Apart from being the source of the two most important rivers of India, the Ganga and the Yamuna, Garhwal region has magnificent mountains, deep gorges, lush green meadows, valleys, glaciers, lakes, cascading rivers. Visitors at the hotels in Delhi do enquire about incorporating rafting in Rishikesh into their itinerary, after the mandatory Agra and Rajasthan! Most have tie ups with hotels in Rishikesh.

There are numerous excellent hotels in Rishikesh, cottage retreats and even ashrams to stay at. Drink in the rejuvenating fresh air and hop onto your raft for the most exhilarating thrills on exciting rapids.This ancient township of Rishikesh is the gateway to Garhwal. It has become an year round destination with pilgrimages, yoga and meditation camps, white water rafting, wildlife safaris, trekking, and skiing. From Delhi it’s a short, comfortable journey to your hotel in Rishikesh, about 250 km, with options of taxi, bus and train.

Called the Mecca for a peace seeker, it has numerous excellent Yoga centers, and Ayurvedic treatment centers, all a stones throw from your hotel in Rishikesh. And in case you don’t want to stay at a hotel in Rishikesh but would rather go more ‘natural’ and stay at an ashram or health farm, that too is easily arranged. Most professional travel agents can you give tips on where to head similar to the travel help desks of Delhi.

The hotels in Rishikesh are jam packed with thousands of pilgrims flocking here on auspicious dates for holy dips in the Sacred Ganges river- it is also the starting point for the pilgrimage to the sacred Hindu Chardham. The RajaJi National Park is the venue for migratory birds from the world over. Its core zone and main gate is Chilla which is 17 km from Rishikesh. Every Rishikesh hotel will organize a day trip there.

Only few rivers in the world have the mystique of the Ganges. Rafting on its waters is a life time experience. There are multi day expeditions with camping on exclusives beaches. One can also try the Dukies or kayaks apart from the challenging rapids on rafts. Every hotel in Rishikeshhas tie ups with adventure tour operators who are safe, professional and experienced in their approach to provide rishikesh river rafting and climbing thrills.

Corporate programs for executives from across India incorporate rishikesh river rafting and climbing as a standard routine. Weekend getaways for team spirit building, increasing leadership qualities, crisis and stress management, personality development etc involve Yoga, meditation, treks, and rishikesh river rafting runs.

This ancient land has been home to sages, seers and enlightened ones for thousands of years. Visiting holy sites is not such a new trend – spiritual seekers have always flocked here from all over the world. What is new is that visitors in the swelling tourist circuit are seeking stays at such places as part of tour itinerary – not just for the look or feel of the place, but to get to know and learn culture at close hand.

Haridwar and Rishikesh are two ancient holy cities on the Ganga River which also flows through Varanasi, said to be the oldest still living city in the world. Varanasi is several thousand years old!

The ancient township of Rishikesh in the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand is a year round destination for pilgrimage, yoga and meditation. Called the mecca for a peace seeker, it has numerous yoga centers and ashrams that are spiritual retreats and centers of philosophical studies, yoga and meditation. One can stay in one of thehotels in Rishikesh or at an ashram for training with yoga gurus who are well versed with every aspect of Yoga.

Yoga is an ancient science of staying physically and mentally fit, native to India and thousands of years old. What can be a better place to stay and learn some yoga while holidaying in a luxury hotel in Rishikesh or ashram right on the river banks. You will have a daily routine of meditation classes, yoga classes, lectures and discourses. An annual International Yoga Week Festival is held here in February or March, with leading spiritual leaders, yoga teachers, meditation teachers, naturopath doctors and thousands of devotees all descending here at numerous hotel in Rishikesh to participate.

The world famous Kumbha Mela takes place in Haridwar once every 12 years and the Ardha Kumbha Mela once every six years drawing millions of devotees here at the Ganga River at one go! Needless to say every single hotel in rishikesh is jam packed. The sacred Ganga is believed to purify all whom its waters touch.For Hindus, Ganga is divinity in the form of a river.

