Rishikesh

From Rishikesh

From Rishikesh

Here we are in what is arguable the most spiritually-minded cities in all of India. You are more likely to see a yoga or meditation center than you are to walk on a pile of cow shit, and let me tell you - in India that is really saying something.
As this is the last of our stops in India, we are excited to be in a place for a few days and to really get the flavor of the city and what makes it tick.
That being said, it has been a very different experience for us here! There are plenty of places to sit on cushions, chill, read a book, and look out onto the sacred Ganges (actually a shade of green here, as opposed to the retch-inducing brown in Varanasi).

From Rishikesh

However, it has a bit of a cult-ish feel with all the ashrams and their students. No offense to ashram-goers...I would genuinely enjoy that experience at some point in my life and I certainly think that this would have enhanced our stay in Rishikesh. But if you are not an ashram-goer, but merely a backpacker, you are looked at with disdain if you are looked at at all. After a month of travels we were shocked to land in a place where we couldn't get anyone to smile at us, let alone engage in conversation. There are also a TON of Americans here, and frankly in all my travels I think Americans are the least friendly of anyone. I will give the Rishikeshers the benefit of the doubt: Perhaps people here are so interested in delving into themselves via constant self-reflection that it's not that they are being rude by not smiling or talking - maybe they are just trying to 'center' themselves.


Anyway, the area itself is beautiful and Steve and I have had a wonderful time here - it's definitely the most alone time we've shared on this whole trip and it was quite romantic (as much as anywhere in India CAN be). And oh my goodness, there are monkeys here. A TON of them. I am obsessed with them and have taken 4000 pictures of them. They eat right out of your hand - I can't get enough.

From Rishikesh

We did take advantage of the city and took both yoga and meditation classes. The meditation class was quite amazing and our teacher was really something special.

We are also here during the largest spiritual festival in 12 years, the Kumbh Mela....but that is another post all together! (coming soon)