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India 2017, Day 10: Rishikesh, Day 2: Part 1

Gateway to the Himalayas

When I woke up on Day 10 in my room at the fabulous Ganga Kinare, all of the inconvenience of Day 9 was far behind me.  Day 10 turned out to be just what it was supposed to be–a spectacular day along the Ganges in beautiful Rishikesh.

Triveni Ghat

It's a colorful day in the neighborhood, in Rishikesh. India, Asia.
It’s a colorful day in the neighborhood, in Rishikesh.

When I left Ganga Kinare, I headed back to Triveni Ghat, the river bank where I witnessed and participated in Ganga Aarti the night before.

Good MOOOOOrning, Rishikesh! India, Asia.
Good MOOOOOrning, Rishikesh!
Morning on the Ganges. Just a few tiny figures are out on the bank. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Morning on the Ganges. Just a few tiny figures are out on the bank.
Locals gathering on Triveni Ghat in the morning. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Locals gathering on Triveni Ghat in the morning.

According to Hindu lore, Lord Krishna visited Triveni Ghat after being shot with an arrow by the hunter Jara.  In addition to the nightly Ganga Aarti ceremony here, Hindu devotees bathe in the Ganges at the holy site.

Remnants of the previous night's Ganga Aarti. I watched kids in the water pull out the coconut shells to be reused in that night's ceremony. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Remnants of the previous night’s Ganga Aarti. I watched kids in the water pull out the coconut shells to be reused in that night’s ceremony.
That's a whole lot of bull on Triveni Ghat. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
That’s a whole lot of bull on Triveni Ghat.
Bathing in the holy waters at Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh. India, Asia.
Bathing in the holy waters at Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh.
Lord Krishna and Arjuna in their chariot as seen the night before, this time in daylight. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Lord Krishna and Arjuna in their chariot as seen the night before, this time in daylight.

Bharat Mandir

Beautiful colorful ceiling at Bharat Mandir. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Beautiful colorful ceiling at Bharat Mandir.

Bharat Mandir is Rishikesh’s most significant Hindu temple.

A colorful shrine at Shri Bharat Mandir in Rishikesh. India, Asia.
A colorful shrine at Shri Bharat Mandir in Rishikesh.
A dazzling shrine at Bharat Mandir Hindu temple in Rishikesh. India, Asia.
A dazzling shrine at Bharat Mandir Hindu temple in Rishikesh.
Putting it together at a shrine at Shri Bharat Mandir. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Putting it together at a shrine at Shri Bharat Mandir.
Stupidly, I didn't get a good exterior shot of the exterior of Bharat Mandir. But here's a shot of colorful exterior decor. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Stupidly, I didn’t get a good exterior shot of the exterior of Bharat Mandir. But here’s a shot of colorful exterior decor.
Ganesh loves his flowers! Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Ganesh loves his flowers!
And here he does a little dance! Rishikesh, India, Asia.
And here he does a little dance!
At Bharat Mandir temple, a 2nd-century sculpture of a yakshi, a nature spirit. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
At Bharat Mandir temple, a 2nd-century sculpture of a yakshi, a nature spirit.

Ram Jhula

Further upriver, approaching Ram Jhula. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Further upriver, approaching Ram Jhula.

Ram Jhula is one of the 2 pedestrian bridges crossing the Ganges in Rishikesh.

How beautiful is this view of Ram Jhula crossing the Ganges in Rishikesh! India, Asia.
How beautiful is this view of Ram Jhula crossing the Ganges in Rishikesh!
The paint job on Ram Jhula couldn't help but remind me of a certain bridge back home in San Francisco! Rishikesh, India, Asia.
The paint job on Ram Jhula couldn’t help but remind me of a certain bridge back home in San Francisco!
There was all sorts of stuff to buy in the market stalls along the road by Ram Jhula. Here's a satisfied cowstomer. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
There was all sorts of stuff to buy in the market stalls along the road by Ram Jhula. Here’s a satisfied cowstomer.
On the opposite side of the river, Ganga Beach! Rishikesh, India, Asia.
On the opposite side of the river, Ganga Beach!

Tapovan

From Ram Jhula, I took a tuk-tuk to Tapovan, the very busy area on the right (west) bank of the Ganges at Lakshman Jhula, Rishikesh’s other pedestrian bridge over the Ganges.  Now I need to come clean about something.  Yes, Rishikesh is an extraordinary beautiful place.  But it’s hardly a city.  And the name of the blog, after all, is Billy’s Cities.  Sure, I’ll do a day trip to some beautiful locale out in the countryside  But I always stay in a major city, or at least a somewhat significant one.

I made an exception here because I just had to get to Rishikesh.  Why?  Because Rishikesh is where the Beatles made their famous spiritual retreat in India in 1968.  I wasn’t going to go to North India and not go to Rishikesh, even if it met cheating a bit on my usual travel policy.  (Did I mention that I’m a Beatles fanatic?)

Later in the afternoon on Day 10, I explored the (now abandoned) ashram where the Beatles stayed.  But I bring this up now because I went to lunch at the Tapovan area at a place known as, among other names, Beatles Cafe.

I hiked up and down this narrow, steep allow looking for the 60s Cafe. The alley was much more lively than this picture would make it seem. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
I hiked up and down this narrow, steep allow looking for the 60s Cafe. The alley was much more lively than this picture would make it seem.
Mighty Hanuman at a temple in Rishikesh. India, Asia.
Mighty Hanuman at a temple in Rishikesh.
Beautiful view of the Ganges in Rishikesh as it rushes towards the Gangetic Plain. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Beautiful view of the Ganges in Rishikesh as it rushes towards the Gangetic Plain.
Mother Ganga flows startlingly green through Rishikesh. India, Asia.
Mother Ganga flows startlingly green through Rishikesh.
A godly scene at a Rishikesh temple. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
A godly scene at a Rishikesh temple.
Rama (I think), an avatar of Vishnu. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Rama (I think), an avatar of Vishnu.

As I approached Lakshman Jhula, the view was stunning.  Sadly, I also came across a scene like I had seen on Day 6 in South Delhi.  There were beggars on the path with missing limbs and unhealed broken bones.  India could be breathtaking and heartbreaking simultaneously.

Looking across Lakshman Jhula and the Ganges to the busy eastern bank. Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Looking across Lakshman Jhula and the Ganges to the busy eastern bank.
Despite being behind schedule (as usual), I wanted to linger at this spot in Rishikesh, with a dramatic view of Triambakeshwar Temple, for as long as possible. All I could think was, "It doesn't get any better than this." Rishikesh, India, Asia.
Despite being behind schedule (as usual), I wanted to linger at this spot in Rishikesh, with a dramatic view of Triambakeshwar Temple, for as long as possible. All I could think was, “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

My only full day in Rishikesh was so filled with beautiful things, I had to split the day into 2 parts.  I spent the 2nd part of the day on the eastern bank of the Ganges, where I eventually reach my ultimate destination–the ashram where the Beatles spent their legendary visit to India in 1968.

And then, my time in Rishikesh had been so spectacular–flawless, really–that India had to throw me another curve ball.  You’ll see.

[Factual information is primarily gathered from Wikipedia, so you know it must be true.]

Related posts:

India 2017, Day 10: Rishikesh, Day 2: Part 2 How I Planned My 2017 Trip To India! India 2017, Day 5: Jaipur, Day 2 India 2017, Day 9: Rishikesh, Day 1

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