The Ganga in Varanasi (also called Kashi or Benares) is believed to have the power to wash away sins of mortals. Varanasi is associated with spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga and honored authors, musicians and artists of India. Ayurveda is said to have originated at Varanasi.. Along with booking your hotel in Delhi in advance, it is also advisable to book a hotel in Rishiskeh in advance as well.

One of the most popular reasons tourists travel to rishikesh is the town’s spiritual importance. Rishikesh is worldwide renowned as the yoga capital of the world. There are numerous yoga ashrams and meditation centres in the town that cater to the spiritual needs of tourists. With the holy river Ganga flowing through this town, it is the perfect places for some nice and quiet meditation. Apart from yoga, rishikesh is also very popular for adventure sport activities. The most popular sport is white water river rafting.

In rishikesh, white water rafting is done on the river Ganga, and it is the most popular river in the country for rafting. This is because the river has rapids of several grades, ranging from simple to technical. This makes the river ideal for beginners as well as veterans of rafting. There are several camps in rishikesh that organise river rafting for tourists. Most of these camps are located in shivpuri on the banks of the river.

While these camps are great for adventurous living, they are not comfortable. Selected hotels in rishikesh conduct rafting for their guests. They typically vary from 1 star to 3 star accommodations. Most hotels in rishikesh need to be checked for availability in advance and are located in the crowded area of the town. However, there is a hotel in rishikesh that is located near the river. Ganga kinare is the only hotel in rishikesh that is located on the banks of the Ganga river. This hotel was built in the 1980s, after which construction on the banks was prohibited. This qualifies theproperty among one of the only hotels in rishikeshlocated on the banks of the river.

The property has 38 rooms and is a 3 star facility. It is among one of the nicest hotels in Rishikesh. As most hotels in Rishikesh are located in the hustle bustle, this property stands out because of its location and most of all its views. The view from this hotel is spectacular. You can actually view the river flowing past with the rajaji national park and shivalik range in the backdrop. Every room has a view of the river, which no other hotel in rishikesh offers. The hotel features a spa and a world class dining lounge called Holywater.

Hotel Ganga kinare has in house yoga gurus that conduct complementary yoga lessons for all guests every morning. None of the other hotels in Rishikesh offer this facility. Ganga kinare also organises rafting as well as jungle safaris for their guests. Rooms for hotel Ganga kinare can be booked online or via travel agents.

Travel in a way has proved this theory correct for me, almost all of the times and where it didn’t work well, it gave me enough opportunity to learn.

One of such learning trips was my “Visit to Shimla”. Before I go any further a quick one on my companions and how it all began. The year was 2003 and the date was 28th Dec, we were in our second year of graduation. I and my friend “Prem Kochar” were roaming around on the roads of Delhi in his Maruti 800 car, thinking to plan something for the New Year. It was then that this crazy idea came up, to self drive to Shimla that very same night. The idea was so appealing that we immediately started making calls to our friends to check if they can accompany us for the adventure.

After a number of calls, we finally got our third musketeer “Imran“. So all was set, Prem dropped me at my home only to be picked up again in an hour’s time and by 10:30 pm all three of us were together.

We decided to leave Delhi after midnight to avoid the city traffic. The next 2-3 hours we spent our time outside DU hostel in North Campus, catching up with friends and enjoying hot paranthas and rajma chawal. Finally the time had come to start our journey. Among the three of us Imran didn’t know how to drive and Prem though an experienced driver was not comfortable driving at night. So it was me who took the first turn on the steering . It was my first drive on the highway and I was really excited to test my driving skills.

As we hit the highway, we realised that in our excitement and because of our inexperience, we had forgotten to take into consideration an important factor “fog”. During this time of the year the northern part of India is heavily impacted by dense fog.

Driving in fog was like driving blindfold,  it took us took us almost 7-8 hours to cover a distance of 160 kms. Weather was extremely cold; however we kept our car windows open for better visibility. Prem from one side and Imran from other kept guiding me, to ensure that we stay on track. To our luck the road to Chandigarh was a four lane national highway, therefore it gave us comfort that a car/truck will not come from  opposite end.

As the morning light hit the sky things became a lot better. Though the fog was still dense and visibility near to zero, however we were happy that we were nearing our destination.

