Rediscover Yourself in Rishikesh: The Gateway to the Himalayas

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 Rishikesh (also spelt as Hrishikesh) was one of my top cities to visit to and I got the chance to visit the city on a short yoga trip in November 2024. I was lured to this place mainly because of the number of water sports that it had, such as Whitewater river rafting and visiting the main sites such as Trivenu Ghat, Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula. 

 Of course, the sports such as bungee jumping, cliff jumping trekking were left out. Besides this, the entire area was surrounded by temples and ashrams, and I did get a chance to visit the Beatles’ ashram whilst on my stay. The city, which is also known as the Yoga capital of the world and adventure capital of India, is also a significant pilgrimage site. Each morning here starts with the sound of temple bells and chant, which echo through the misty air.  

 



While on my stay at the Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, I went for the white water rapids of the Ganges, where I could not only feel the rush of cold water, the rhythm of the paddles hitting the waves, but also an energy which also resulted in the counterbalance of a quiet inner reflection. 


The Beatles Ashram: Also known as Chaurasi Kutia, I visited this ashram, which is popular for being known as the place where the English rock band the Beatles studied meditation, along with celebrities such as Mia Farrow, Donovan and Mike Love. 


The Beatles sought spiritual growth and inspiration. Their retreat inspired many tracks on the White Album, such as “Dear Prudence” and “Mother Nature's Son. They stayed in this ashram in 1968.  Interestingly, Harrison – also known as "the quiet Beatle", embraced Indian culture and helped broaden the scope of popular music through his incorporation of Indian instrumentation and Hindu-aligned spirituality in the Beatles' work. Having studied transcendental meditation, the Beatles’ ashram is popular for having a lot of graffiti on the walls and ceilings of the meditation caves, artwork in the abandoned ashrams, and mural artwork.  

 

Ram and Laxman Jhula: I also had the opportunity to visit the two iron suspension bridges in Rishikesh, India, that span the Ganges River and are renowned landmarks. Ram Jhula connects the areas around Shivananda Ashram and Swargashram, while Laxman Jhula, a shorter bridge, connects Tapovan and Jonk.

 

It is without doubt that I got to attend the Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh a daily spiritual ceremony held at dusk, most famously at Parmarth Niketan Ashram and Triveni Ghat, involving priests performing fire rituals with lamps, chanting, and devotional songs.

 

The rest of my trip to Rishikesh was dedicated to a yoga trip with Aishwariya Sahu at ONENESS Rishikesh by Ganga Kinare - a Luxury Wilderness Resort. Over here, we engaged in trekking, river crossing, and various yoga exercises. 

 

 

 

 

 

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