HARIDWAR & RISHIKESH – Sample Itinerary – 11
Sample itinerary – 11
HARIDWAR and RISHIKESH ( 2 or 3 nights )
DAY 1:
4 hr drive from Delhi
Beautiful Drive through the Farmlands with Sugarcane growing or Mustard fields.
On Arrival, Hotel and then head for the Haridwar Ghats. This is where every Hindu must visit and take a dip in the Ganges. You will witness the priests chanting away and all the ancient temples immersed in the water. Get your blessings. and walk along the ancient Bazaars and return to the Hotel.
Evening. Witness the amazing Aarti at the Parmarth Ashram. The sound resonates along the Mountains and the Ganges . This is where the Beatles would come to learn Meditation.
DAY 2:
After Tea / Breakfast. Drive to the city of Rishikesh which is about 27 kms away. The town is in the Himalayan foothills beside the Ganges River. The river is considered holy and the city is renowned as a center for studying yoga and meditation.
Set against the backdrop of theHimalayas and with the pristine Ganga flowing through it, the ancient town of Rishikesh is one of the significant pilgrimage hubs in northern India. People from across the globe arrive here in search of peace. It is said Rishikesh finds mention in the ancient text Skanda Purana, and in the epic Ramayana.
The city is also known for its connection with the Beatles. In February 1968, members of the legendary English rock band visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram ( now popularly called the Beatles Ashram ) to learn transcendental meditation.
Popular sites in Rishikesh:
Lakshmana Jhula: Constructed in 1939, this 137 meter long suspension bridge, at a height of 21 meters above the river is considered to be at the same location where it is believed Lord Lakshmana ( from the epic Ramayana ) crossed the river Ganges with the help of jute ropes.
Gita Bhawan: Near the Lakshmana Jhula, is the newly constructed building of Gita Bhawan. It runs a free Ayurvedic dispensary and stories from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are beautifully illustrated on its walls.
Beatles Ashram: In the Swargashram area, nestled in a forest patch, is the former ashram of Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, also known as Chaurasi Kutia and Beatles Ashram. It is here that the musicians stayed and learnt transcendental meditation. One may walk around the ruins of the ashram, with striking graffiti of the band members painted on the walls, enjoying the peace and calm of the area.
Bharat Mandir: Near the Triveni Ghat, stands one of the oldest shrines in Rishikesh, Bharat Mandir, said to have been built by sage Adi Shankaracharya. This ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, whose idol is carved out of a single black stone, popularly known as Saligram. Catch the spring festival also called Basant Panchami celebrated here in February.
Triveni Ghat: Located in the heart of town, Triveni is the most well-known bathing ghat ( stepped banks of a river ), where most pilgrims take a holy dip before they visit the temples of Rishikesh. An amazing sight here is the evening aarti, a ceremony accompanied by lights, drums and chanting, with the entire ghat lit with flickering lamps.