TRIPTO RISHIKESH
Travelling is a magical
feeling. Getting up, packing your bag and heading towards your destination;
there is a rush of sudden adrenaline or a rush of happiness or exciment.
But
there is one thing that you need to decide–
Are you a tourist or
a traveller?
Well, I’m a traveler and this is
my story to Rishikesh.
Rishikesh overview:
Our travel experience:
It was 9 AM in the morning we reached Haridwar 20 km away from rishikesh, the nearest railway station to rishikesh. As we were from luknow ,so we boarded our train from charbagh, luknow railway station at 6 pm, thanks to indian railways the time of our journey doubled, due to the usual train delay. After an overnight journey we reached haridwar at 8 am in the morning, we boarded a local bus, after an hour journey we reched to this mystical land, Rishikesh. We had our entire schedule pre-planned, as we wanted to see every nook and corner of the city, which we have heard so much.
So, it was day one and what could have been a better beginning than going to our jungle camp, the eagle's nest. We boarded a local bus from Rishikesh roadways bus-stand to singtali, where our camp was located. The camp was almost 3 km down from the mainroad on the bank of Ganga, so we can call it our short treking to the camp. And finally we reached our jungle camp, HURRAAYY. As we were late we missed our wellcome drinks, thanks to our indian railways. We had our lunch, and then it was time for swimming. The camp owner showed us our way to the ganga river and we swimmed there for almost an hour in that icy chilled river. We came back to our camp and rested there until it was time for the bonfire. It was 7 PM so we sat there in open area,surrounded by hills, it was bit chilly at night so the bonfire helped to keep us warm with a nice background music.
Well, now its dinner time we were served both veg and non veg dishes. We finished our dinner and we were so tired that we had to go to bed.
If you are vegetarian or you are fond of vegetarian food then Rishikesh will not disappoint you.
Day two was even more exciting than day one because now we were going for river rafting. Our rafting started from marine drive and it was 24 km rafting. The camp owner was so generous that he arranged a car for our travel from camp to river rafting starting point i.e marine drive. Our rafting was a very memorizing adventure. After 24 km mindblowing rapid rafting we reached to our break point where we ate Maggie and did Cliff jumping. We knew that this adventure is gonna end soon, as after 1 km from there,is where our journey has to end and with disappointed faces we went to our raft and started peddling with a thought that we could have done 35 km rafting, but we knew one way or another everything ends. We reached to our final point, we changed our clothes and straight away went for our lunch at chotiwala restaurant near ram jhula.
The most exciting part of our rafting was Cliff Jumping. Standing at the top of the cliff and staring into the Ganga river is enough to send shivers down the spine. We decided to go out there on our own.
The most exciting part of our rafting was Cliff Jumping. Standing at the top of the cliff and staring into the Ganga river is enough to send shivers down the spine. We decided to go out there on our own.
The first jump into the open blue river was like a leap of faith, but after the first one we just want to do it over and over again as it was so fun to do it. so take your time but don't hesitate. You will have a story to tell.
It took almost one and a half hours for us to reach the famous chotiwala restaurant and finally we were standing on the one end of the ram Jhula. Everything was quiet different than what I had imagined, the Jhula too was a crowed one, and people were taking their scooters/ bikes on it and were honking desperately at pedestrians for the way. Well, what I had imagined was a quiet walkway, where I could stand peacefully and watch the sun set with cold breeze blowing away my long stresses and creating a poetic feel.
Not to mention our experience in chotiwala restaurant was not quite good because it was a holi vacation time and most of the staffs were not there.
To be honest, yes I was a bit upset about it, but then I thought to relax a bit on the river bank nearby and wait till this hustle was over. Time flew and so did the traffic on ram Jhula. I wanted that moment to freeze but that happens only in fairy tales. No matter how poetic that feels, it was a real life and just like any other day, even this day came to an end.
Pleasant weather, breathtakingly beautiful view, candid conversations and comfortable stay, when clubbed together make a fabulous day.
