Rojo Lab5 ris
Free afternoon
Today we will head towards the Himalayas, where the Ganges is quite clean and the first mountains of the mountain range begin. A region very conducive to our practices and contemplation. A relatively small city, we will quickly become familiar with it, thoroughly enjoying the whole environment, numerous temples, ashrams, pujas, and walks alongside the Ganges. In the afternoon we will walk along the jhulas (suspension bridges) among pilgrims from all over India, sannyasins, who travel to the foothills of the Himalayas, often for months on foot, where we can contemplate the purifying power of the powerful goddess, Maha Ganga.
Vasistha Guha
Lakshman Jhula
Ram Jhula
Aarti Ceremony
Since we all felt very comfortable in Rishikesh, as a possible extra excursion, a little further from Rishikesh, we can visit the cave of a Vedic sage, one of the seven great Rishis of India, called Vashistha. It's always a very special experience to be able to pay homage to great yogis, sitting in the same place where he lived and meditated during the winters. We can also walk along the beach next to it, on the banks of the Ganges. Very pleasant places for meditation practices, reading texts and good conversations.
As a suggestion, we can return to the jhula area for lunch and stroll through the narrow streets, visiting its small temples, cafes, and bookstores.
Another possibility for an extra activity is a special rafting trip on the (very clean in this region) waters of the Ganges, which we can combine with a visit to Vashistha Guha. This is a way to travel along the Ganges, between mountains that always make us contemplate how many yogis have passed through there over the last many millennia and how many live there today.
At the end of the day, it's always possible to participate in one of the Aarti ceremonies.
Kunjapuri temple
Ram Jhula
Swami Dayananda Ashram
Similarly, since everyone is surely quite comfortable in the Rishikesh region, as an extra excursion option, we can ascend the Himalayas for approximately 40 minutes to a temple atop a mountain, at an altitude of 1676m. The Kunjapuri temple is dedicated to the goddess Durga and is one of the 13 power sites (Shakti Peethas) in this region. If the weather is clear, we will have a beautiful view with the snow-capped mountains in the background. It is worth remembering that the snow line here in the Himalayas is at an altitude of 5500m.
Back in Rishikesh, we will visit another important center of Vedanta study, the ashram of Swami Dayananda. Whoever gets excited, it is possible to walk back to Ram Jhula along the bank of the Ganges, as well as participating at the end of the day in one of the pujas in the ashram temple, overlooking the Ganges.
Free day
As always requested, here's another day to enjoy Rishikesh. Have a great day, enjoy the chai, walks, practices, reading, and beautiful photos of the region!