I had taken out just few hours from my Haridwar Hotel's comfort, thinking that Hrishikesh was something like Haridwar - All of a ruin!!!
How wrong totally !!!!
In my five hours long, mouth agape visit to Hrishikesh, I was convinced that I should drop anchor here for some days and do nothing!!!! Clear, free flowing Ganges, much better than Haridwar, Himalayas in the backdrop, lots of Yoga & Meditation classes, Language Classes, Massage Centres, Coffee Shops and most importantly various Sports and Activities like Rafting, Trekking, Camping, Safari etc. would entice anybody on his holidays!
I had read on Google, that Hrishikesh got prominence after Beatles visited Hrishikesh in 1964 to meet their Yoga & Spritual Guru Mahirshi Mahesh Yogi.
Mahirshi Yogi was the Guru to several celebrities in Hollywood & West including Michael Jackson. Mahirshi Mahesh Yogi incidentally hails from the place where my roots are i.e. Jabalpur, and together with him the origin of OSHO, the famed hindi satirist - Hari Shankar Parsai to Bollywood's Sharat Saxena & also our own Sambha- Mac Mohan; from Jabalpur, is dropped in by me during conversations in trains etc to get leverage for my stature there, that point in time.
Anyways since the visit of Beatles, the foreigners started flocking Hrishikesh; and that remains the case till date.
Hrishikesh has two ends prominently; the Ram Jhoola & the Laxmam Jhoola. The walk over both is fabulous; giving different meaning to Ganges at different times in Morning, Afternoon, Evening & Night. Especially at the late night, when the entire town is sleeping, standing in the midst of either of these Jhoolas, feeling the mild breeze hitting your chest, inhaling it and looking down at the Ganges flowing down the Jhoola; Ganges flowing down with slight beautiful noise t tickling your ear is one unique experience. I took it thrice; once dead drunk (loosing a female friend over this) and twice sane. Wonderful!!!!
On both sides of the river are hotels, lodges, dharmashalas costing various rates. I chose to go for luxury this time and going by the Travel Book " The Lonely Planet " booked Hotel Ishaan at Laxman Jhoola with ample of river view from the room, the balcony, the two terraces above my room and two beautiful Restaurants in the Hotel itself!!! The rooms were well appointed with nearly all 3 star facilities at a throw away price!!! Off season!! I paid the hotel ample of advance so that I got committed to stay there long. Now I did not wanted to go to Yamunotri & Gangotri immediately. I just wanted to be here - Doing Nothing!!!!
The accounts of Hrishikesh could go very long. As such these are just jottings I am making.
The most notable experience of my stay remains a Norwegian very beautiful, seductive gal entering my room, without alarm and catching me in all my Michaelangloishness; me fresh out of the bathroom, after a wash; the girl claiming that she was there just to admire the room. She kept on coming; we agreed to leave for Dharmashala and stay there for some days but something happened! Thats very hilarious. Some other time.
Work is calling!!! Let me see how long can I defy it!!!!!
Regards,
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