Here some useful information if you are planning to visit Rishikesh. What to do in and around Rishikesh?
ADVENTURE:
+ Go trekking.
+ Go rafting.
+ Go camping at Ganga beach or in the mountains.
+ See elephants on a Wildlife Safari.
+ Rent a scooter, motorbike – or helicopter.
+ Start the Char Dham yatra here.
+ Take meditation classes.
+ Do Yoga.
+ Study Kathak Dance or Tabla.
+ Learn Hindi.
+ Have an Ayurvedic treatment.
+ Get a reading by an Astrologer.
Check > Destinationas and > Activities. Please contact us for further information. We’d be delighted to organise the listed activities, classes, treatments or trips for you. Whether for individuals, groups or companies, we help to create a tailored programme. Call or mail us:
sohantoursandtravel@gmail.com
TEMPLES & ASHRAMS:
There are amazing and powerful places in and around Rishikesh, which we recommend you visit.
+ Kunjapuri temple (at 1645m) for sunrise or moonrise, enjoy the panoramic views across the Himalaya snow peaks (ca 50 mins drive from Rishikesh) – one can see almost all the peaks of Garhwal Himalayas e.g. Bandarpoonch (6316m), Swarga Rohini (6252m), Chaukhamba (7138m). Kunjapuri is said to be one of the sidddhapeeths established in the region by Jagadguru Shankaracharya.
+ Barath Mandir (it said to be the oldest temple here, built by the Adi Shankaracharya. This 9th century temple has the deity of Lord Vishnu carved out of a single black stone popular as Saligram, in the inner chambers of the temple. The original temple was said to have been destroyed in 1398 AD. Go there during the spring festival, celebrated as Basant Panchami.)
+ Neelkanth temple and Parvati temple, a 45 mins drive from Rishikesh. Neelkanth is the famous temple of Lord Shiva, surrounded by dense forests. According to legends Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is the holy location where Lord Shiva consumed the poison which is originated when Gods and Demons churned the sea in order to obtain the holy nectar of immortality.
+ The thirteen storey Trayambakeshwar temple is the attraction around Laxman Jhula. From the top of the temple visitors always capture superb views of the area.
+ Vanamali ashram
+ Sivananda ashram
+ Kriya Yoga ashram
+ Ganga Aarti at sunset in front of Parmath Niketan ashram
+ Kali temple at Triveni Ghat
+ Lakshman Jhula area
+ Ram Jhula area
+ Visit Haridwar: Kankhal colony, the temples, the ashrams (scroll down + also see destinations > Haridwar)
Check > Destinations and > Activities. We’d be delighted to organise the transportation and guidance for you. Call or mail: sohantoursandtravel@gmail.com
RELAX & UNWIND:
+ Just be and go with the flow. Breath and feel the place.
+ Sit by Ganga – Rishikesh’s most significant “temple”.
+ Have a dip in the clear waters of Ganga.
+ Enjoy nature.
+ Have tea in one of the cafes in Lakshman Jhula or Ram Jhula.
+ Peruse the many spiritual book stores.
+ Check music CDs and Bollywood DVDs.
+ Explore the religious paraphernalia shops.
+ Meet other guests and visitors from allover the world.
+ Have a chat with locals.
+ Paint or write.
+ Go shopping in Rishikesh market with its countless spice, sweets and saree shops.
+ Get a shirt or suit tailored.
For recommendations where to go or shop, call or mail: sohantoursandtravel@gmail.com
PLACES IN HARIDWAR & DEHRADUN:
+ Mahasamadhi temple Shri Anandamayi Ma in Haridwar.
+ Ganga Aarti Haridwar is performed at Har-ki-Pauri, it is one of the famous rituals in India. It starts in the after sunset, with great crowds gathered on both banks of the Ganges. Aarti starts at around 6.30pm. Aarti is performed daily at the Har ki Pauri Ghat: morning sunrise and evening sunset.
+ Parad Shivling: This Mercury Shivling is located in Harihar ashram in Kankhal. The weight of shivling is about 150kg. There is also “Rudraksha tree” nearby.
+ Kankhal is a small colony situated in Haridwar and is famous for its Daksheswara Mahadev temple and Maa Anandamayi ashram and Patanjali Yog Peeth.
+ Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar (located atop the Shivalik Hills. Goddess Mansa Devi, wife of the Nag King Vasuki, is believed to complete the wishes of devotees visiting her temple. To look for the blessings of the Goddess and get their wishes pleased, the devotees tie sacred threads on the sacred tree that stands proud in the temple premises. Once the wishes are fulfilled, the devotees mark value by returning to the tree to untie the threads. A good view of Haridwar awaits those visiting this temple.)
+ Maya Devi temple in Haridwar (One of the Siddhapeeths of Haridwar and a vertex of the Siddhapeeth triangle formed between Mansa Devi, Chandi Devi and Maya Devi temple, this temple dates back to the 11th century. It is believed that the heart and navel of Goddess Sati, first wife of Lord Shiva, fell in the premises of this very old temple.)
+ Chandi Devi temple in Haridwar
+ Samadhi of Lahiri Mahasaya at Keshav Ashram
+ World peace stupa in Dehradun (Buddhist centre)
Check > Destinations and > Activities. Please contact us for further information. We’d be delighted to organise the transportation for you. Call or mail: sohantoursandtravel@gmail.com
CHECK ALSO “Marvellous Monsoon Season in Rishikesh”!
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Photos © 2014 Sohan Tours & Travel.
No copying, extracting, re-production or re-utilisation of pictures and texts
without prior written consent from Sohan Tours & Travel.
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How do YOU deal with personal reflections during your travels? How do you record the impressions – delights, insights and challenges – on your daytrip, holiday or long sojourn in foreign lands?
Most people take pleasure in travelling, and a lot of travellers even enjoy writing about it, describing the experiences of the places visited. In times of digital media, it is refreshing to see the evocative and humorous notebooks by Delhi based design company Letternote.
The travel journal is a record made by a traveller, often in diary form. The travel diary is a long-established literary format. History mentions the writings of Pausanias (2nd century AD) who produced his Description of Greece based on his observations. Travel literature apparently became popular during the Song Dynasty (960–1279) of medieval China.The genre was called travel record literature (youji wenxue) and was often written in narrative, prose, essay and diary style. Well known are also the records by Ibn Batutta (1304–1377) and the diary based Italian Journey by Goethe (1816).
So today we’d like to inspire you with the diaries and sketch books by Letternote:
http://www.letternote.com/stationery/vivid-notebooks.html
The team of Letternote creates contemporary design objects that are easy to love and fun to live with. From lifestyle items such as mugs, t-shirts, cushion covers and bags to stationery, wall art and accessories – “wondrous things that add color, happiness and life to the world”. A selection of cushions we enjoy in our office. Online Shop and details on Free Shipping & International Delivery:
http://www.letternote.com
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Some of our clients are about to travel from Rishikesh to Ladhak, to the 33. Kalachakra Initiation by the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The initiation process spans 11 days and comprises a preparation ceremony and teachings followed by three days of actual empowerment.
The Kalachakra is a very complex teaching and practice in Tibetan Buddhism that literally means “wheels of time”. Kalachakra teaches the practice of working with the most subtle energies within one’s body on the path to enlightenment.
This event is also a superb opportunity to capture the culture and traditions of Ladakh. It takes place in Leh from 03. to 14. July 2014.
Official website:
http://ladakhkalachakra2014.com
Livestream:
http://new.livestream.com/DalaiLamaEnglish/Kalachakra2014
Please contact us for travel recommendations and arrangements from Rishikesh or Delhi to Leh/Ladhak.
Photos © 2014 Sohan Tours & Travel.
No copying, extracting, re-production or re-utilisation without
prior written consent from Sohan Tours & Travel.
While some tourists might have been chasing one or the other famous bollywood actor given the current film shooting here in Rishikesh, a group of 60 yoga students from abroad enjoyed their first ever rafting trip on the Ganges today.
Rafting in the scenic beauty down the holy river with its varying difficulties and rapids was “exciting”, “fun” and “a truly memorable experience”. The excursion was organised by Sohan Tours & Travel.
Snapshots and videos from today’s trip:
Photo and video material © 2014 Sohan Tours & Travel.
No copying, extracting, re-production or re-utilisation without prior written consent from Sohan Tours & Travel.
Krishna Das – internationally known and acknowledged for his performances of Hindu devotional music known as Kirtan – will again be performing live in Rishikesh: December 28th, 2013, in aid of Ganga Prem Hospice.
Tickets (INR 500) are available at Pundir General Store – Badrinath Road, Tapovan Sarai, Tapovan/Laxman Jhula.
Krishna Das’ album “Live Ananda” (2012) was nominated for the 2013 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album.
