03 Nov Tourist time …
Three awesome places to visit around Rishikesh…
Kunjapuri Temple
Waking up at 3am to drive to this stunning place to watch the sunrise is worth it!
The roads that wind their way up the Himalayas with every turn giving a different view to take in. Stopping for a sweet, street chai tea and cookie break before heading up to the Temple brought a much needed energy boost, as you walk through the entry, and have to climb two hundred steps up, leads you to this magical space.
The Sun rises slowly over the mountains and above the clouds is an experience that can only be described as meditative. I would definitely recommend making the trip to take in the spectacular appearance of the rising Sun.
“The Beatles Ashram”
Stepping on the same foot paths of legends like John Lennon and the rest of Beatles makes you think to what is would have been like in the ’60’s in India.
The ashram has a bitter sweet feel to it. You can feel the peaceful vibe, and the beautiful architecture that it has to offer, with funky pieces of art work around the “ruins”. There is a museum which gives a little detail of the Beatles time there, as well as the work of their guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi known for developing the transcendental meditation technique.
The Ashram unfortunately has been left to go to ruins, you can daydream of it being fixed back to its former glory!
And you have nature that is slowly taking over and taking the land back to a natural state, is also a wonder to contemplate.
Beautiful Ashrams, spectacular sightseeing, feeling blessed, believing – no – knowing that at the end of the day all we need is love.
Things to consider when going to the Beatles Ashram INR600; mosquito repellent (they’re hungry!)
Aarti
At dusk, Aarti is a pleasant way to worship the Ganga! There is a fire ceremony, singing, chanting and even dancing at the end of the ceremony.
It has such a feeling of inclusion. Even though we are not Hindu we were blessed along with everyone, we felt a part of the ceremony giving gratitude to this sacred river and there was just kindness floating around it was almost tangable.
It is just so magical watching diyas floating down the river. I made a wish as I lit the incence and candle made of cotton dipped in ghee, and sent my off giving thanks to Life and Freedom.
One thing for sure is you will never be more blessed than when you travel to this holy City!
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