One fine evening, as I was busy trudging through my random monotonous life when my usual routine of -sleep-watch TV-repeat had finally infuriated me to an extent that it became irrevocably impossible for VH1 to lure me, I received a call from a cousin who stays in Delhi . And as she gladly asked me to accompany her and her office mates to a trip to Rishikesh, it didn’t take a sec’ for me to go all gaga about it. Yesssss! That’s exactly was my reaction.
Traveling to a place that’s devoid of any modern amenities may sound a little quirky 'cause when you don’t have internet and phone chargers followed by a herd of 18 people with every single person
looking for a slot; it can turn out to be pretty hilarious at times. Anyway, I am a little sloppy when it
comes to travelogues. So please bear with me.
31st May 2014: The night it all started
It all began on the night of 31st May when we glided with our 18 member troop in two cars. The late
journey was a strange amalgamation of fun, food, music and swapping seats in the midst of the entire 6 hour long haul.
1st June 2014: Rishikesh- the eternal beauty
As we set our feet on the sanctimonious and pious land of Haridwar, the aura and setting took our
breath away. We took a little halt at a place that kind of looked liked a parking spot facing the famous Rishikesh ghat. It was 4:30 in the morning but the sun had already geared up to fascinate us with a dim backdrop of the serene ghat that was absolutely a treat to the eyes. After our brief chai session, we resumed our trip and moved along the mighty shivaliks. It was a circular terrain with nothing but
greenery all around. Nothing beats good music and driving through a place like this.
The events of 1st June comprise of different settings and various activities happening in a single day but it literally felt that we have been living here since ages.
Keep Calm and camp on!
Finally we treaded to our camping site that was along the banks of the river Ganges called Byas. Farther than shivpuri, it took us half an hour to reach there. It is truly said, “Look into the nature and you’ll understand everything better.” The arduous journey had limited our energy stock but the sound of bustling Ganga coupled with the magnificent view of the nature that had welcomed us with a stroke of rain showers, crammed everyone with a burst of tranquility. After a briefing by the camp organizers, tents were designated to everybody. Some of the troupe members preferred to lay down for a while the others resorted to playing games on the beach.
River Rafting: Great fun
Can we direct the wind? Sure not. How about adjusting to the sails?
It was perhaps one of the most adventurous things that ever occurred to all of us. After a hearty
breakfast, everyone got packed and geared up with life jackets and bountiful of excitement. We sailed off to live up to one of the most invigorating experiences of our lives. The rafting was undeniably great fun. We covered 3 rapids with astonishingly funny names and a guide with an even funnier accent. But anyway, he took some good pictures of us. Drifting and sailing through the mighty water of Ganges was indubitably thrilling. What was more stimulating was dipping into the waters while rafting. The cold water felt so sublime as it seeped through us and touched our bare skin. That was absolutely heavenly!
We roughly covered 18 kms down the trail and at the end most of us cribbed for a little more. However, the tides were pretty strong and it was advisable to not go for it.
Back to the game: We are aquaholics!
After the lunch was served to us, it was time for some water sports! This was possibly the best quality time that everybody seemed to enjoy the most. Diving and playing in the river, clicking pictures,
kayaking and so on. This continued for quite a sometime. After a nice mountain shower, we set off to visit the Rishikesh ghat to witness the famous Ganga aarti that takes place every day. We took a boat to the other end of ghat, sat near the water and watched as the holiness took a roll on us. It was one fine evening packed with spirituality as the bhajans grew upon us. A perfect setting to let it all go away and witness the grandeur of this holy land and thank god for everything that he’s bestowed upon us.
Good food. Great people. Life is awesome.
I was supposedly a new member to the entire group but it didn’t take long to for me to merge and
eventually be a part of them. The night had already dawned unto us as we travelled back to our camping site but a really scrumptious meal was waiting for us. Feasting over the delicious chicken tikkas, lovely paneer and potato starters followed by a lip smacking dinner made us vulnerable to sleep that we ultimately succumbed to, after a long, exploratory day.
2nd June 2014: Cheers to a winning end!
Waking up after a good sleep is certainly bliss. Day two began a little slow with everyone getting up with aching bodies and sore limbs. Courtesy to the supposedly hardcore rafting. Well, at least for some of us.
After a hefty breakfast, everybody sat around for a brief interactive session followed by a deep prayer and moments of introspection. Finally, it was the time to bid a heartfelt goodbye to a place that‘s truly synonymous to vitality and beauty. Soon after, we checked out of the camp.
Oh wait, it doesn’t really end here. Well, that’s exactly where we went wrong too. The journey from
Rishikesh to Delhi was marked with a tint of filmy tadka too. Who’d have thought that a mere collision at a toll booth with a car would be followed by a hilarious and riotous voyage? One of the members of gang had lost its phone during the conflict and as soon as everybody realized it, the chase for the black alto that had stolen the mobile began. If you have happened to watch those typical Hindi movies in which the thief is chased by a group of ferocious cops, it’ll be easier for you to picture the whole scene.
So, fortunately the car was able to track and catch the fleeing black alto that had absolutely no idea that they were being chased by a group of angry, young fellows and wait, a truck-wala too. While all this action was happening, the occupants of the other car were busy looking for a mall to use the washroom.
Not everybody has the cool to deal with situations like this.
After a halt at a chai dhaba with a man in bright yellow vest and red netted shirt who served us the tea as everybody chit chatted and related their escapade to us. The journey resumed smoothly until we reached Delhi at approximately 20:00 hours.
The overall trip was an experience that would certainly cling to our hearts. A voyage that was an
incorporation of fun and frolic, of splendor and reminiscences that everyone would want to cherish.
