Saturday, Oct 11 2008.
After all the hustle and bustle of Delhi, it was nice to arrive at Rishikesh. A big contrast, and the people don't annoy you as they do in Delhi. An 8 hour sleeping train ride from Old Delhi station to Haridwar and a 45min local bus ride to downtown Rishikesh and another further 10-15 min Riksha ride to where all the ashrams and holy places are. I met a British guy on the train, he had been to India and Rishikesh several years in a row and knew of a place to stay for real cheap. We went to the ashram (this one does not practice yoga or any sort of meditation unfortunately), and I agreed on a room for 60 rupees, ca. 10kr. A very simple room with a bed, windows, and of course a fan. Toilets are outside along with a tap and bucket (shower) and there is no hot water. It'll suffice for a while, at least till I find another place. The room is fairly big, surprising for the amount you pay.
Upper Rishikesh is a very nice place, sorrunded by small mountains and everything is centered around the Ganges. You can constantly see people bathing in it, and it is much cleaner than the one in Varanasi. There are loads of ashrams scattered around the place and Yoga is the main attraction. I have met all kinds of tourist from all over the globe, France, USA, Cananda, Russia, Israel, Spain, you name it. You meet a new person almost everyday, and start a conversation over lunch.
I was initially planning to stay for a short while (three days) and head further north, but due to a sudden onset of a sore throat (probably due to all the pollution from Delhi and other parts), I am going to rest for about a week before I decide to continue my journey. I have to take care of my health before anything else, and the climate up north is a lot colder as I believe winter is already approaching there. It's also nice to settle down for a while and get to know the surronding area. Today, over lunch, I met a russian guy who told me about where he is staying, an ashram on the far end of town, and they include Yoga and meditation for the price of lodging, which is 100 rupees, ca. 17kr. I will move there on Wednesday and try out some of the lessons, I will post my impressions in due time :D
After all the hustle and bustle of Delhi, it was nice to arrive at Rishikesh. A big contrast, and the people don't annoy you as they do in Delhi. An 8 hour sleeping train ride from Old Delhi station to Haridwar and a 45min local bus ride to downtown Rishikesh and another further 10-15 min Riksha ride to where all the ashrams and holy places are. I met a British guy on the train, he had been to India and Rishikesh several years in a row and knew of a place to stay for real cheap. We went to the ashram (this one does not practice yoga or any sort of meditation unfortunately), and I agreed on a room for 60 rupees, ca. 10kr. A very simple room with a bed, windows, and of course a fan. Toilets are outside along with a tap and bucket (shower) and there is no hot water. It'll suffice for a while, at least till I find another place. The room is fairly big, surprising for the amount you pay.
Upper Rishikesh is a very nice place, sorrunded by small mountains and everything is centered around the Ganges. You can constantly see people bathing in it, and it is much cleaner than the one in Varanasi. There are loads of ashrams scattered around the place and Yoga is the main attraction. I have met all kinds of tourist from all over the globe, France, USA, Cananda, Russia, Israel, Spain, you name it. You meet a new person almost everyday, and start a conversation over lunch.
I was initially planning to stay for a short while (three days) and head further north, but due to a sudden onset of a sore throat (probably due to all the pollution from Delhi and other parts), I am going to rest for about a week before I decide to continue my journey. I have to take care of my health before anything else, and the climate up north is a lot colder as I believe winter is already approaching there. It's also nice to settle down for a while and get to know the surronding area. Today, over lunch, I met a russian guy who told me about where he is staying, an ashram on the far end of town, and they include Yoga and meditation for the price of lodging, which is 100 rupees, ca. 17kr. I will move there on Wednesday and try out some of the lessons, I will post my impressions in due time :D
12 comments:
Hey Asho!
The pictures are awesome (must have taken ages to upload those pictures), it sure looks like a whole new world there. There must be an internet cafe in almost every nook and cranny ei~ Im suprised, oh well ... good for you, hope it doesn't cost more than the lodging to use it ... he he. Get well soon Ash, its most definitely the pollution in Dheli that got you sick, but Im sure that we'll both agree things will get better, even people along with the air quality as you head furhter away.
And wow, what a deal 60 rupees and even better a chance to become a yoga apprentice while loging for 100 rupees, he he ... sounds like a bargain. Good luck Asho! Write back when you get a chance.
Hey guess what, google maps actually had Rishikesh mapped out via. satellite.
