Beyond Yoga in Rishikesh

My very first expectation while landing in the city was inner peace that it would provide me and I must admit, the city didn’t disappoint me a bit. Planned by Bejoy Holidays, this trip left no stone unturned in providing me inner peace.

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, it is known as the "Gateway to the Garwhal Himalayas ". It is the most tranquil place in northern Uttarakhand, surrounded by hills and bisected by the wide and sluggish Ganges. The babbling and trickles of river Ganga on the stones is mellifluous and it leaves the tourists in complete awe of its admiration.

Rishikesh Specialty

Popularly known as “Yoga Capital of the world”, this place gained instant fame when Beatles came to stay with their guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Set amidst the mountains and the river Ganga, it’s the best to meditate and learn yoga. There are numerous ashrams that take you to the yoga spirituality and also, regular camps are organized to attract yoga-enthusiasts.

Tourists Spots:

Local Tourist Attraction

Though it is recognized as a pilgrimage yet, adventure enthusiasts of all age like Rishikesh because of the river-rafting.

Apart from river Ganga, the major tourist attraction of Rishikesh is the Lakshman Jhoola, located 5km to the north-east of the city. A pedestrian bridge made up of cast iron, it was initially a religious landmark as it is said that Lord Lakshman crossed Ganges using a jute rope from the same place. The charm of the bridge is such you can witness the flow of Ganges while crossing it, from above.

You can also attend the very famous Ganga Arti, which no tourist misses. The aarti is carried out facing the river. The lamps are lit and circled around by the pandits (Hindu priests) in a clockwise manner, accompanied by changing or songs in praise of Mother Ganga.

For the pilgrims, you take another 50 min ride by car on NH44, to reach another pilgrimage site, Haridwar and enjoy yourself there and for the adventure zealots, you can book your trip with Bejoy Holidays and give us an opportunity to serve you!

To-do activities of Rishikesh

If you are an adventure buff and likes undertaking jungle trekking and river rafting, Rishikesh is your go-to destination. You can soak the beauty of the Himalayas via Roopkund Trek, Deoria Trek and trek the nearby jungles.

Also, you can soak yourself in the waterfall trekking and bungee jumping, although bungee-jumping is not that prominent a sport in the Rishikesh.

Ganga rafting in Hrishikesh has steadily gained immense popularity and with equipment like paddles, safety life jackets, splash jackets you can enjoy the adventure sport with safety. You come across steep sloped river rocks and the fresh water slashes from the river. The river-rafting experience of Rishikesh is like none in the country.

You can find tented accommodations with attached bathroom and these tents are fun to be in especially during nights.

Must-visit places:

·         Lakshman Jhoola

·         River Ganga

·         Yoga-centers

·         Ganga Arti

Must-do:

·         Jungle trekking

·         River Rafting

Must-have cuisine:

·         Samosa

·         Aloo Pori

·         Chole Bhature

·         Pani puri

Best-time to visit

The best time to visit Rishikesh for River Rafting is from late September - October to mid- November.

and then the best time to visit Rishikesh for devoting yourself for religious activities is from early March - April to first week of May.

Pro-tips:

·         Carry emergency medicines

·         Book your hotels in advance specially during the peak season’.

·         Be back in your hotels by 9.

Come, share with Bejoy Holidays the chance of welcoming you to the Ganga Arti in Rishikesh!

Quaint City of Kumaon Hills, Nainital

“Woah! The city is more beautiful and pristine than I imagined!”, were my first thoughts on landing in Nainital. Surrounded by mountains on three sides Nainital is located around the beautiful lake Naini Tal. There are many stories around the name of the city, but if you dissect the name, you would probably relate it with the serenity of the city. Naina means eyes and ‘tal’ means lake, hence the name Nainital, resembling its location in the valley surrounding the Nainital lake.

Nainital was founded by a European businessman Percy Barron in 1841 and later it became summer retreat for the British who spent summer in these hills, escaping the extreme heat of the plains. Nainital is usually a two-day trip from the neighboring city and states.

Tourist attraction:

The first and the must visit place in Nainital is the beautiful, natural, fresh-body lake, Naini Lake.  Nestled amidst the township of Nainital, this crescent shaped lake is bounded by Naini Peak on North West, Tiffin Point on the South West and snow-capped peaks on the north and offers a breathtaking view. Boating, long evening walks and endearing interactions with ducks are some of the things that are a must do whilst visiting this glittering lake.

On moving to the south west of the lake, you will come across another scenic location, Tiffin Point. A fantastic picnic spot in its own right, you can get a complete view of the town of Nainital and its surrounding hills in the Kumaon region from this location. This serenity of the point will irresistibly evoke your inner photographer.

At an altitude of 2700 m, awaits Snow point. Quite in sync with its name, this point offers a panoramic view of the mighty Himalayas draped in a blanket of milky-white snow and is a very famous tourist attraction in Nainital. Here, you can also take a ride in the aerial cable car connecting this point to the Mall City road in the city.

After you are done losing your breath to the natural beauties of the Kumaon foothills, you can make your way to the Eco Cave Gardens of Nainital. Famous for its interconnected rocky caves, hanging gardens and the musical fountain, the Eco Garden are a set of six small caves in the shape of various animals. However, you can avoid this spot if you are travelling with elderly or toddlers.

Shoppers Delight

If you are in Nainital and want to guilt-freely indulge in shopping, then you should probably say hello to the Mall road of the city. The Mall Road, runs parallel to the Naini Lake, connecting the two ends of the hill town (Mallital and Tallital), is the prime shopping, food and cultural center of the wonder that is Nainital. You will find the cutest woolens and the best street food of the city here.

Food Assortments

The local cuisine of the city is very mouth-watering and equally ravishing. Though, people here eat non-vegetarian food, yet the must-try and famous dishes are vegetarian. People here eat pulses in variety of forms as in form of Ras (a dish made up of varieties of dal).

Other dishes include Baadi, Bhatt ki Churkani, Aloo ke Gutke (a spicy preparation of boiled potatoes, Arsa (a sweet dish), Gulgula (a sweet snack) and lots more.

Must-visits:

·        Naini Lake

·        Tiffin Point

·        Snow point

·        Mall road

Must-haves:

·        Ras

·        Baadi

·        Gulgula

·        Aloo ke Gutke

Best time to visit:

March-June

Pro-tips:

·        Do indulge in boating as you will take an unparallel memory from here

·        If you lack holidays and still want a quick trip, Nainital is the place to be. So, don’t miss on this beautiful Kumaon hill’s city. You can enjoy Nainital on weekends, so do plan it.

·        When in Eco Cave, be careful, specially at the sides of the caves.

Come, lets enjoy boating together with Bejoy Holidays!