Our first stay in rishikesh was nice, though there were few things which disappointed me initially, but later the evening was accompanied with warmth and beauty.
Then we went to the bus stand and booked a hotel and rested there for that night.
On the third day we booked a scooty at a very cheap rate of RS 500 per day. We roamed around the city, we didn't left any part of the city untouched. At first we went to the Nilgiri waterfall it was very disappointing out there because it was very long treking to reach the main spot from where the waterfall starts. Then with a great disappointment we moved towards the Patna waterfall and it was so beautiful that our disappointment vanished.We took a outdoor bath directly in the waterfall. We had our photography session out there as usual. It was almost 5 in the evening and was going darker as it was a forest area, so we wrapped up and started moving for our hotel.
Eating part was very fun in Rishikesh as I am an hard core non veg lover so I had to roam here and there to find non veg but to my disappointment we didn't find any non veg food, as on the first day we had non veg on the camp but on the second day we didn't find any non veg food but we had our dinner in Dominos and the menu was completely different from rest of the places,the non veg part of the menu was vanished in such a way that it was never been there before. on the third day in the morning breakfast we ate bread omelette and for lunch we were again disappointed after coming from the Nilgiri fall that we had to search of some homely type Dhaba but couldn't find one so we started moving towards the Patna fall in hope that we will find some food in our way there and to our luck we found the Dhaba and it was actually the kind of the Dhaba we were searching for, we had our lunch there and from that it was only half a kilometre distance to Patna fall.
By the end of the day who have to both our bus to Haridwar as we were having our train today at 11 p.m. so we came back directly from Patna fall to the shop from where we rented our scooty.
Now it was time to say goodbye to Rishikesh it will be one of the most memorable journey of my college life.
MUST DO: White Water River Rafting
The guide gave instructions for around ten minutes before I put on my life jacket, got into the raft and surrendered myself to the mighty Ganges.
Rafting in Ganges is an amazing experience, especially in December when the water is icy cold and instantly makes you go numb. You pay utmost attention to every command coming out of the instructor's mouth, hold on to the oars and cling to the raft for your life. The scare that you get when you enter a rapid and the adrenaline rush that you get after successfully crossing one is mind-boggling. After getting done with the rapids you just float past temples, ashrams and ghats and enjoy the sights of the riverbank life along Ganges.
Also beware as guides will turn your raft upside down when currents !
The cost for river rafting was INR 1500 per person for 24 km.
The detailed price chart of rafting in given below:
How to reach Rishikesh?
Option 1: Drive down or hire a cab. Takes 4-5 hours. Here's the route.
You can also use blabla car which will cost in the range of 550 - 1000 per seat.
Option 2: Take a train from Delhi / Ghaziabad to Haridwar. From there take a shared taxi or bus to Rishikesh
Option 3: Take one of the many buses available from ISBT Delhi and Anand Vihar.You may also check Redbus.in . If you fail to get a direct bus, take a bus to Haridwar and switch from there.
Where to stay?
To get the best experience stay at one of the camps in Shivpuri.Camp Roller Coaster : situated at site of a rapid named roller coaster.Website - CampRollerCoaster.com | Mo: +91-9634578787, +91-9761162608Price range : INR 800 - 1400 depending on the season.
Camp Dream Life : A beautiful site for camp, on a clean river beach with nothing else but mountains and river. No sign of any other camp or establishment visible till far. Kayak was available at this camp.Website - DreamLifeAdventure.in | Mo: +91-9412402390, +91-8923039770Price range : INR 600 - 1200 depending on the season
What to carry in your bagpack?
Backpack or safari bags only, sports shoes, at least 2 pair of cotton socks, shorts, slippers, comfortable trekking clothes, at least 3 pairs of change since you will spend a lot of time in water.
A jacket and couple of pullovers if you happen to visit in the winters.