I finally gave the steering to Prem to drive us through the hills. As we reached Shimla, we got to know that it was the foggiest night of Northern India in the last 15 years or so. This journey also gave us an important lesson in life that no matter how adventurous a trip may be, it’s never worth gambling your life.

The train journey lasting for 34 hours gave us enough chance to mingle up with seniors and teachers, catch up on long conversations with friends, get a taste of the biryani cooked in the train, sing songs and play games. We also got an opportunity to discern the beautiful countryside with its valleys, picturesque landscapes, terrace fields, waterfalls and spectacular mountain scenery; giving a quick insight to the small town life and local people of that area.

Tired and exhausted, yet full of exhilaration we reached Goa on day 2. There were two buses ready to take us to our resort located in south Goa 6 kms from Margao, right at the coast of the Colva beach. This beach not one of the traditionally known beaches of Goa as compared to other popular destinations, is a more recent discovery. However, its 20-km long stretch of white sands, palm fringed, and quietness makes it no less blissful than any other beach of Goa. We kept our bags in the rooms and not wasting a single moment, went straight to the beach, just in time to witness the sunset. Dinner was organised in a nearby restaurant. While the majority non vegetarians took delight in the famous sea food, the vegetarians more or less survived on rice, burgers and cool soft drinks for the next two days.

The next morning, carrying on our expedition in the same buses, we visited the dolphin point in Palolem beach as the motor boats paved their ways through the clear water. The sight of the dolphins jumping out from the sea and going inside, couldn’t have given a better start to a day full of adventure. After the dazzling boat ride we went to see fort Agauda, built by Portugese in 1609-1612, to command entry into the river Mandovi, thereby protecting old goa from any potential enemy attacks. The fort currently housing the central jail became a popular spot where all of us took out our cameras and captured each other in the moment of heat with the beautiful scenery as the background.

Afterwards, we visited the Anjuna beach, a popular beach adjacent to the Chapora fort. In Anjuna, there is a magnificent Albuquerque mansion, which was built in 1920, flanked by octagonal towers and attractive Mangalore tiled roof. Later in the day, the trip organisers had planned a cruise party for us in Panjim. It was a one hour long cruise, with a DJ in the bottom deck. Lots of dancing on latest tracks, food and finally an exquisite beach walk after dinner, as we came back to our resorts marked the end of that day.

Goa, the beach capital of India, has a long coastline and beaches that are suitable for water sports and adventure lovers. While on one hand the beaches offer solace to the reckless mind, on the other it’s an ideal place for any vibrant and sporty traveller looking for thrill and action through its water sports. On day 4 as we set off to see North Goa, our first destination was Baga beach, which puts forward numerous cheap yet worthwhile offers for water sports.

We tried our hands on Parasailing, banana boat ride and water scooter. After one hour of exhausting yet electrifying game of beach volleyball we relaxed and had lunch in one of the beach side shacks. While some people shopped summer clothes and other accessories from the shops on the side of the beach, bargaining to get a good deal; others got temporary tattoos of their choices made. On our way back to the resort we visited the famous church, Basilica of Bom Jesus. This church dedicated to infant Jesus, built in the 16th century is a world heritage monument. As we reached the resort and had dinner, we decided that the best way to spend our last night in Goa would be by staying awake. So we sat in a circle on the beach, singing songs, cracking jokes, playing games and sometimes just keeping quiet and listening to the sound of the gushing black waves, a memory that we always cherish. The next morning was spent packing and leaving to board the Goa Sampark kranti express, beginning of another one and a half day of train journey, finally bringing us to Nizamuddin Station, Delhi and that finally marked the end of a truly memorable and delightful excursion.

Plain sight of the glorious Nanda Devi Mountain and the picturesque surroundings has made Binsar a magnet for wildlife and trekking enthusiasts. Birdlife International has declared Binsar an important Bird Area. Its jungles are home to leopard, goral, bear, serow and pine marten. The sanctuary is open all year round.

Binsar Almora is roughly around 350 km from Delhi and 120 km from Kathgodam, which is the nearest railway station. Binsar is well connected by road and being among the group of people who love exploring new places, we decided Binsar to be the place to celebrate our Christmas.

