliff jumping, all comes together for an unforgettable life experience. The rafting is best when started early during the day as the temperature will be relatively cool and one gets to enjoy the experience at its peak. Furthermore, the adventure enthusiasts can also try bungee jumping, flying fox, etc. for adding up the experience. Later half of the day could be spent by taking a stroll through the streets, exploring Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula, shopping local arts and crafts, gorging on the local delicacies, visiting the offbeat cafes. The Ganga Aarti on the banks of the river is a must attend activity while in Rishikesh during evening time to experience religious and spiritual emotions. One can then just relax and listen to the soulful bhajans and enjoy the evening breeze whilst stargazing.

Rishikesh also boasts to have some of the best ashrams. These spiritual havens are great to re discover and awaken one’s consciousness. Yoga, meditation is some of the few things that these ashrams offer along with accommodation and spiritual retreats. Some of them offer spiritual guidance courses/ personalized programs that could be pursued as per interest. Rishikesh also has some pristine waterfalls around. The soothing sound of water pounding on the rocks while binging on a hot plate of maggi will make you forget all of the earthly worries and appreciate the little things in life.

There are many places to visit and experiences to explore in Rishikesh. But as far my personal experience goes; the best experience is definitely lounging or strolling by the Ghat, enjoying the river flow by and humming the bhajans. Many might find the experience quite unworthy but in today’s world where we all are running a rat race, its very important to unwind once in a while, enjoy the nature’s pristine beauty and divinity. It’s the one of those places which will enable one to develop perspective on life, do some soul-searching, focus on the important things and let go of the trivial things in life.

The Ganges and the valley create the most perfect setting for those seeking adventure and those seeking solace. No wonder it has become an important source of livelihood for many residents and a tourist hotspot. People from all over India and abroad, young and old, the adventure-lover and the theist alike visit this place seeking an escapade. No words are enough to describe the enigma of this place which promises a myriad of life cherishing experience.