Congratulations, Welcome and Namaste!
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Yesterday, 6. November, Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles have visited our holy little city. Both are staying 9 days in India before proceeding to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). They have chosen Rishikesh as their first destination and are going to stay 3 days in the area.
The royal couple arrived at sunset and participated in the most ancient of Indian rituals, the Ganga Aarti fire ceremony, a worship event in front of Parmath Niketan ashram, right at the banks of Ganga.
The couple took a boat from Muni-Ki-Reti to reach the Gita Bhavan landing stage near the Parmarth Ghat and were welcomed by Swami Chidanand and his leading disciple Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati.
Reports and photos:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2488370/Prince-Charles-Camilla-Rishikesh-embark-tour-India.html
http://www.firstpost.com/photos/photos-britains-prince-charles-and-camilla-perform-aarti-at-rishikesh-1216059.html
http://www.itv.com/news/royal/
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The rain stopped, the sun is back and the Ganga water level is almost back to normal. But helicopters are still busy in the area in and around Rishikesh, and so are the people of Rishikesh who got together on their own initiatives to provide help in the mountains. Many villagers lost their houses, properties and often even their spouses and families. Help is urgently needed before the monsoon starts.
Here is the most recent press article about the relief initiative by some of Rishikesh’s travel agents, rafting experts and mountain expedition specialists who during their second rescue trip to the mountains teamed up with the owners of Jumping Heights who contributed their know how and expertise in building zip lines and rope bridges.
Team builds zip lines and rope bridges to re-connect the cut-off villagers and supply them with food, clothes, tent materials etc
Rishkesh News, 4 July 2013 – Click for enlarged view
Garwhal Post 24 June 2013
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A group of Rishikesh’s travel agents and mountain expedition specialists teamed up and sent a rescue crew into the Himalayan mountains. They helped hundreds of village people between Agastmuni and Gaurikund (Kedarnath).
Click on below pictures for enlarged views.
“Rishikesh Team” on their mission – charged and happy to be able to help
Agastmuni and Gaurikund
Given the current crisis in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, people from 12 local companies in Rishikesh (Red Chilli Adventures, Outbound Adventure, Paddle India, De-N-Ascent Expeditions, Questrails, Great Himalayan Expeditions, Garhwal Himalayan Exploration, Sohan Tours & Travel, Step Himalayas, Indo Ganga Holidays, Rush Endless Adventure and Trekt India) got together and organised ration/supplies (water, biscuits, bread, juice, rice, flour, tea, sugar, gas cylinders, tents, ropes, blankets, clothes, torches, medicine) and prepared 12 trucks to go into the mountain area.
Team heading towards the mountains
More than 40 curageous and determined volunteers risked their lives in order to help neglected village people who had not received any help so far. Despite a badly destroyed and interrupted road network, worsening weather and looming landslides, they managed to deliver help where it was needed (and still is needed!). While these days everybody is trying to exist the mountain region as quickly as possible, our crew stepped right into the lion’s den.
THIS VIDEO gives an idea of the bad road conditions…:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drohs9vMQXo&feature=youtu.be
Uttarakhand: bad road conditions
The groups’ aim was to provide food and equipment to help people surviving the coming two monsoon months, a period in which it will be impossible to drive into the mountains to give support.
Villagers come and pick up rations
Women carrying bags of rice and flour return to their village
Team carrying rafting equipment – necessary to reach villagers on the other side of the river
Village people waiting for raft with supplies
Sites of destruction
THIS VIDEO shows dramatic moves by raft. In order to reach the cut-off village people with the supplies, the team had to cross the river. Some villagers sit by the shores, waiting patiently…: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFr08vWgJtk
THIS VIDEO: To reach the people of another village, the crew had to trek and carry all the supplies on a narrow path through the forests…: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeTzC1FxCDg
A huge THANKS to all those involved – the sponsors, donors, suppliers, the team in Rishikesh that handled overall communications/coordination and above all the brave men who drove out there and risked their lives. They got the respect and admiration of those who watched them.
With the experience of this trip, we will now reassess the situation and plan the next moves. The crisis is not over yet.
Going home back to Rishikesh – stop and go on bypass roads – arriving at 1am in the night
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Following the recent heavy rain and landslide crisis in the Himalayan mountains of Uttarakhand, where many roads got washed away and more than 70,000 people are stranded, a group of Rishikesh’s travel agents and mountain expedition specialists couldn’t sit idle and teamed up to provide help.