On a Wednesday morning at 6:00 am, we (me, my wife and two of my friends with their better half ) left for Binsar & Nainital in a Mahindra Xylo car. Though it was December, however it was a bright sunny day and driving through NH 24 was fun. The road was fabulous to drive on and we had our breakfast at a highway resort just before Moradabad.

It was a long journey as one of us got sick on the way and we had to do an overnight stay at Ranikhet, so I will quickly rush to our Binsar experience. After almost 30 hours post leaving Delhi we finally reached our destination, Binsar. We had made our prior bookings at KMVN resort situated in the middle of the wildlife sanctuary, however due to health reasons, one of the couple couldn’t make it to the sanctuary and they decided to stay at a resort near Kasardevi in the name of Mohan’s café.

Experience at Mohan’s Café Binsar: On my first look from outside it looked like a small general store with a STD booth, however once we entered the resort everything changed. Mohan’s café is an excellent place with almost everything on offer i.e. feel, look, comfort, fabulous food and an amazing view of the valley. We had a delicious lunch with a mix of Indian, Chinese & Italian cuisine; I can still feel my mouth water. Take my word each dish had an authentic taste and would recommend that whosoever visits Binsar must try Mohan’s Cafe “Hakka Noodles”.

KMVN Resort Binsar: Once our friends got settled, we finally proceeded with our trip to Binsar… It took us another 40 minutes to reach KMVN; we received a warm welcome by the friendly staff of the hotel who inquired about our journey and the reason why we reached a day later. KMVN is a beautiful resort, excellently situated in the middle of the forest & nicely maintained by the management. The only activity to do there is to adore the nature. There is no supply of electricity throughout the day except for a few hours in the evening.

Since we had lost a lot of time and there was a lot to experience, we quickly unpacked and decided to go for an evening walk to explore the near bouts of the resort.  The reception manager suggested us to stay close by, as it was time for sunset and it was a sight not worth missing. After half an hour of exploration and a photographic session it was finally time for us to head to the sunset point which is about 1 km away from KMVN.

Sunset Point: At sunset point we witnessed a breath taking experience. In the far off mountains sun touched the horizon with a glow of orange. Though it was happening slowly however I felt as if time has come to a standstill. And then suddenly in a blink it happened, the sun suddenly dipped between the mountains leaving us mesmerized and still for the next few seconds. An experience words can’t express.

As we returned to the resort it was almost dinner time. KMVN serves only vegetarian food (though they serve eggs) & dinner is served between 7:30pm-9:30 pm as that is the only time when the resort gets some electricity. We helped ourselves to a beautifully laid buffet which was part of our package. Post our dinner we decided to set up our telescope to gaze at stars & enjoy the starlit night sky. After an hour of silence and adoration, we finally returned to our room for a night chit chat session.

In the wooden interior room with candles lit on all walls, it was an atmosphere worth experiencing. We chatted for almost 3 hours, cherished the memories of the last 48 hours we had spent together and discussed our perception about each other and our friends. It was fun hearing the weird thoughts that all of us carried.

Sunrise Point: After a good night’s sleep, we were up early morning to see the sunrise from the sunrise point located inside KMVN. Again a site which I guess not many get an opportunity to witness. We clicked a lot of photographs of the snow laden mountains changing colors from white to orange to golden.

Zero Point: Other then the sunrise and the sunset point there is a Zero point in Binsar. A 2-3 km track from KMVN and you get a 180 degree view of the Himalayas. We made the trekking a little adventurous as we took various shortcuts to explore the jungle and to click photographs.

Overall a nice, fun and unforgettable trip!!

Do read my next post for our experience at Kasardevi, Jageshwar and Nainital.

Whenever I think of this state, many things come into my mind:

1. Deserts of Jaisalmer
2. Wildlife parks of Ranthambore
3. Mouth watering Gherwar & Dal bati churma

Rajasthan gives any traveller enough reasons to stay. It is an experience that one will always crave for more. Set in the backgrounds of the oldest hill ranges in India, it has carried the royalty & culture from centuries.