(looks like the bridge near the Ganges you took a picture)
http://img375.imageshack.us/
img375/8739/rishikeshindiadv6.jpg
Hey Asho if you need any help or info you let me know. But Im sure that with so many people there traveling (with veteran back packers and new ones), I don't have a doubt in mind that someone somewhere will be able to help you out. GAMBARE!
Hej Ashly/ I´m happy to hear that all the initial problems have decreased and that you have arrived the planned destination Rishikesh. I think you will learn the system step by step and enjoy your trip. Take some rest if the town, area and room is OK, so you get rid of your cold. Probably it will better and better further north. Take care/Lycka till/KG
Hi Ash,
Glad to hear that Rish. was better than Dehli. I was afraid that it would have become too comercialized there too. I think its a good idea to stay there for a week and get over your cold! EAT PROPERLY!Remember you body is used to getting protein in the form of meat, try to get one decent meal a day. Eat a lot of fresh fruits, don´t eat star fruits b/c they can actually make your throat worse. Mangos should be able to slide down your throat nicely. Mmmm what else....
Hey Koj, where do I find a good online map of India, so that I can follow Ash? Send it to my mail pls.
Fredrik and Tiger of couse sends their love to you. Basically take it easy, I mean you have no set schedule, listen to your body and your feelings and I believe everything will turn out fine.
Remember you went there free of everything w/o attachements. Enjoy the experience. I don´t think you will get another chance like that again.
Love you Asho. Akki
Bloody thing is too complicated. At least you know who this is right? Hugs Akki
Hi Ash
Hope you are feeling better now. Try to eat fruits that you peel. If there is a pharmacy get some antibiotics before you depart to the mountains or u'll be stuck without anything for an emmergency. Better have some than not have any and u never know when u will need them. It is a feeling - intuition is never wrong.
The pics are beautiful. Lovelier than Delhi. Gambatte ne!
Trainride up north... not bad... on your way to those mountains ey? Whats the elevation in Rishikesh, nights should be cooler?
Sounds like a fun journey. Good title of the blog. Don't forget to tell us all about the food, likes and dislikes. Stay away from those bidi's and betel's though, at least for yourself (bidi's or western equivalent in shirtpocket might come handy every now and then as we've talked about).
Yoshi' click "Name/URL" ;-)
Thnx guys for your comments. My initial sickness was probably due to the new environment, and total air pollution, remember Tianjin, well, this is like two times worse cause there's no where to hide from it, and the bikers/cars pass two inches away from you and leave you in a cloud of smoke. Cough cough.
As for my health, I am feeling a lot better now. The nights do get chilly, and I bought a small blanket for 100rupees. This helped me sleep much better. As for antibiotics, I won't be able to buy them yet, as they don't have a pharmacist near by.
And yes Koji, the pics took forever to upload...so it'll be a while till i do more :(
K.G - yeah, you learn the system as you move along. Staying here is nice though, relaxing in sense.
Akki - not much fruits to buy here, as the north doesn't have the variation, at least not from what I've seen. I am eating, at least two times a day :)
Sonny - The elevation isn't much different from Delhi. But the nights are much cooler, fan is switched off during the night. As for shirts, I'm still using my one, as there are no holes yet. I will have to invest in a proper sweater up north though. The roads are pretty bumpy, but it is paved. just loads of potholes.
Update:
Vodaphone has decided to cancel my sim card, which means that I will not have a mobile. the resaon behind this is that the damn shop i bought the sim from didn't send in my papers, and they will kill the card. There isn't much i can do about it, and I'm not going back to delhi for it. I will have to invest in a new sim card later on in my journey, so I will post it when I do. Bites.
Hey Asho! Welcome back online. Must be a walk from your new place your staying, no? How goes your Yoga classes if any? See I had a feeling its gonna be cold there, that sleeping bag would have been nice right about now ei~ but glad your hanging in there.
Anyway, enjoy the experience. It must be nice just kickin back. Hey Asho, try and take 2pics sometimes of the places that you really wanna show us, one high like usual and one low quality (email type). Like where your staying now and that road, tolets/shower, your diet? Im curious ... of should I say we're all curious.
Oh one last thing ... stop commenting our comments MR! Blog away your days! :P
Hey Mr.Koji! Answering the questions and commmenting on blogs are the joys of blogging. So, yes, I will continue to do both :P haha.
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