A torch, mosquito repellents and vital medicines
Things to know beforehand:
- Absolutely no electricity or mobile network coverage in most camps.
- Don't forget to buy your alcohol and smokes before going to the campsite in the night because there are no shops in that area. This is only for those who are fond of these.
- In December it got extremely cold in the night and we required 2 sweaters, a jacket, gloves, cap and woolen socks to get comfortable.
- And of course, a word of caution true for any religious or even otherwise crowded place, be aware of pick pockets and wear minimum jewelry items.
Do leave a comment down below for further queries or if you simply liked the blog!!
We did a COLLABORATION with 7sisbikerani on our trip.
Visit the youtube channel 7sisbikerani for complete video of our trip.
FOR MORE PHOTOS VISIT GALLERY
FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO cONTAcT US
What are must try street food places in Lucknow ?-PHOTOS
WHAT ARE MUST TRY STREET FOOD PLACES IN LUKNOW ?
Street food has its own definition and when it comes to Lucknow this definition becomes delicious and mouth watering, so if you are a true fan of street food and wandering where to get your taste buds bubbled in lucknow then here we will tell you 15 places where you can tantalize your taste buds with lip smacking street food!
Tunday Kababi
If you are a hardcore non-vegetarian, Chowk area of Lucknow is a pure bliss to try kebabs. It is known for the world famous Tunday Kebab. The shop has a royal history associated with it. There was a Nawab once who was unable to chew the kebabs as he was old and toothless. So he organized a competition of making softest kebabs which can be easily eaten by a toothless person. While no one could succeed it, one man known as Haji Murad Ali won the contest with only one hand.
Since then from 1905, the shop came into existence as Tunday Kebab because the term ‘Tunday’ refers to the one-handed person in Hindi. It is famous for the Galawati Kebab which consists of 150 unique ingredients and papaya to make the kebabs soft.
The shop has been following the same royal kebab recipe for 100 years. The kebab’s heavenly taste and its ultra soft texture are a must try while you are in Lucknow. It is one of the most popular street food in Lucknow.
Prakash ki Kulfi
It is one of the best places to eat desert in Lucknow. This place is famous for cool faluda kulfi- the main desert of Prakash Kulfi corner. But it also has some delectable creamy and fruit kulfi which explore the traditional taste of the city of Nawabs. So in the event that you are going by Aminabad for shopping or eating out, attempt a dish of sweet smooth faluda kulfi.
Dastarkhwan
It is a best place to eat in Lucknow with friends and Family, offers offers best of best Mughlai non-veg foods of Lucknow with very very large menu of chicken and mutton items. Dastarkhwan is not a famous place for Mughlai food lovers but it also serves a wide range of vegetarian items, So it doesn’t make a difference you are dependent on what sort of north Indian food, Dastarkhwan serves
Radhey Lal Parampara
Radhey Lal Parampara is a most popular eating out joint of this authentic city which offers best quality sweets, snacks, fast food, road sustenance and namkeen. It is surely understood brand name in Lucknow which is mixed with some exceptional formulas (like Mawa Jalebi) which convey rich experience of years
Malai makkhan at chowk
If you have a sweet tooth and you are heading towards chowk then don’t forget to taste the famous makkhan malai or Nimish. It is a delicious milk dessert with foamy texture sold in the lanes of chowk. You won’t find it in summers, it is usually sold during winters.
Biryani (Idris ki Biryani-Chowk Area)
Idris Ki Biryani is another heavenly place for the Non-vegetarians especially the Biriyani lovers. The shop is not one among the fancy restaurants, it is a 45-year-old treasure managed by Abu Bakr continuing the legacy of most delicious biryani over the years.
They don’t have any menu; they are special for the mouth-watering mutton biryani along with chicken and mutton korma. What makes the biryanis taste heavenly are the- kada basmati rice and the soft juicy mutton. The mutton pieces are generally large and greater in proportion compared to rice.