Believe me it’s worth an experience to be in the midst of a desert and to gaze at the sunset while reflecting on your life. The forts are brilliant in terms of their architecture.

The stories of the past which they reveal leave a tantalizing effect on your mind. The shining backdrop during the night makes you feel as if they have suddenly come to life and you have entered into the glorious past.

Rajasthan handicrafts are the most exquisite pieces of handicraft found anywhere in the country. Truly one can quote that Rajasthan is a state where Royalty is a way of life.

Some of the more popular places worth a visit in Rajasthan:

Jaipur

Capital city of Rajasthan also known as “Pink City” is about 250 km from Delhi. It is famous for Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh.

Don’t forget to watch a movie at Raj Mandir cinema hall!!

Jodhpur 

Where – 250 km from Jaipur, also known as “Blue City” is famous for Mehrangarh Fort, Umed Bhawan Palace, museum and handicrafts.

Udaipur

Where- 403 km from Jaipur, also known as the “City of Lakes” is famous for Rajput-era palaces. Most of the palaces have been converted into luxury hotels. It is often called the “Venice of the East”, “The city of Romance”

Ajmer

Where- 120 km from Jaipur, Ajmer is famous for Dargah of Khwaja Mu’in-ud-din Chisti and Ana Sagar Lake.

Alwar

Where- 164 km from Delhi and 143 km from Jaipur , Alwar is known for its stunning city.

Banswara:

527 km from Jaipur & 160 kms from Udaipur, Banswara is a small town famous for Baneshwar Festival.

Bharatpur

175 km from Jaipur & 185 km from Delhi, Bharatpur is known for Keoladeo Ghana National Park. You can also see the old fort and museum.

Bikaner

330 km from Jaipur (330 km), it is also known for camel safari and Junagarh Fort. An excellent place to shop for carpets, hand painted lamp shades, mojari slippers etc.

Bundi

206 km from Jaipur and 40 km from Kota, Bundi is surrounded on three sides by Aravalli hills and is circumscribed by a massive wall with four gateways. 

Chittaurgarh

110 km from Udaipur and 300 km from Jaipur it is known for the massive fort. Mirabai, poet and saint was from here. Also known for Vijaystambha, Kirtistambha (i.e. Tower of Victory), and Rani Padmini.

Dungarpur

Situated about 110 km south of Udaipur, Dungarpur is known as the City of Hills. You can visit Juna Mahal, adorned with beautiful mirror work, glass inlays & paintings and the beautiful Somnath Temple.

Jaisalmer

275 Km from Jodhpur, also called “Golden City” is famous for the Jaisalmer Fort, Patwon-ki-haveli and sand dunes.

Jhalawar

335 km from Jaipur is known for simple people and rich culture.

Kota

240 km from Jaipur, 131 km from Ajmer, Kota is famous for Dussehra Mela.

Kumbhalgarh

85 km from Udaipur, it is famous for Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Mount Abu

190 Kms from Udaipur & 27 Km from Abu, this is the only hill resort of Rajasthan. It is famous for historic Dilwara Temples, Guru Shikar, and Nakki Lake.

Nathdwara

48 km from Udaipur in Rajasthan, it is one of the most popular religious place.

Pushkar

14 km from Ajmer, is famous for the Pushkar Fair and Brahma Temple.

Ranakpur

Ranakpur is one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. Home to an exceptionally beautiful temple complex in the Aravali ranges, it is a must visit for the tourists coming to this region.

Rohet

160 km from Udaipur, Rohet is famous for its local cultures and traditions.

Sariska

110 km from Jaipur and 35 km from Alwar this place is famous for Tiger Reserve Sanctuary.

Sawai Madhopur

Sawai Madhopur is the gateway to the world renowned Ranthambhor National Park- the famous Tiger Reserve, Tigers can be spotted quite often in their natural habitat even during daytime. 

Ranthambore

135 km from Jaipur and 11 km from Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambhore, is famous for the Ranthambore National Park, Tiger Reserve Project.

Bhangarh is 170km from Delhi, an excellent place for all youngsters to explore over the weekend. It is listed as one of the most haunted places of India.

Story of Bhangarh – CURSE OF THE TANTRIK

A long time ago, a tantric fell in love with the princess of Bhangarh.