Rishikesh is definitely a place to relax, to lie down and just forget the world. If you really are looking for a temporary escape from the fists of your mundane lifecycle; take a break, buck up yourself and leave the rest to Mother Nature.
Study nature, love nature. Stay close to it and it’ll never fail you for its very essence is lyrical.
Traveling to a place that’s devoid of any modern amenities may sound a little quirky 'cause when you don’t have internet and phone chargers followed by a herd of 18 people with every single person
looking for a slot; it can turn out to be pretty hilarious at times. Anyway, I am a little sloppy when it
comes to travelogues. So please bear with me.
31st May 2014: The night it all started
It all began on the night of 31st May when we glided with our 18 member troop in two cars. The late
journey was a strange amalgamation of fun, food, music and swapping seats in the midst of the entire 6 hour long haul.
1st June 2014: Rishikesh- the eternal beauty
As we set our feet on the sanctimonious and pious land of Haridwar, the aura and setting took our
breath away. We took a little halt at a place that kind of looked liked a parking spot facing the famous Rishikesh ghat. It was 4:30 in the morning but the sun had already geared up to fascinate us with a dim backdrop of the serene ghat that was absolutely a treat to the eyes. After our brief chai session, we resumed our trip and moved along the mighty shivaliks. It was a circular terrain with nothing but
greenery all around. Nothing beats good music and driving through a place like this.
The events of 1st June comprise of different settings and various activities happening in a single day but it literally felt that we have been living here since ages.
Keep Calm and camp on!
Finally we treaded to our camping site that was along the banks of the river Ganges called Byas. Farther than shivpuri, it took us half an hour to reach there. It is truly said, “Look into the nature and you’ll understand everything better.” The arduous journey had limited our energy stock but the sound of bustling Ganga coupled with the magnificent view of the nature that had welcomed us with a stroke of rain showers, crammed everyone with a burst of tranquility. After a briefing by the camp organizers, tents were designated to everybody. Some of the troupe members preferred to lay down for a while the others resorted to playing games on the beach.
River Rafting: Great fun
Can we direct the wind? Sure not. How about adjusting to the sails?
It was perhaps one of the most adventurous things that ever occurred to all of us. After a hearty
breakfast, everyone got packed and geared up with life jackets and bountiful of excitement. We sailed off to live up to one of the most invigorating experiences of our lives. The rafting was undeniably great fun. We covered 3 rapids with astonishingly funny names and a guide with an even funnier accent. But anyway, he took some good pictures of us. Drifting and sailing through the mighty water of Ganges was indubitably thrilling. What was more stimulating was dipping into the waters while rafting. The cold water felt so sublime as it seeped through us and touched our bare skin. That was absolutely heavenly!
We roughly covered 18 kms down the trail and at the end most of us cribbed for a little more. However, the tides were pretty strong and it was advisable to not go for it.
Back to the game: We are aquaholics!
After the lunch was served to us, it was time for some water sports! This was possibly the best quality time that everybody seemed to enjoy the most. Diving and playing in the river, clicking pictures,
kayaking and so on. This continued for quite a sometime. After a nice mountain shower, we set off to visit the Rishikesh ghat to witness the famous Ganga aarti that takes place every day. We took a boat to the other end of ghat, sat near the water and watched as the holiness took a roll on us. It was one fine evening packed with spirituality as the bhajans grew upon us. A perfect setting to let it all go away and witness the grandeur of this holy land and thank god for everything that he’s bestowed upon us.
Good food. Great people. Life is awesome.
I was supposedly a new member to the entire group but it didn’t take long to for me to merge and
eventually be a part of them. The night had already dawned unto us as we travelled back to our camping site but a really scrumptious meal was waiting for us. Feasting over the delicious chicken tikkas, lovely paneer and potato starters followed by a lip smacking dinner made us vulnerable to sleep that we ultimately succumbed to, after a long, exploratory day.
2nd June 2014: Cheers to a winning end!
Waking up after a good sleep is certainly bliss. Day two began a little slow with everyone getting up with aching bodies and sore limbs. Courtesy to the supposedly hardcore rafting. Well, at least for some of us.
After a hefty breakfast, everybody sat around for a brief interactive session followed by a deep prayer and moments of introspection. Finally, it was the time to bid a heartfelt goodbye to a place that‘s truly synonymous to vitality and beauty. Soon after, we checked out of the camp.
Oh wait, it doesn’t really end here. Well, that’s exactly where we went wrong too. The journey from
Rishikesh to Delhi was marked with a tint of filmy tadka too. Who’d have thought that a mere collision at a toll booth with a car would be followed by a hilarious and riotous voyage? One of the members of gang had lost its phone during the conflict and as soon as everybody realized it, the chase for the black alto that had stolen the mobile began. If you have happened to watch those typical Hindi movies in which the thief is chased by a group of ferocious cops, it’ll be easier for you to picture the whole scene.
So, fortunately the car was able to track and catch the fleeing black alto that had absolutely no idea that they were being chased by a group of angry, young fellows and wait, a truck-wala too. While all this action was happening, the occupants of the other car were busy looking for a mall to use the washroom.
Not everybody has the cool to deal with situations like this.
After a halt at a chai dhaba with a man in bright yellow vest and red netted shirt who served us the tea as everybody chit chatted and related their escapade to us. The journey resumed smoothly until we reached Delhi at approximately 20:00 hours.
The overall trip was an experience that would certainly cling to our hearts. A voyage that was an
incorporation of fun and frolic, of splendor and reminiscences that everyone would want to cherish.
Rishikesh is definitely a place to relax, to lie down and just forget the world. If you really are looking for a temporary escape from the fists of your mundane lifecycle; take a break, buck up yourself and leave the rest to Mother Nature.
Study nature, love nature. Stay close to it and it’ll never fail you for its very essence is lyrical.
