A visit to Haridwar cannot be complete without a trip to scenic Rishikesh, about 28 km away, where you can enjoy some splendid views of the Ganges coming down to the plains from the hills. A breathtaking experience of natural beauty and undiscovered wildlife awaits here. This is also a place for holy ‘ashrams’ along the gently rising hills, where the atmosphere of peace and tranquility is conducive for sages and meditation.
Most well known is the ‘Sapt’ ( meaning seven) Rishi Ashram, which is situated along the Haridwar-Rishikesh road. It derives its name from the beautiful natural phenomenon of the Ganges, which flows in seven streams in front of this Ashram.
Another famous ashram is the The Kanva Rishi Ashram, situated about 42 km from Haridwar. The ashram is on the banks of the Malini River, along the scenic forest road to Kotdwar.
Rishikesh has some inspiring treks to places like the temple of Neelkanth Mahadev, a place associated with Lord Shiva, in serene hilly surroundings, situated at a height of 1700 meters. and a 4-hour walk from the main town.
For the early riser, it is an experience to visit the Triveni ghat at dawn, when people make offerings of milk to the river and feed the fish. After sunset, as in Haridwar, priests set floating lamps on the water during the Aarti ceremony.
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The lush forest of the Himalayan foothills also afford some interesting fauna, and you can visit the Chila Wildlife Sanctuary, which is part of the Rajaji National Park, spreading over an area of almost 240 sq. km. It has 23 species of mammals and 315 fauna species. If you are fortunate, you can sight elephants, tigers, leopards, jungle cats, Himalayan yellow throated martens, sambers, chitals, and several varieties of wildlife. and snakes, including king cobras. The river is home to some fascinating migratory birds, especially the Siberian Crane. You can do some fishing here, but with permits only.
Apart from religion, Haridwar – Rishikesh have been great centers of traditional Indian learning, yoga, ayurveda and science In this connection, it would be interesting to visit the The Gurukul Kangadi University. Within the precincts of the University is the Veda Mandir, which houses many archaeological exhibits. It is situated on the Haridwar-Jwalapur bypass road.
Being one of the oldest and holiest pilgrim centers of India, Haridwar also plays host to around eight to ten million devotees when it holds the Kumbh mela, which is held once in twelve years, when Jupiter transits to the zodiac sign of Aquarius. . The history of this great spiritual event dates back to the creation of the Universe and as a show of their faith, Hindus from all over the country assemble to take a holy dip in the Ganges.
As there is an increasing global interest in the philosophy of Hinduism, and such a strong sense of typical religious flavor in this colorful and inspiring town, Haridwar and Rishikesh are experiencing an increased number of tourists, both domestic and foreign and there are a several places to stay but it accommodation is not of the luxury hotel category. and most of the hotels are in the middle range to budget categories. In any case, this type of accommodation is more in keeping with the local flavors. In fact, it would be a unique experience to stay in an ashram or a dharamshala, which provide simple, cheap rooms, with strictly vegetarian food.
If you have some more time to spare, atleast a week or more at your disposal, then you could make Haridwar-Rishikesh as your base and take some more superb options for visiting the two famous shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath.. These journeys involve some arduous climbs, part motorable, and part on foot, but are well worth the spectacular views, being located in the heavenly realms of the towering Himalayas. So, a trip to Haridwar makes a fulfilling add-on to your visit to Delhi, if you are in the mood for an uplifting getaway.
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