To seduce her, he enchanted her bathing oil.

But the princess, also a practitioner of the occult, sensed his evil plan.

She threw the oil against a stone and made it come to life.

The stone rolled towards the tantric and crushed him.

But before he died he cursed the whole kingdom “With death and no possibility of rebirth”.
Centuries later, the Bhangarh ruins remain lifeless and desolate. Rumoured to be one of the most haunted places in India, even locals fear venturing into the ruins before sunrise or after sunset. For they believe the trapped souls of the dead are still there. Roaming and seeking redemption from the curse. Legend has it that anyone who enters Bhangarh after dark never comes out.

Please note, it is not allowed to enter the boundaries of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset as per the directive of the government of India.

In case you plan a visit do feel free to ask any questions that may come to your mind!

A couple of months back we had a chance to visit Kozhikode (or Calicut) for the weekend. The place is mostly known thanks to Vasco Da Gama for he first landed here when he found India. While boarding the flight, I kept flipping through an imaginary checklist for the tour. Would I get a chance to visit the port through which Vasco da Gama entered India? Would the city of spices, inhabited by the Arabs, Portuguese and Dutch through various phases of history, live up to the charm it evoked in my school textbooks? How would the food be, etc, etc? All these musings were somewhat disrupted as we landed in the city, because Kozhikode is abundantly green. The extra-verdant lustre in its vegetation, fringed by rivers (the city has quite a few of them) assured us that this was the kind of therapeutic experience we were looking for.

Our stay was arranged at the IIM-Kozhikode campus where an event was to take place. Built across the rocky terrains of Western Ghats, this sprawling campus is a greener extension of the main city. Though we had a busy schedule, we managed to complete the other things on our agenda : visiting Kapad beach (where Vasco da Gama landed in 1498) and tasting Malabari cuisine. However, the most memorable moments arrived unexpectedly: together we explored the beauty of the campus during long walks; kept posing and re-posing on the beach looking for fellow tourists to take our group photograph; and not to forget the brief stopover at a roadside shop, where we tasted hot and crisp banana chips right from the oven. Highly recommended is to try the coconut water at least once a day and you are assured of a refreshing day.

The beaches are nice and clean, the water warm and salty. Do carry a sun blocker with you if you decide to take a swim. Visit the old town where the beautiful Portuguese churches and monuments stand tall. Anyone who goes to Kozhikode must try and arrange a visit to the IIM campus. Its the heart and lifeline of the city.

We were looking for a romantic getaway to celebrate our anniversary and of course the first destination which came in our mind was Taj Mahal – one of the seven wonders of world.

Since it was our first anniversary celebration, we wanted everything to be well planned. After days of research we finally came across a local travel agency in Delhi, which specializes in arranging these types of trips. It all began on a Thursday morning, a TATA Indigo car picked us early morning and we left Delhi to witness the amazing beauty of Taj Mahal.
We had crafted a customized package for our trip which included both way transport from Delhi and a one night stay at Hotel Jaypee Palace in Agra.

It was a pleasant drive and once we reached Agra, we made an immediate check-in to our hotel.

Lunch was included in our package at Jaypee and was least to say fabulous. Good buffet with Indian, Oriental and Western dishes.

Taj Mahal is open for night viewing for 5 days each lunar cycle; the full moon night and the 2 nights before and after. It was a full moon night; we planned our visit at sunset and decided to stay there till midnight.

Nothing can really prepare you for the beauty of the Taj Mahal. The moment you set your eyes on this beautiful structure you feel that you have fulfilled something in life.

What appears from afar to be a perfectly proportioned white marble magnificence is in fact a massive bejeweled box. We were astonished to see the different shades of marble, slate, and sandstone used to build this structure. We had an amazing time in observing the beautiful calligraphy, inlaid with black marble. The letters appeared to be of the same size from whichever angle you looked. It was simply astounding.

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable. He knew when to go inside to miss the biggest queues and the best places from where we can click some amazing photos. Try the arches opposite the front and you can frame Taj Mahal as a professional photographer!!

Overall a nice, romantic & a luxurious trip!!