Rishikesh, the sacred city of Hinduism in the Ganges at the foot of the Himalayas, Amritsar, which houses the golden temple of the Sikhs, Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile, and Delhi, which has the largest mosque in India, for 25,000 Muslims.
Rishikesh is one of the few places in India where you can safely bathe in the Ganges River since at the foot of the Himalayas, its waters are still clean; another thing is that its cold temperature causes a spasm; I just put my hand to check the temperature and it was really cool.
Rishikesh is about 25 kilometers from another holy city, Haridwar, but for foreigners Rishikesh is the main destination, since they follow the spiritual path that the Beatles made in 1968 when they visited their guru Maharishi, as I already told in my diary All You Need Is Love Put a Guru and an Ashram in your Life.
Legend has it that Lord Rama did penance here to kill the demon king of Lanka. Rishikesh is the starting point to travel to the sites that make up the Char Dham - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri pilgrimage.
The meaning of Rishikesh in Sanskrit is "He has conquered his senses" (Sanskrit: Rishik = senses + Ish = master).
Rishikesh is a strange mixture between tourism, business, and spirituality, all living in apparent harmony.
Ancient and modern temples mark the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh and immense multi-story buildings that are ashram host thousands of pilgrims.
In spite of its flourishing aspect, in Rishikesh live less than 100,000, it is almost a village for what is usual in India.
Rishikesh has become the world capital of
Yoga and has dozens of yoga centers of all levels and categories.
As you go up the river the bustle of the city, where the markets and the train and bus stations are, it disappears and it is in the high zone or High Bank where most people are staying in search of a bit of tranquility. especially foreigners.
The accommodations range from the most Spartan to Asian luxury, but for about € 12 you can get a room with A / C and good views over the river.
Very close to High Bank is Lakshman Jhula, where the famous suspension bridge that crosses the Gangés is permanently jammed with pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, porters. and complete families of pilgrimage
When I was there, they were also painting it, but because of the speed with which they did it, I would not be surprised when they finished at one end they had to start repainting it on the other.
The crossing of the bridge and a walk along the river bank takes us to Swarg Ashram, a real market to cover all our needs, physical, mental and spiritual.
pharmacies, herbalists, street stalls, temples, restaurants, ashram, cybercafés, restaurants, travel agencies, gurus, shadús, and poor people, many poor people, asking for alms in endless lines, follow one another in their variegated streets.
It is believed that meditation in Rishikesh allows us to reach moksha more quickly, or liberation in Sanskrit, which will also help an immersion in the sacred river.
Less sacred is the sport that is becoming very popular in this area, rafting, which offers rapids of medium and high difficulty to those seeking strong emotions
Rishikesh is home to the Kailas Brahmavidyapeetham ashram, an institution with more than 120 years dedicated to the preservation of the traditional studies of the Vedas, knowledge in Sanskrit, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism.
Outstanding personalities, such as Swami Vivekananda, Swami Ramatirtha and Swami Shivananda have studied at this institution.
The ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi that the Beatles visited in 1968 is now closed and in ruins, but there are people so obsessed with their meaning that they dare to venture into the jungle and jump fences to see the place that inspired the White Album, undoubtedly one of the best albums of the Liverpool group.
Rishikesh boasts one of the largest complexes of ashrams in the world, which is informally defined as spiritual retreats. The stay begins with the call to meditation at 5 a. m., followed by a yoga class at dawn and, finally, more yoga, chants, lectures, and group meals.
The most authentic ashrams, such as the Parmarth Niketan (in which the International Yoga Festival takes place, this year will be held in March), offer shared rooms without internet for only 12 dollars
However, heating and hot water can suddenly fail, which is worth taking into account between November and February.
The ashrams tend to focus on yoga, as is the case with the huge Sivananda ashram, or to be more directed to meditation like the Osho Gangadham and the Ved Niketan Dham. The most elegant, the Yog Niketan, has luxurious views of the river and a spa at an additional cost.
Most ashrams accept outsiders, which is ideal for those who value satellite television, wifi and room service from other nearby accommodations, such as the Yog Vashishth Hotel.
Participate in an Aarti ceremony in the Ganges
The Hindu religious rituals known as Aartis are held on the banks of the rivers every day, at dusk. They consist of offerings of music and fire for the Ganges, which is known as "mother" in Hindu culture.
In Rishikesh, Hindu
Ganga Aarti sessions are held every night; music is played and fire offerings are made to the Ganges river.
It is not uncommon to see fires shining from a distance, indicating that they are burning a body and that the ashes will soon be scattered in the river, a Hindu ritual that promises to liberate the soul from the constant cycle of rebirth.
Part of the tradition is to put your feet in the Ganges while you leave a wreath; For those who want to live a more authentic experience, the idea is to bathe completely. However, the flow of the river is fast and the margins can be slippery in the mud, so be careful.
it is worth spending a day to visit the charming city of Haridwar to compare its aartis, less adapted for western visitors. But beware of false "saints" who ask you for "donations".
A tree converted into a temple in the charming city of Haridwar, one hour from Rishikesh
Rishikesh houses several minor temples that serve as improvised stages for musicians of kirtan (religious chants in which the audience responds to the singer) that are accompanied by harmonies, tables, flutes, cymbals and any other instruments at hand.
These sessions can be carried out at any time and it is usually open to allow visitors to participate, although it is best to ask before.
