Solace in the Garhwal Himalayas

Away from the concrete jungles to a place of sublime beauty that's how I would describe my last trip to the Garhwal Himalayas. It was a great relief to escape from the heat and dust of D elhi. At a time when the plains of north India were reeling under a scorching heat, the hills in the Garhwal were comfortably cool. The change in weather was quite perceptible as we touched base in Rishikesh. A small town perched on the banks of the holy Ganges. Rishikesh is also called the gateway to char dhams of Uttaranchal--Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Rishikesh is about half an hour's drive from Haridwar-- one of the holy places where Kumbh Mela takes place. Rishikesh is a nice place to break your journey and relax. There are many comfortable ashrams and hotels in R ishikesh. Ashrams may cost you anything between Rs. 100 to 200 or $2-4 per night. Hotels are not very costly either; you may get a decent hotel room for Rs. 500 or $15. There are many things to do in Rishikesh, if you plan to stay there for a day or two, learning Yoga or taking trekking tour is a good idea. Since we reached Rishikesh in the evening, there was not much choice. The town looked really beautiful with twinkling lights with the Ganges flowing quietly. But the aarti on the banks of the river was something that is difficult to forget. The whole town seemed to have converged on the banks to invoke the deity. With aroma of hundreds of incense sticks wafting in the air, it was an ethereal experience. A treat for the senses; the sound of bells and floating of diyas (lamps) and the chant of hare Ganga. The time seemed to have stop. I wake up to a clear morning the next day. The sun rays were kissing the waters of the Ganges. Before heading for the journey ahead, I decided to take a stroll along the bank of the Ganges. I could see the chillum puffing sadhus and devotees taking a dip. Some foreign tourists with their rack sack were also seen strolling. The onwards journey to holy places located in the higher reaches was the arduous one. At that time roads were being widened and it was difficult to negotiate a bend without being extremely careful. Our destination for the day was to reach Joshimath, approximately 350 kilometers from Rishikesh. I had expected a smooth journey but it had many surprises in store.