Page 49 - ParentsWorld June 2020

nurturing 21st Century Children

leisure &

travel

Rishikesh

for its 445-strong population of wild elephants. Tigers, weeks are priced between Rs.100-300 per day including
leopards, chital (spotted deer), sloth bears and sambars also basic accommodation and simple vegetarian food.
inhabit the park. Chilla (13 km) northeast of Haridwar is Accommodation. There are several accommodation
the starting point for elephant rides in the morning and at options here but facilities are basic and cater mainly to
dusk. For a fee of Rs.50 one can ride an elephant through the budget traveller. Some of the better known hotels are:
the park and be almost sure to sight some wildlife. Hotel Baseraa (Rs.860-1,260 per night); Hotel Bank Peas-
ants Cottage (Rs.3,800-4,700) and Green Hotel (Rs.1,450-
riShiKeSh 2,250).
Rishikesh (pop. 260,000) is quieter than Haridwar despite Excursions. There are innumerable treks, trails and walk
its claim to being the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’. Lush options in the grassy foothills of the Himalayas. Neelkan-
hills on three sides and the river Ganges on the fourth tha Mahadev temple (17 km) is a picturesque four-
endow Rishikesh with a perfect atmosphere for yoga and hour walk from the town. The temple is also accessible
meditation. The yoga revolution started here in the 1960s, by road and regular taxis and buses ply from Rishikesh.
following the visit of the Beatles and sundry spiritual Uttarkashi (155 km) is an important pilgrim town on the
seekers who came here in search of yoga guru Maharishi way to the Char Dhams. The famous Nehru Institute
Mahesh Yogi. of Mountaineering where Bachhendri Pal — the first
A visit to Rishikesh would be incomplete without a walk Indian woman to climb Mount Everest — was trained is
across the Lakshman Jhula— a suspension bridge built situated here.
in 1929, facing the 13-storey temples of Swarg Nivas and
Sri Trayanbakeshwar. These orange structures taper char dhaM
to narrow turrets, with dozens of small shrines on each Char dham — the four most sacred and revered Hindu
level dedicated to various deities of the Hindu pantheon. temples (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath)
A pleasant 2 km walk along the east bank from Lakshman — are on the itinerary of every pilgrim visiting the state.
Jhula takes one to Swarg Ashram, where several yoga All four sites are in scenic locations and thousands of pil-
schools converge. grims throng the dhams every year. The yatra or pilgrim-
Meditation and Yoga centres. Numerous ashrams age concept has been well acknowledged by the govern-
offer courses in meditation, yoga and Hindu philosophy. ment and entrepreneurs resulting in a well-established
Reputable among them are: Swarg Ashram & Koyalgati, network of hotels and restaurants which provide food and
Gita Ashram, Sri Ved Niketan Ashram, Omkarananda shelter to pilgrims and trekkers alike.
Ganga Sadan etc. Courses ranging from two days to three Yamunotri is the source of the Yamuna — the second-

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