Help for those who lost their homes, the stranded, dehydrated, starving and/or injured people in the mountains. It is an unfathomable situation which requires private initiatives as government support is not sufficient. Communication lines and food supplies in the Himalayas are interrupted or non-existent. Many people and cars are missing, estimated 46,000. Nonstop every day helicopters retrieve people from the region. Newspapers talk about hundreds of deaths but most recent eyewitness reports lead to estimated 10,000-15,000 deaths.
So yesterday a group of 12 local companies (Red Chilli Adventures, Outbound Adventure, Paddle India, De-N-Ascent Expeditions, Questrails, Great Himalayan Expeditions, Garhwal Himalayan Exploration, Sohan Tours & Travel, Step Himalayas, Indo Ganga Holidays, Rush Endless Adventure and Trekt India) got together and organised supplies like water, biscuits, bread, juice, rice, flour, gas cylinders, tents, ropes, blankets, clothes, torches and medicine. This morning at 4:30 am, 11 big Jeeps with about 30 curageous and determined volunteers left for Rudraprayag and Gaurikund. Another supporting truck with further rations of rice, flour, tea, sugar, ropes and clothes followed this evening. Within the next 48 hours we expect heavy rains which will make it more difficult and dangerous to access the area. Time is running…
The aim of said Rishikesh group is to provide food and equipment to help people surviving the coming two monsoon months, a period in which it will be impossible to drive into the mountains to give support. The team has just set up a rescue camp before Gaurikund (Kedarnath), where there are destroyed villages with hundreds of homeless people who have not received any help up until now, neither the army nor other officials came to this area yet. Our crew found also abandoned cars in the river bed nearby. God knows where the passengers are.
click for enlarged view
In the meantime lots of other private initiatives popped up. Many pilgrims started to stream back into Rishikesh and are crowding the station, bus stands and ghats. They are in a bad condition and most of them have no more money. Shopkeepers have hiked up their prices on food etc. So here Vanamali Ashram have decided to distribute food packets to all those who are stranded in Rishikesh, instead of sending things up the mountains. We also hear that those people who were rescued are admiring the great help the army is giving.
In this context we ask you to support us and kindly do whatever you can from your side. What can YOU do?
1.) Pray for the stranded people out there and the courageous men who help and risk their lives at the moment. May they all return safely to their respective homes and families.
2.) If you can and want to give money (for more cars and supplies) please ask us for our Indian bank account coordinates or transfer money through Paypal. Every penny/cent/rupee counts! It is a very easy procedure – https://www.paypal.com/in/webapps/mpp/make-online-payments – just enter this email address: newsformarina@mail.com
3.) Bring required supplies directly to our office in Badrinath Road in Rishikesh. The money we are collecting is used for ration supplies like rice, flour, dal, tea, sugar, salt as well as blankets, torches, medicine, soap, tents (for the people who lost their home/houses) and gas cylinders. Also fuel and oil for the trucks. List of further requirements:
click for enlarged view
Give and get information:
The Google Person Finder for 2013 Uttrakhand floods is available at:
http://google.org/personfinder/2013-uttrakhand-floods/
(Google Person Finder is a web application that allows individuals to post and search for the status of relatives or friends affected by a disaster.)
Helpline numbers by the Uttarakhand state government:
Uttarkashi: 01374-226126-226461
Tehri: 01376-233433
Chamoli: 01372-251437, 01372-1077
Rudraprayag Disaster Management Toll Room: 1077 / 01364-233727
click for enlarged view
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Due to heavy rain over the past couple of days we had serious floods in the Himalayan mountains of Uttarakhand. And for decades the water level of Ganga wasn’t as high in Rishikesh as these days.
In the mountains more than 70,000 people – pilgrims going to or coming from the shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri – are stranded because of landslides and destroyed roads. Many people and cars are missing.
Good news today: officials said that water level of Bhagirathi in Uttarkashi and Ganga in Rishikesh had begun to recede.
But help for the stranded people is needed – especially food and water, and medicine for the injured (we are talking severe injuries like lost arms and legs). Please spread the word that support is required! Contact local authorities and find out which organisations are working to help and make the stranded get whatever assistance is needed.
Please check our most recent article for more information:
Click here or the + News + menu point
- Shiva statue in front of Parmarth Niketan – during the current floods…
- …and before.
Sohan Tours & Travel 