The shop remains overcrowded most of the time and sells out quickly. The shop has a very simple and basic construction and definitely not the best place to sit and eat there. So mostly customers pack their orders and enjoy it at their home. This is one of the most recommended places to try out biryani in Lucknow.
Sharma ki chai, Hazratganj
Want to get rid of those Monday blues, go gram a cup of hot steaming tea at Sharma tea corner in hazratganj, and top it up with hot and crispy bun butter and samosa. Perfect thing to kick start your day.
Basket Chaat (Royal Café)
Basket Chaats in Lucknow are an absolute delight and the best place to have these delicacies is at “Royal Cafe”. The restaurant is located at Hazratgunj in Lucknow. It is famous for the unparallel basket chaats in the entire Lucknow city. The Chaat consists of a basket made of fried potatoes and contains tikkis, matar, and other vegetable stuffing with spicy chutneys sprinkled on it.
The entire dish is stuffed with spicy mouthwatering items inside the basket and served to you leaving an everlasting taste forever. The chaat is termed as such due to the fried potato basket which holds the stuffing material. This is one of the exclusive chaat items to try out in Lucknow especially at Royal Café due to its incomparable taste which cannot be found at other chaat joints.
Ashwani ki lassi, Kaiserbagh chauraha
Beat the heat with tasty and cool lassi at ashwani’s. the tasty lassi stuffed with dry fruits and topped with thick layer of rabri will surely refresh your mood.
Chicken Shawarma (Manish Eating Point-Patrakarpuram)
Another famous must try food joint for the Non-vegetarians is the Manish Eating Point at Patrakarpuram in Lucknow. The restaurant is best known for the delicious Chicken Shawarma in Lucknow. It is also a good place for having lunch and dinner serving both non-vegetarian and vegetarian cuisines.
The Chicken Shawarmas here are to die for and are served during evening time. The staff and the service are very good and offer you a satisfactory dining experience. The Patrakarpuram branch is exclusively famous for the Chicken Shawarma rolls while a more modern version of the food joint at Deva Palace market is famous for biryani and roasted chicken.
This is one of the best hangout joints in Lucknow to try the delicious Chicken Shawarma with your friends and family. It is also one of the most popular street food in Lucknow.
Shahi Tukda (Aminabad Area)
Shahi Tukda is a very delicious sweet dish of Lucknow. It is available in best quality at different restaurants in Aminabad area of Lucknow. The texture and quality of the dish are amazing and mouthwatering. It is made by infusing the milk with the bread and garnished with saffron and dry fruits on the top.
The royal sweet dish was invented by the Mughals more than 150 years ago. Initially in the royal cuisine instead flat wheat flour bread was infused with the milk while the present form of the recipe with the sliced bread was invented around 1930.
In today’s recipe, the bread used in Shahi Tukdas are fried having a golden brown color and dipped in sugar syrup with a thick coating of rabri. The two best restaurants near Aminagar selling the authentic Shahi Tukda are Mughal Zaika and Dastarkhwan. Shahi Tukda is a must try street food in Lucknow.
Sheermal (Sheermal ki Gali-Chowk Area)
Sheermal is delicious Awadhi cuisine and you can have its unparallel taste only in Lucknow. An entire area known as “Sheermal ki Gali” near the Chowk area is dedicated to serving these delicacies. The delicacy belongs to the Nawab era and carries the same royal recipe to date. Sheermal is mainly a flatbread or you can also call it a chapatti made of milk and ghee.
The main ingredients of the Sheermal dough are ghee, flour, and Yeast along with other required ingredients. The baking of the Sheermal bread is done in ‘loha tandoor’ and the oven is sprinkled with milk containing elaichi and kesar to stick the bread strongly.
Sheermal ki Gali houses varieties of Sheermals like Everyday Sheermal, Baqarkhani Sheermal, Hazri sheermal, and Zafrani Sheermal. The delicious sheermals in Lucknow are a must try with the niharis.
